Office and retail lighting: lux levels, UGR, colour and fixture choice

Short answer: For offices, aim for about 500 lux at the desk, UGR 19 or below to limit glare, 4000 K neutral white and at least CRI 80 (EN 12464-1). In shops the goal is to sell: ambient light in the sales area of about 300–500 lux, accent light on products at 3–5 times that level, CRI 90 so colours look right, and a shop window brighter than the interior. In both cases sensors and dimming (DALI) cut energy use noticeably; emergency lighting is planned separately.

Office lighting

How many lux?

Approximate office values in the EN 12464-1 indoor lighting standard:

• Writing, reading, computer work: 500 lux
• Meeting rooms: 500 lux
• Reception: 300 lux
• Corridors: 100 lux
• Archives and storage: 200 lux

These are average illuminances on the working surface. Even distribution (uniformity) also matters; a big difference between the desk and its surroundings tires the eyes.

UGR: glare

UGR (Unified Glare Rating) describes how much glare fixtures cause; the lower, the more comfortable. Offices with screen work call for UGR 19 or below. UGR is not a property of the fixture alone but of the room, the layout and the viewing direction; the manufacturer's figure is calculated for a standard room. Microprismatic or opal-diffuser LED panels and low-glare linear fixtures are designed for this.

Colour and fixture choice

• 4000 K neutral white: the usual choice for alertness in offices; 3000 K can be used in break areas.
• CRI 80 or higher: enough for offices; CRI 90 for design and print work.
• 600×600 LED panels: the standard solution for offices with suspended ceilings.
• Linear pendants: over open-plan desks and meeting tables; models with an uplight component light the ceiling and soften the space.
• Downlights: for corridors and reception.

Retail lighting

Ambient and accent light

• Ambient light: roughly 300 lux (small shops) to 500 lux (large stores) in the sales area; 500 lux at the till.
• Accent light: products stand out when lit at 3–5 times the ambient level. Narrow-beam track spotlights or magnetic track spots do this, and can be moved when the shelf layout changes.
• Wall lighting: bright wall shelves and back walls make a shop look deeper and more open; wall washers or linear fixtures close to the wall are used.

Colour temperature and colour rendering

• 3000 K: boutiques, furniture, shoes and cosmetics; warm and inviting.
• 4000 K: supermarkets, electronics, pharmacies, hardware; clean and clear.
• Food: special light colours may be chosen by product, but colour rendering must stay high and products must not look misleading.
• CRI 90 or higher: needed for textiles, food and cosmetics so colours look right.

Shop windows

Because it is very bright outside during the day, the window must be noticeably brighter than the shop interior; otherwise reflections dominate the glass. Keep window lighting on its own circuit and use a time switch to keep it on until a set hour after closing.

Saving energy and control

• Motion and presence sensors: in corridors, stores, meeting rooms and toilets.
• Daylight dimming: fixtures near windows dim when daylight is sufficient (with DALI).
• Time switch: shop window and sign lighting.
• Zoning: each area on its own circuit so unused sections can be switched off.

Emergency lighting

Workplaces need emergency lighting for escape routes and exits, using battery-backed fixtures or fixtures with emergency kits that stay lit for at least the required time in a power cut. See our emergency lighting guide for details.

Calculation and installation

A lighting calculation shows how many fixtures you need; on larger projects it is done with software such as DIALux. In our store in Bursa, Turkey, you can see fixtures in person and choose products for office and retail projects.

• → Lighting calculation guide
• → 600×600 LED panel wattage
• → How to choose track spotlights
• → Emergency lighting guide
• → Motion sensor lighting
• → LED panels
• → Linear lighting
• → Track spotlights
• → Lighting store in Bursa