What is the conversion factor from nits to foot-lamberts?

Convert square meters to square feet and apply the foot-lambert definition: 1 nit = π × 0.3048² fL ≈ 0.291863 fL. In practice, 0.2919 is a common rounded value.

A nit is a colloquial name for candela per square meter (cd/m²), the SI unit of luminance. It describes how bright a surface appears to an observer. Modern monitors, TVs, and HDR standards (HDR10, Dolby Vision) specify brightness in nits.

What is a foot-lambert?

A foot-lambert (fL) is an imperial luminance unit equal to (1/π) candela per square foot. It is still used in cinema projection standards — DCI requires a minimum of 14 fL on the screen — and some older photographic and theater lighting specifications.

How many nits is 14 foot-lamberts?

14 fL ÷ 0.291863 ≈ 48 nits (cd/m²). This is the DCI digital cinema projection standard for a 2D white screen.

Is foot-lambert the same as foot-candle?

No. A foot-candle (fc) is a unit of illuminance — light falling onto a surface. A foot-lambert (fL) is a unit of luminance — light emitted or reflected from a surface. They measure different physical quantities.

Nits to Foot-lamberts Converter

Convert luminance values from nits (cd/m²) to foot-lamberts instantly with batch input support.

Nits (cd/m²) Input

Enter value in nits

1 nit = 0.291863 foot-lamberts

Quick presets

Result

Enter a value to see the result

Batch Converter

Enter one nit value per line. Results appear on the right.

Nits (cd/m²)

Foot-lamberts (fL)

Common Reference Values

Display / Standard	Nits (cd/m²)	Foot-lamberts (fL)

Summary

Nits and foot-lamberts are both units of luminance — how much light a surface emits or reflects per unit area. Nits (candelas per square meter, cd/m²) are the modern SI standard used by display manufacturers and HDR specs. Foot-lamberts (fL) are the legacy imperial unit still common in cinema projection standards (DCI specifies 14 fL) and some older photographic or theater contexts. The conversion is 1 nit = π × 0.3048² fL ≈ 0.291863 fL, which is frequently rounded to 0.2919 fL.

How it works

Enter a luminance value in nits (cd/m²) in the input field.
The converter multiplies your value by 0.291863 to get foot-lamberts.
Results update instantly as you type.
Use the batch converter to process multiple nit values at once.
Copy any result to your clipboard with one click.

Use cases

Check if a projector meets the DCI cinema standard of 14 fL.
Compare display brightness specs between metric and imperial datasheets.
Convert HDR peak brightness (e.g. 1000 nits) to foot-lamberts for legacy reports.
Translate nit ratings from TV manufacturer specs into theater terminology.
Verify ambient-light-rejection screen brightness targets in foot-lamberts.
Convert luminance measurements taken in cd/m² by a colorimeter to fL for older workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-14 · Reviewed by Nham Vu