Lambert (L)
The lambert is a CGS unit of luminance, (1/π) candela per square centimetre, about 3183 nits.
Symbol: L (ASCII: La)
Quantity: luminance (brightness of a surface or screen)
SI relation: 1 L = 3183.098861838 cd/m² (exact)
Derivation: 1 L = (1/π) cd/cm² ≈ 3183 cd/m².
Exact: yes, by definition
Typical uses
- Older vision-science literature
Convert lamberts to other units
| Conversion | 1 L equals | Reverse |
|---|---|---|
| lambert to nit | 3183.098862 cd/m² | nit to lambert |
| lambert to foot-lambert | 929.0304 fL | foot-lambert to lambert |
| lambert to apostilb | 10000 asb | apostilb to lambert |
| lambert to candela per square foot | 295.7195609 cd/ft² | candela per square foot to lambert |
| lambert to candela per square inch | 2.053608062 cd/in² | candela per square inch to lambert |
| lambert to stilb | 0.3183098862 sb | stilb to lambert |
Open the Luminance Converter (Nits, cd/m²) to convert any value between all units.
Sources
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "lambert".
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Lambert (L). Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/units/lambert/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Lambert (L)," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/units/lambert/