Engineering Guide: How to Calculate Commercial & Retail Lighting Step by Step

Proper lighting in commercial spaces, showrooms, and offices directly drives customer engagement, visual comfort, and sales performance. Using the Lumen Method and EN 12464-1 standards, you can calculate the exact number of luminaires required for your project:

1. Recommended Lux Levels by Space Type

  • Corridors & Circulation Areas: 100 – 150 Lux
  • Offices & Workstations: 500 Lux (with UGR < 19 anti-glare optics)
  • Retail Stores & Showrooms: 500 – 750 Lux ambient + 1000+ Lux accent lighting on displays

2. The Lumen Method Formula

Total Lumens Required = (Target Lux × Area in m²) ÷ (Utilization Factor × Maintenance Factor)

For most modern commercial interiors with light walls and ceilings, the combined Utilization & Maintenance factor is approximately 0.64. Divide the total required lumens by the lumen output of each luminaire to determine the exact fixture count.

Upgrade Your Commercial Project with Lomi Lighting

At Lomi, we manufacture custom aluminum linear lighting in Riyadh and supply high-CRI anti-glare downlights and 48V magnetic track systems for commercial projects across Saudi Arabia.