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 |
🛠️ What matters in implementation
Uniformity: The standard requires a uniformity of at least 0.6 at the workplace. In practice, we adjust this depending on what feels comfortable.
Glare control: Especially crucial for screen-based work to prevent eye strain.
Daylight integration: Natural and artificial light should complement each other – for both energy efficiency and visual quality.
Adaptability: Dimmable, zoned systems allow for different lighting moods depending on the task.
Color rendering and light color: Beyond brightness, light quality is key. A high CRI ensures realistic color perception, which is vital in areas like design, printing, or quality control.
Inclusion and diversity: Just as there are quiet and active zones, there should also be bright and dimmed areas. Different people have different needs.
Conclusion
For standard office tasks, 500 lux serves as a guideline. For manual or highly demanding visual tasks, 750 to 1000 lux or more may be appropriate. But numbers alone don’t create good lighting. What matters is planning that considers space, task, daylight, and individual needs.
As lighting designers, we know: perception of light is relative. Everything we see is reflected light – and it is experienced differently by each person. Some people concentrate better in a brightly lit space, while others find calm and focus in a dimmer environment. Good workplace lighting therefore means diversity: bright zones that energize and quieter zones that allow retreat.
The combination of lux levels, uniformity, glare control, high color rendering, and flexible control forms the foundation. But only through an understanding of people, spaces, and atmospheres does technology become a concept that truly works.
Or, as Sabine De Schutter puts it: designing light means defining perception. This turns lighting from mere compliance into a cultural and atmospheric factor that makes work more human, healthier, and more inspiring.
