Kelvin Colour Temperature Guide

Find the right colour temperature for any space. Enter a Kelvin value to see its appearance, recommended applications, and how it compares to every common light source — from candlelight to cool daylight.

Common colour temperatures — click to select
1800K
Candlelight
2700K
Warm white
3000K
Soft white
3500K
Neutral white
4000K
Cool white
5000K
Daylight
6500K
Cool daylight
10000K
Blue sky
Or enter any Kelvin value
From fixture spec sheet — 0 to 100

Please enter a Kelvin value between 1000 and 20000.

3000K
Soft white
Colour temperature scale
1800K Warm3000K4000K5500K10000K+ Cool
Common light sources and colour temperatures
TempSourceBest for
CRI — Colour Rendering Index explained
Shop LED lights at this colour temperature on Amazon

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Practical Notes

Correlated color temperature, measured in kelvin, describes how warm or cool a white light looks. Low numbers around 2700 kelvin look warm and yellowish, like an incandescent bulb, and high numbers around 5000 or 6500 kelvin look cool and bluish, like daylight. It describes the color of the light, and not the heat it gives off.

Different spaces suit different temperatures. Homes and restaurants usually use 2700 to 3000 kelvin for a cozy feel, offices and shops often use 3500 to 4000 kelvin for a crisp, clear look, and spaces that need to mimic daylight, such as studios and some healthcare areas, use 5000 kelvin or more. Photography and film use standard values of about 3200 kelvin for tungsten and 5600 kelvin for daylight.

Keep the color temperature consistent within a room, since mixing different values looks uneven. Two lights with the same kelvin rating can still differ slightly in their tint, so test samples side by side. Tunable white fixtures let you change the color through the day, and a high color rendering index helps colors look natural at any temperature.

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The calculators and tools on Formula Factory are provided for general guidance and informational purposes only. Results are estimates based on standard formulas and the values you enter — they do not constitute professional engineering, electrical, or architectural advice. Always verify calculations with a qualified professional before making decisions for any safety-critical, code-compliance, or commercial application. Formula Factory makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of any result, and accepts no liability for errors, omissions, or any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.