CIBSE Recommended Lighting Levels

General Indoor Lighting Levels

Area / Space	Recommended Lighting Level (Lux)
Offices
– General Office	500
– Computer Workstations	300–500
– Filing Rooms	300
– Print Rooms	300
– Drawing Offices	500
– Drawing Boards	750
– CAD Design Areas	300–500
Retail
– Small Retail Outlets	500
– Supermarkets	750
– Hypermarkets / DIY Superstores	1000
– Garden Centres	500
– Showrooms	500–750
Industrial / Engineering
– Tool Shops	300–750
– Arc Welding	300
– Spot Welding	500–1000
– Heavy Machine Assembly	300
– Inspection and Testing	500–2000
Banks & Building Societies
– Counter Offices	500
– Public Areas	300
Staff Areas & Utilities
– Changing Rooms & Toilets	100–150
– Restaurants & Canteens	200
Kitchens
– Serving & Washing Up Areas	300
– Food Preparation & Cooking Areas	500
– Food Stores	150
General Areas
– Entrance Halls & Lobbies	200
– Enquiry Desks	500
– Gatehouses	200
Circulation Areas
– Lifts	100
– Corridors & Stairs	100
– Escalators/Conveyors	150
– Atria	50–200
– Atria with Plants	500–3000
– Entrances/Exits	200
Communication / Service Areas
– Switchboards	300
– Post Rooms	500
Building Services Areas
– Boiler Rooms	100
– Control Rooms	300
– Mechanical Plant Rooms	150
– Electrical Plant Rooms	100
Distribution & Storage
– Loading Bays	150
– Unpacking & Sorting Areas	200
– Large Item Stores	100
– Small Item Stores	200
– Trade Counters	500
– Warehouse/Bulk Stores	100
– Packing & Dispatch Areas	300
– Cold Stores	300
Places of Public Accessibility
– Churches & Village Halls	300

Table 2. Emergency Lighting Levels

Emergency Lighting Area	Recommended Level (Lux)	Notes
Escape Routes (Corridors)	1–3	Minimum illumination to safely guide occupants
Staircases	3–5	Enhanced lighting to clearly reveal steps
Exit Signage & Critical Areas	10	Ensures emergency signs and key points are visible

Additional Guidance

Workplace Lighting Balance:
Modern guidance (as noted in the CIBSE Journal article) emphasizes balancing ambient and task lighting. For example, ambient office areas are typically maintained at 300–500 lux, while specific task areas (such as drafting or detailed workstations) may require 750 lux or more.
Important Note:
These figures are recommended guidelines. Actual requirements may vary based on local standards, specific building use, and individual project needs. Always consult with a lighting designer or engineer to tailor solutions for your circumstances.

Interactive Lighting Tools

Specification for the 21st century

Find the Right Downlight Spotlight Batten Exit Sign Lightline Panel Bulkhead For Your Project 300% Faster

You can ask for anything, and it will search through every possible combination of products that match your specification.

Here are a few examples:

“Give me a downlight with an 80mm cut out”

“Match the attached spec with your products”

“I’m looking for a RAL9016 downlight that’s DALI dimmable”

It’s also trained on general international lighting standards and emergency lighting compliance.

Sustainable lighting

The End of Endless Spec Sheets: How Our AI Is Fixing the Worst Part of Lighting Projects

Discover how our AI Lighting Assistant transforms lighting projects—streamlining workflows, ensuring accurate ai lighting design specification, and elevating AI-assisted luminaire selection to save you time and reduce errors.

Learn More »

April 15, 2025