Lux (unit lx) is a measure of illumination of a surface. Lux is the metric unit equal to the amount of light falling on one square meter 1 lumen = 10 lux; A lux is only 1 / 10 th of a lumen.

The 10,000 lux measurement is important in light therapy to judge the effectiveness of any particular light box or lamp. Since the 1970’s, studies have shown that light therapy is effective when a person is within a 10,000 lux brightness range of light for twenty to thirty minutes. This is important to consider when shopping around. Many lamps boast of 10,000 lux light, but fail to mention at what distance this is from the light unit.

Comparison of Light Intensities:

Light Source Lux
Sunny Day at the Beach 100,000 lux
Aurora LightPad Mini 10,000 lux
Spring 10,000 lux
Bright Office 500-1,000 lux
Home (Conventional Lighting) 300-500 lux
Desk Lamp (In Bedroom) 100 lux

Why is 10,000 lux important?

The intensity of the light box is recorded in lux, which is a measure of the amount of light you receive at a specific distance from a light source. Light boxes for light therapy usually produce between 2,500 lux and 10,000 lux.

The intensity of your light box affect how far you sit from it and the length of time you need to use it. The 10,000 lux light boxes usually require 30-minute sessions, while the 2,500 lux light boxes may require 2-hour sessions.


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