When you’re shopping for a new torch or light, you’ve probably seen “lumens” listed in the specs. But what exactly does that mean? And more importantly, how many lumens do you actually need?
If you find yourself asking these questions, then this guide is for you. We’ve kept it simple to help you navigate the torch minefield.
What Are Lumens?
A lumen is a unit of measurement for the visible amount of light emitted - put simply, it measures how much light a torch or bulb gives out.
The higher the lumens, the brighter the light will appear.
How Are Lumens Measured?
Manufacturers measure lumens by testing a light in a controlled setting using an integrating sphere — a big white ball that captures all the light from every angle and measures its total output.
Does Doubling the Lumens Mean Double the Brightness?
Not quite. Human eyes perceive brightness differently, so doubling lumens doesn’t look twice as bright, it looks only slightly brighter.
To your eyes, it takes about four times as many lumens to feel like the light is twice as bright.
That’s why a jump from 100 lumens to 200 lumens is noticeable, but going from 1,000 lumens to 2,000 lumens won’t feel like a night-and-day difference.
What matters is choosing enough lumens for the job, without wasting battery life on excess brightness you don’t actually need.
How Many Lumens Do You Need?
Here’s a quick guide for everyday tasks and spaces.
| Activity / Space | Recommended Lumens Range |
| Close Up Work | 50 - 150 lumens |
| General Household Tasks | 400 - 800 lumens |
| Dog walking / Urban Walking | 200 - 600 lumens |
| Rural Walking / Hiking | 800 - 1500 lumens |
| Camping lantern | 200 - 800 lumens |
| Cycling light (front) | 300 - 1000 lumens |
| Search and rescue / security use | 1,000 - 3000+ lumens |
You don’t need to know the technical details, but it’s good to remember:
-Lumens measure total light output, not how far the beam reaches or how focused it is.
-A torch with lots of lumens but a wide beam will light up a big area but may not throw light very far.
-For distance, look at the beam range in the specs alongside the lumens.
Final Tip
Next time you shop for a torch, lantern, or work light, check the lumens first, but also be sure to look at the beam range, battery life, and durability.
At Torch Direct, we make sure our product listings give you all the specs in plain English, so you can pick the right tool for the job without any guesswork.
