Luminous Intensity Converter

Convert luminous intensity between candela (cd) and candlepower (cp). Luminous intensity measures the power of a light source in a specific direction.

Common Luminous Intensity Conversions

FromTo
1 cp (candlepower)~1 cd
1 kcd1,000 cd
LED flashlight~100 cd
Car headlight~700 cd
Lighthouse beam~millions of cd

Luminous Intensity Unit Definitions

Candela (cd)
SI base unit of luminous intensity.
Candlepower (cp)
Historically ~1 cd. Now used interchangeably with cd.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between lumens and candela?

Candela (cd) measures intensity in one direction. Lumens (lm) measure total light output in all directions. A flashlight has high cd (narrow beam); a bulb has high lumens (all directions).