Luminous Intensity Converter — Candela & Candlepower

Convert luminous intensity between candela, millicandela, kilocandela, and candlepower.

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How this conversion works. Intensity is converted through the candela, the SI base photometric unit; historical candle factors follow NIST Special Publication 811.

How to use

  1. Pick the unit you are converting from, such as Kilocandela (kcd) or Candela (cd).
  2. Type the value and every other unit updates as you type.
  3. Copy the figure you need, or use the swap button to reverse the direction, International candle (IC) included.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert millicandela to candela?

1 millicandela = 0.001 candela. Choose "Millicandela (mcd)" as From and "Candela (cd)" as To, type a value, and the result updates instantly.

What does an LED’s 5000 mcd rating mean?

5,000 mcd = 5 cd of intensity along its beam axis. Narrow-angle LEDs score high mcd with little total light — compare lumens for real output.

Is candlepower still a real unit?

Modern "candlepower" equals the candela exactly. Historical variants differ slightly: the international candle was 1.019 cd, the German Hefner candle 0.903 cd.

Is my data sent to a server?

No. Conversions run entirely in your browser using fixed factors — nothing is uploaded or logged.

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