4000K vs 5000K Color Temperature: What is the Differences?

Are you undecided about which light bulbs to purchase for your home? Learning the many different light bulbs involved with modern lighting solutions can be overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be, though. You must understand the distinction between 4000k and 5000k lights in this guide. You will understand the distinction between 4000k and 5000k lights in this guide. Unless compared side by side it is hard to tell. 4000K is slightly warmer yellowish and 5000k is clearer almost a hint of blue is emitted.

Are you undecided about which light bulbs to purchase for your home? Personal preferences will determine if you want warmer light for ambient lighting or a bright light for retail spaces or commercial spaces. Learning the color temperature of modern lighting can be overwhelming. The most common being 4000k vs 5000k which the Kelvin scale is too close together for the human eye to see the difference. But they have certain distinctions. In this article, we will show you these and all related knowledge to 4000k and 5000k light.  

What Is the Kelvin Scale?

“Color temperature” refers to how warm or cool a light source is also the color of the light. Kelvin units can be used to calculate color temperature range (1000k to 10,000k). On the bottom end of the spectrum come warmer color tones. On the upper end are the more remarkable, whiter tones.

You might be wondering why lighting professionals use a heat measurement (Kelvin) to determine different  color temperatures. This is due to its resemblance to the appearance of a black body radiator as its temperature rises. The temperature is expressed in degrees Kelvin, or absolute temperature.

***Read more: LED Color Temperature: How to Choose The Best Fit For Spaces 2022

4000K vs 5000K Lighting: What Is The Difference?

4000K and 5000K Lighting What Is The Difference
4000K and 5000K Lighting What Is The Difference

Unless you use a photometer, the differences between LED 4000k and 5000k lights are barely visible to the naked eye. The Kelvin scale is too close together for the human eye to see the difference. However, if you look at them long enough, you’ll notice what sets them apart:

#1. 4000k Lights Are More White Than Yellow

According to the Kelvin scale, 4000k lights are when the light starts to become more white than yellow. A perfect white lights is somewhere between 4000 to 4500k. This implies that, whereas 4000k lights appear white, they have a yellow tint. Because 4000k lights are easy on the eyes, they are commonly used in office and retail settings.

#2. 5000k Lights Have Almost No Visible Yellow Light

5000k lights, on the other hand, are at a point where there is hardly any yellowish white light. This is the point at which the light becomes neutral or almost white. When you want to see the true colors of objects and architectural elements, this type of light is ideal. For this reason, these lights are frequently seen in showrooms and art galleries.

Is 5000K Brighter Than 4000K?

Is 5000K Brighter Than 4000K

The brightness of a light is measured in lumens. The brighter the lighting, the higher the number.

The wattage of the light determines the brightness. The wattage determines the lumens. The lumens determine the brightness of the lighting.

Both the 5000K and 4000K can be used at varying wattages. A 60 watt and 100 watts LED bulb, for example, can be used in 5000K or 4000K.

Each has a distinct lumen, which is the most accurate brightness measurement.

A 5000K LED light bulb with a 100-watt output may provide 1500 lumens. 

A 4000K 100 watt light bulb will produce 1500 lumens.

A 60-watt LED light bulb with a 5000K color temperature can produce 750 lumens. 

A 60 watt 4000K lamp will provide 750 lumens

Is 4000K Too Bright?

4000K Lighting
4000K Lighting

It will depend on your personal preferences and the kind of light for proper lighting you prefer, but 4000K is not a bright cool light on the overall temperature scale. It’s suitable for a wide range of kitchen applications, bathrooms, and garages.

Bedrooms, closets and small rooms are places where 4000K should be avoided. Cool color temperatures can appear overly bright daylight kind of color and give a space a “medical” sense unless you have white cabinets, which is a personal taste.

***Read more: 4000K LED Lights: All-to-know about this ideal lighting

Where Should I Use 4000k Bulbs?

Consider the principle of circadian lighting when deciding best color temperature of light to use in your house. According to this hypothesis, the type and amount of light that people are exposed to impacts how their brain functions and energy levels.

According to this belief, the brain is most active and aware around the middle of the day. During this period, the hue of the sun begins to move to the middle of the spectrum or pure white the color temperature of daylight. And the color is nearly identical to the 4000k lights.

This is why neutral lighting is frequently utilized when individuals require concentration and attentiveness. Offices are among these locations. On the other hand, spending a whole day immersed in white light can be overstimulating.

Lights in areas where people spend practically the entire day should be significantly warmer. For this reason, many people like the warmer color temperatures of 4000k.

Where Should I Use 4000k Bulbs
Where Should I Use 4000k Bulbs

Here are some of the more typical applications for 4000k lighting:

#1. Office Spaces

If 4000K lights are used in offices, employees will stay attentive throughout the workday and keep employees alert. They become more productive as a result of this. 4000k lights, on the other hand, are a little warmer, making staff feel more at ease. This could result in job-related stress. Furthermore, too much blue light exposure might make a person tired and cranky.

***Read more: Best Daylight Lamp for Office: Top 8 Expert’s Choices of 2022

#2. Retail Establishments

Retail establishments must provide good lighting and a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. This is to entice more individuals to enter the establishment. The light, on the other hand, should be more neutral and the right color temperature. Customers will be able to see the merchandise more clearly this way.

Customers may not view the merchandise as clearly as they need to if the lighting is too warm. The images you see may appear hazy if the light is a higher Kelvin number. On the other side, if the light is excessively dim, the entire environment will seem cold and uninviting.

#3. Garages

You’ll need clean, sharp lighting if you like working on tasks in your garage or workshop. This will assist you in focusing on your assignment. It will also aid in the prevention of mishaps. If you enjoy working on woodworking projects, this is very crucial. With a clear natural white light, you’ll be able to see even the slightest details.

Where Should I Use 5000k Bulbs?

Where Should I Use 5000k Bulb
Where Should I Use 5000k Bulb

Lights with a color temperature of 5000k have nearly the same clarity as natural sunshine. These lights can be seen in a variety of professional settings. These are the locations where color accuracy and image sharpness are critical.

You might think that this type of light has only a few applications. However, you’d be shocked to read how many establishments employ 5000k lighting. 5000k light is used in anything from sports stadiums to warehouses:

#1. Warehouses

A warehouse is the type of location where people must be completely concentrated. In addition to sufficient lighting, warehouses require crisp white light to ensure proper visibility. If you’re driving a forklift along a narrow lane, you’ll need to be able to see clearly where you’re going.

Furthermore, OSHA standards mandate that warehouse lighting be at least 5000k. This is required to keep staff attentive and prepared to respond to any emergency.

#2. Sports Stadiums

High-definition broadcasting is required in sports stadiums. This is why they replaced all of their lighting with 5000k LED lighting, which is energy-efficient and bright. HD cameras can pick up even the tiniest details and movements this way. This will also ensure that spectators do not miss a single second of the action.

5000k Lighting in Sports Stadiums
5000k Lighting in Sports Stadiums

#3. Healthcare Institutions

Healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and dental clinics, also require bright white light. The conditions in these facilities, especially those in operating rooms and examining rooms, must be cleaner and sanitized. Furthermore, doctors will require a bright, clear light source to see what they’re doing.

#4. Galleries and Showrooms

If you’ve ever visited a car showroom or an art gallery, you’ll notice that they use 5000k lighting. This type of light draws attention to every element of an object, allowing viewers to appreciate it more fully.

#5. Television Studios and Theaters

Television studios, like sports stadiums, employ a variety of colored lights. They do, however, utilize 5000k lights to ensure that their high-definition cameras catch as much detail and movement as possible.

5000k lights are also used in stage theaters to see the actors on stage more clearly. This implies that even those in the back rows will see everything.

***Read more: 6500K Light: Top 7 Best Lighting Choices For Your Spaces

What Lights Do You Need at Home?

What Lights Do You Need at Home
What Lights Do You Need at Home

#1. 4000k Lights

4000k lights are perfect for rooms where you want to relax because they are a little warm. However, it is not so much that you will fall asleep. The living room might benefit the most from 4000k lighting.

In this manner, if you have guests around, you can keep them entertained without making them sleepy. This color lighting is perfect for corridors, stairwells, and porch lights.

#2. 5000k Lights

The kitchen is the space that will benefit the most from the 5000k lighting. You’ll be able to see what you’re cooking at this color temperature. You can also check to see if your ingredients are still usable. Furthermore, the pure white light will keep you awake and aware. As a result, you’re less likely to cut your hand open.

If you have a workshop or enjoy tinkering in your garage, this light is also great. You won’t be missing as many small bits with a solid and clear light as you were before. 5000k lights are also great for security lighting, especially with surveillance cameras.

***Read more: Top 9 Best LED Lights For Kitchen Ceiling: Top Choices in 2022

4000K LED Strip Light

4000K LED Strip Light
4000K LED Strip Light

Some of you might be seeking a 4000K color temperature LED strip light.

As previously stated, it is a versatile color that may be used in various settings in your home.

Under-cabinet lighting is ideal for kitchens, baths, garages, and laundry rooms.

They, too, are available in various color temperatures, including 2700K, 3000K, 4000K, 5000K, and so on.

Keep in mind that, in addition to the LED strip itself, you’ll also require a power supply (plug-in adaptor) and may be on/off connections, depending on your project or requirements.

Conclusion

Color temperatures are the main distinction between 4000k and 5000k lights. When compared to 5000k lighting, 4000k lights are slightly warmer. This distinction, however, is not readily apparent to the untrained eye. After a while, you will notice it. The lights at 4000k and 5000k are at the point on the Kelvin scale where they start to become more white than yellow.

Although 4000k and 5000k lights appear the same, they can be used in various situations. Using one light color above the other in your home will enhance all of your rooms. Determine what color lights your home requires now that you understand how color temperature works. Get them as soon as possible so you can start benefiting from them.