Quick reference table
Common luminous intensity conversions
| From | To |
|---|---|
| 1 mcd | 0.001 cd |
| 1 cd | 1 mcd |
| 1 kcd | 1,000 cd |
| 1 lm/sr | 1 cd |
How to convert luminous intensity
Luminous intensity is how much light a source emits in one direction. LEDs are often rated in millicandelas (mcd), and the candela is the SI base unit for light.
Every luminous intensity unit is a fixed multiple of one base unit, the cd. To convert a value, multiply it by the size of the starting unit and divide by the size of the target unit. For example, to convert mcd to cd, multiply by 0.001. To go the other way, divide by 0.001.
The converter above does this for you and shows the exact formula under the result.
Worked examples
Millicandelas to Candelas
| Millicandelas (mcd) | Candelas (cd) |
|---|---|
| 1 mcd | 0.001 cd |
| 2 mcd | 0.002 cd |
| 5 mcd | 0.005 cd |
| 10 mcd | 0.010 cd |
| 25 mcd | 0.025 cd |
| 50 mcd | 0.050 cd |
| 100 mcd | 0.100 cd |
| 1,000 mcd | 1.000 cd |
Candelas to Millicandelas
| Candelas (cd) | Millicandelas (mcd) |
|---|---|
| 1 cd | 1 mcd |
| 2 cd | 2 mcd |
| 5 cd | 5 mcd |
| 10 cd | 1 mcd |
| 25 cd | 25 mcd |
| 50 cd | 5 mcd |
| 100 cd | 1 mcd |
| 1,000 cd | 1 mcd |
Luminous intensity units explained
| Unit | Symbol | Equals |
|---|---|---|
| Candelas | cd | 1 cd = 1 cd |
| Microcandelas | µcd | 1 µcd = 0.000001 cd |
| Millicandelas | mcd | 1 mcd = 0.001 cd |
| Kilocandelas | kcd | 1 kcd = 1,000 cd |
| Lumens per steradian | lm/sr | 1 lm/sr = 1 cd |
| Hefner candles (approx.) | HK | 1 HK = 0.903 cd |
Popular conversions: mcd to cd, candela conversion.
Frequently asked questions
How many mcd is 1 cd?
One candela is 1,000 millicandelas.
How do I convert mcd to cd?
Multiply the value in mcd by 0.001 to get cd. For example, 10 mcd = 0.010 cd.
How many cd is 1 mcd?
1 mcd = 0.001 cd, and 1 cd = 1 mcd.
Does this luminous intensity converter work offline?
Yes. After the page has loaded once, all calculations run in your browser, so it keeps working without an internet connection.