256 sq ft
16×16 room:
16×16 room:
how many lights?
A 16×16 ft room is 256 square feet. How many lights it needs depends entirely on what happens in it — a kitchen is lit to roughly twice the level of a bedroom, so the same footprint ranges from 9 to 25 fixtures at 800 lumens each.
Pick the room type below for the full layout, spacing and ceiling plan.
A 16×16 room, by what it is used for
| Room type | Target | Total lumens | Fixtures | Grid | Spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | 300 lx | 14,152 lm | 20 | 4 × 5 | 4′ × 3.2′ |
| Living room | 150 lx | 8,414 lm | 12 | 3 × 4 | 5.3′ × 4′ |
| Bedroom | 100 lx | 5,609 lm | 9 | 3 × 3 | 5.3′ × 5.3′ |
| Bathroom | 200 lx | 11,218 lm | 16 | 4 × 4 | 4′ × 4′ |
| Home office | 300 lx | 14,595 lm | 20 | 4 × 5 | 4′ × 3.2′ |
| Dining room | 150 lx | 7,298 lm | 9 | 3 × 3 | 5.3′ × 5.3′ |
| Garage | 150 lx | 8,414 lm | 12 | 3 × 4 | 5.3′ × 4′ |
| Hallway | 100 lx | 5,609 lm | 9 | 3 × 3 | 5.3′ × 5.3′ |
| Laundry | 200 lx | 9,435 lm | 12 | 3 × 4 | 5.3′ × 4′ |
| Basement | 150 lx | 8,414 lm | 12 | 3 × 4 | 5.3′ × 4′ |
| Workshop | 400 lx | 18,869 lm | 25 | 5 × 5 | 3.2′ × 3.2′ |
| Nursery | 100 lx | 5,609 lm | 9 | 3 × 3 | 5.3′ × 5.3′ |
At 800 lumens per fixture and an 8 ft ceiling. Click a room type for other fixture sizes and ceiling heights.
Questions
How many recessed lights for a 16x16 room?
It depends what the room is for. A 16×16 ft (256 sq ft) living room needs about 12 fixtures at 800 lm; the same footprint as a kitchen needs about 20, because a kitchen is lit to roughly double the level. Pick the room type for the real answer.
How many square feet is a 16x16 room?
256 square feet, or 23.8 square metres.