Luminance Converter

Convert luminance between cd/m² (nits), foot-lamberts, stilbs, and apostilbs. Used in display technology, photography, and lighting engineering.

Common Luminance Conversions

FromTo
1 cd/m²1 nit
1 ft-L3.42626 cd/m²
1 stilb10,000 cd/m²
1 apostilb0.31831 cd/m²
Typical LCD monitor200–400 cd/m²
Bright sunlight~1,600,000 cd/m²

Luminance Unit Definitions

Candela/m² (cd/m²)
SI unit of luminance = nit.
Foot-lambert (ft-L)
US unit. 1 ft-L = 3.42626 cd/m².
Nit
Same as cd/m². Used for display brightness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a nit in screen brightness?

A nit = 1 cd/m². A typical phone screen is 400–800 nits; outdoor displays need 1,000+ nits to be visible in sunlight.