| Primary value | 300 - 500 lux |
| Applies to | Residential kitchens · Cooking and prep areas |
| Exceptions | Knife / cutting work surface → 500-750 lux locally |
| Measured as | Average maintained illuminance on the counter surface (~0.85 m AFL). |
| Source | NBC 2016 — Part 8, Section 1, Table 1 ✓ Verified |
Kitchens are task-intensive workspaces — knife work, chopping, reading recipe details, judging food doneness all need bright, even light. The 300-500 lux range is the practical floor for safe cooking.
Modern kitchens combine ambient ceiling light (~250 lux) with under-cabinet LED strips delivering 500-750 lux directly on the counter surface.