Luminous Intensity / cd → mcd
Convert Candelas to Millicandelas
Convert luminous intensity in candela and SI multiples. Convert Candelas (cd) to Millicandelas (mcd). Find the formula, worked examples, unit definitions, and practical guidance below.
Reverse: Millicandelas to Candelas →
How to convert candelas to millicandelas
A candela equals one lumen per steradian. Total lumens require a known angular distribution; watts require spectral luminous efficacy. Obsolete candle standards are deliberately excluded.
Use x for the value in cd, b for the intermediate value in cd, and y for the result in mcd.
mcd = cd ÷ 0.001
Worked examples
10 cd ≈ 10000 mcd
Step 1: (10 × 1) ≈ 10 cd.
Step 2: 10 ÷ 0.001 ≈ 10000 mcd.20 cd ≈ 20000 mcd
Step 1: (20 × 1) ≈ 20 cd.
Step 2: 20 ÷ 0.001 ≈ 20000 mcd.
Results are rounded to 12 significant digits. Converting units does not increase the precision of the original measurement. Very large or small values outside JavaScript’s finite numeric range are rejected.
About Candelas
Candelas (cd) measures luminous intensity under the conventions above. The base value in cd is (x × 1), where x is the numerical value in cd. Factors shown here are rounded for display; calculations use the stored factor.
About Millicandelas
Millicandelas (mcd) measures luminous intensity under the conventions above. The base value in cd is (x × 0.001), where x is the numerical value in mcd. Factors shown here are rounded for display; calculations use the stored factor.
Definitions and sources
Carry the same physical assumptions into subsequent physics calculations.
Candelas to millicandelas reference table
| Candelas (cd) | Millicandelas (mcd) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1000 |
| 5 | 5000 |
| 10 | 10000 |
| 25 | 25000 |
| 50 | 50000 |
| 100 | 100000 |
| 1000 | 1000000 |
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