Two numbers describe any tactical light, and they measure different things. Lumens is total light output — overall brightness. Candela is beam intensity — how far that light is concentrated, i.e. throw. A floody light can have high lumens but low candela; a thrower can have modest lumens but huge candela. Both matter. For full picks see our best weapon lights guide.
Candela to throw distance
Beam distance (the ANSI standard) is where the beam fades to usable light, and it works out to roughly 2 × the square root of candela, in metres:
| Candela | ≈ Throw | Typical use |
| 5,000 cd | ~140 m | Compact pistol light, indoor / close |
| 11,300 cd | ~213 m | Full-size pistol light, all-round |
| 17,000 cd | ~261 m | Balanced rifle light |
| 40,000 cd | ~400 m | High-output rifle light |
| 66,000 cd | ~514 m | Turbo / high-candela thrower |
| 80,000 cd | ~565 m | Long-range search |
| 95,000+ cd | ~616 m+ | Maximum-throw turbo light |
Real examples from our range
| Light | Lumens | Candela | ≈ Throw |
| SureFire X300U-A | 1000 | 11,300 | 213 m |
| Streamlight TLR-7 X | 550 | 5,000 | 140 m |
| Streamlight ProTac 2.0 Rail HP | 2000 | 85,000 | 583 m |
| SureFire M340DFT Turbo | 650 | 95,000 | 616 m |
| Cloud Defensive MCH 2.0 | 1100 | 80,000 | 565 m |
Which should you prioritise?
For indoor and close defensive use, a wide, bright beam (high lumens, moderate candela) lights up a room and your peripheral vision. For outdoors, distance ID or punching through glass and smoke, prioritise candela — a focused, high-intensity beam reaches much further. “Turbo” and “HC / HP” models are built for throw.
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Frequently asked questions
Are more lumens always better?
No — past a point, extra lumens just add spill. For reach, candela (beam intensity) matters more than raw lumens.
What is a good candela for a rifle light?
17,000–40,000 cd suits general use; 60,000 cd and up (turbo/HC models) is for long-range identification.
How is throw distance calculated?
ANSI beam distance ≈ 2 × √(candela) in metres — the point where the beam drops to 0.25 lux.
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