Different spaces and tasks need different light levels. This chart gives recommended foot-candle ranges for common environments.
| Space or task | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Hallways and corridors | 5 to 10 fc |
| General office | 30 to 50 fc |
| Detailed or drafting work | 50 to 100 fc |
| Retail sales floor | 50 to 75 fc |
| Classroom | 30 to 50 fc |
| Warehouse storage | 10 to 30 fc |
| Hospital exam room | 100 fc or more |
| Parking lot | 1 to 5 fc |
See the Recommended Lux Levels and Foot Candle Formula.
Recommended foot-candle levels
Foot-candles (fc) measure how much light lands on a surface, and the right level depends on the task. As a general guide: 5–10 fc for hallways, storage, and circulation; 20–30 fc for general offices, living areas, and kitchens; 50 fc for detailed reading, drafting, or workbench tasks; and 75–100+ fc for fine, exacting work like inspection or sewing. Outdoor and parking areas are much lower, often under 5 fc, but with an emphasis on uniformity. (To convert to metric, 1 fc is about 10.76 lux.)
These are starting points, not absolutes — older eyes need more light, glossy tasks need glare control more than raw level, and codes or IES standards govern specific commercial spaces. It’s good practice to design a little above target to allow for light loss as fixtures age and gather dust, then dim back if needed.