How Many Lux Do You Need at the Workplace? A Table with All Reference Values
Introduction
Light is far more than mere function. It is atmosphere, identity, and a decisive factor for well-being and health. Anyone who wants to work with focus and comfort in an office, workshop, or laboratory often asks the question: how many lux are actually needed? In this article, we provide an overview of the official reference values, place them in a planning context, and show why tailored lighting concepts go far beyond rigid numbers.
🧑💻 About us at Studio De Schutter
As lighting designers in Berlin, we combine technical expertise with an atmospheric approach. For us, light is not just a means to an end, but part of spatial identity. Especially in work environments, it’s about aligning perception, function, and well-being. Standards and reference values provide orientation, but we know: light is subjective. 100 lux in a white corridor feels completely different from 100 lux in a dark corridor. That’s why we develop concepts tailored to people, spaces, and activities.
✍️ What does lux mean and which standards apply?
Lux describes illuminance – the amount of light that falls on a surface. In Germany, DIN EN 12464-1 (Lighting of Workplaces Indoors) and ASR A3.4 (Technical Rules for Workplaces) provide recommendations and requirements. Important: DIN values are not legally binding, but recommendations. The legally relevant standard is ASR A3.4.
At the same time, standards and lux values are not everything. They set minimum levels but say little about actual perception. Some people focus better at 500 lux, while others feel more comfortable in slightly dimmer environments. That’s why we also take into account factors such as glare control, uniformity, color rendering (CRI), light color, and interaction with daylight.
📏 Lux table: Recommended values by activity
| Task or Area | Recommended Illuminance in Lux | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Office work with screen, writing, reading | 500 | Standard value for focused tasks |
| General office, surrounding areas | 300 | Supplementary general lighting |
| Corridors, indoor traffic areas | 100 | Minimum value for safe orientation |
| Indoor stairways | 100 | Recommended lighting for safety |
| Washrooms, toilets, changing rooms | 200 | Uniform base brightness |
| Storage areas with reading tasks | 200 | Orientation and safe work |
| Light assembly, workshops | 300–500 | Depending on task and requirements |
| Medium-precision assembly, electrical engineering, switchboard construction | 500–750 | Depending on the precision of the visual task |
| Precision mechanics, quality control, testing technology | 750–1000 | High demands on visual accuracy |
| Color inspection, very fine inspection tasks | ≥ 1000 | Very high color rendering (CRI > 90) required |
🛠️ Important: Why predefined lux values are not always the solution
Predefined lux values provide an initial point of orientation, but they never fully capture the complexity of a space. Depending on architecture, materials, daylight availability, reflections, and individual visual needs, the same illuminance level can be perceived very differently. A space may comply with standards and still feel too bright, too cold, lacking in contrast, or simply unbalanced. Good lighting design therefore does not result from merely achieving a numerical value, but from a carefully tuned interplay of light distribution, atmosphere, use profile, and human perception.
Project selection: Various workplaces – designed by Studio De Schutter
At Full Node, a workplace was created that combines technological precision with a clear, calm lighting concept, supporting concentration in an open-plan environment. Peak Ace, by contrast, demonstrates how minimalist light lines can create identity by structuring work areas and shaping an atmospheric yet highly functional environment.
For standard workstations, 500 lux often serves as a guideline, while more precise tasks may require significantly higher levels. However, numbers alone do not create balanced lighting—what matters is how light interacts with the space, daylight, and the task at hand, and how it is perceived by people individually.
Fixed lux values are therefore never the vision of Studio De Schutter. Every task, every atmosphere, and every workplace requires its own response. For us, good lighting design emerges when technology does not dictate but supports—when light is shaped to suit people, spaces, and situations.
