Luminous Intensity Converter
Convert between candelas, millicandelas, microcandelas and kilocandelas.
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Result
Luminous Intensity units
Every unit below converts to every other one in the calculator. Values are relative to the base unit, the candela (cd).
| Unit | Symbol | System | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candela | cd | SI | Base unit |
| Millicandela | mcd | SI | = 0.001 cd |
| Microcandela | µcd | SI | = 0.000001 cd |
| Kilocandela | kcd | SI | = 1000 cd |
Candela quick reference
| Candela | Millicandela |
|---|---|
| 1 cd | = 1000 mcd |
| 10 cd | = 10000 mcd |
| 100 cd | = 100000 mcd |
| 1000 cd | = 1000000 mcd |
Among the 4 luminous intensity units on this page, the smallest is the microcandela (µcd) and the largest is the kilocandela (kcd).
More luminous intensity conversions
About luminous intensity units
Luminous intensity is the amount of visible light a source sends in one particular direction. Its SI unit is the candela (cd), one of the seven SI base units, defined by fixing the luminous efficacy of 540 THz light at 683 lumens per watt.
Luminous intensity describes a single direction, so it is different from luminous flux (total light output, in lumens), illuminance (light falling on a surface, in lux) and luminance (brightness of a surface, in nits). LED datasheets usually give intensity in millicandelas (mcd), while searchlights and vehicle lamps are rated in thousands of candelas.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I convert candelas to lumens?
- Only if you know how the light is spread. One lumen is one candela times one steradian. A source that shines 1 cd equally in all directions emits 4π lumens, about 12.57 lm, but a narrow-beam LED with the same candela rating emits far fewer lumens.
- How many millicandelas are in a candela?
- Exactly 1000. A 2000 mcd LED has a luminous intensity of 2 cd.
- How many millicandelas are in one candela?
- One candela = 1000 mcd (millicandelas).