Plan candle placement with confidence. This Foot Candle Calculator estimates the total lumens your room needs, how many candles can meet that target, and a recommended spacing based on mounting height—so your space is evenly and safely illuminated.

Calculate Candle's Foot for Free

How Foot Candle Calculator works?

Illumination is measured as foot-candles (fc), which is simply lumens per square foot. The calculator multiplies room area by your target lumens per sq ft to find the total lumens required. It then divides that by your candle lumen output to estimate how many candles you need. Finally, it suggests spacing using a spacing factor and your placement height so light is distributed more uniformly.

Core math used by the tool:

-> Total Lumens Required = Room Area (sq ft) × Target Lumens per sq ft
-> Candles Needed = Total Lumens Required ÷ Lumens per Candle (rounded up)
-> Recommended Spacing (ft) = Placement Height (ft) × Spacing Factor

(Narrow ≈ 0.8 for tighter grids, Standard ≈ 1.0 for balanced layouts, Wide ≈ 1.2 for airy spacing.)

For example:

A 200 sq ft lounge aiming for 30 lumens/sq ft needs 6,000 lumens in total. If one candle contributes 150 lumens, you’ll need 40 candles (6,000 ÷ 150). With a placement height of 4 ft and Standard spacing, the recommended distance between candles is 4 ft (4 × 1.0).

What to enter for accurate results?

Enter the Room Area in square feet using the usable floor area. Set your Lighting Level (Lumens/SqFt) to match the mood—lower values for ambient glow, higher for reading or task zones. Provide an estimate for Candle Output (Lumens); larger pillars and multi-wick jars generally emit more lumens than tealights. Add the Placement Height (ft) from flame to surface (tabletop, countertop, floor) so spacing reflects real-world distance. Choose a Spacing Factor that matches your layout preference: Narrow for denser, more uniform light; Standard for balanced grids; Wide for open, decorative placement.

What affects real-world illumination?

While the Foot Candle Calculator provides accurate estimates, actual illumination can vary in practice. Several factors influence how candles perform in real spaces.

Candle Lumen Variability

Candle brightness varies by wax type, wick size, vessel, and flame stability, so the actual lumens per candle can differ from your estimate.

Room Surface Reflectance

Dark walls, textiles, and matte finishes absorb light, while light-colored, glossy surfaces increase reflectance, changing perceived brightness.

Air Movement and Drafts

Drafts from fans, HVAC, or open windows cause flicker, lowering effective illuminance and creating uneven pools of light.

Layout and Obstructions

Furniture, partitions, and décor cast shadows and break sight lines, so placement may need tightening in areas blocked by objects.

Frequently asked questions

For ambient mood lighting, 5–15 lumens/sq ft is typical. For reading nooks or task areas, consider 20–35 lumens/sq ft. Adjust to taste and room reflectance.

Small tealights may be 10–15 lumens, votives 30–50, jar candles 80–200+, and large multi-wick pillars more. Use your best estimate or test a representative candle.

Light spreads with distance. Tying spacing to mounting height helps maintain uniform coverage; higher placement generally allows wider spacing.

No. The calculator gives a planning baseline. Always do a quick room test with a few candles to confirm brightness, spacing, and safety before finalizing.