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, close work |
| 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 lamping |
| 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 close work in a barn, a yard or a wood, a wide, bright beam (high lumens, moderate candela) lights the area and your peripheral vision. For open ground, distance identification or punching through mist and rain, prioritise candela — a focused, high-intensity beam reaches much further. “Turbo” and “HC / HP” models are built for throw. If the light is going on a foxing rifle, our guide to optics for fox and night vermin control covers lamping in detail.
Shop tactical lighting
Browse weapon lights, handheld torches and the wider tactical lighting range, or see best weapon lights under £250.
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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