Recommeded CRI index levels for various lighting projects

The Color Rendering Index or CRI, for short, is a one number quantification of how good (or bad) is an artificial light source at reproducing colors, compared with reference standard illuminant modeled after daylight. The highest value possible is 100, equal with that of daylight and incandescent lamps/halogen lamps.  Other lamps, such as fluorescent or gas discharge lamps can have  CRI between 17 and 96, with even a negative value for sodium low pressure (the yellow type used in street lamps).

CRI was introduced by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) in 1974, because of the wide variation in the ability to reproduce colors with the white light emitted by the many types of the gas-lamps mentioned above.

Today, with over 40 years of use, the CRI index is firmly rooted in the lighting industry and among professionals. However, it has failed to gain much traction among the general public due to the fact that, soon after its introduction, it became not really relevant when making a purchase decision for lighting.

The reason was that most lamps were built for specific applications that required a minim CRI value so one could not go wrong with the choice of lamp.

For example, for office or all other linear lighting almost everybody used the tri-phospor linear fluorescent tubes, on the market since the 70s, all with CRI over 80. For the home you the choice was between incandescent and halogen both with CRI100, for retail and other high intensity spot lighting the metal halide lamps with CRI min 85. Street light was reserved for high intensity and very efficient sodium lamps that although had poor CRI very few cared about it.

 

From 2000s onward, LED technology changed this. It is the first lighting source that can be used for every application and have the full range of performance and quality level, including the ability to accurately reproduce colors. Therefore, it is imperative you choose the LEDs with the correct CRI level for your application.

 

The pictures above shows how colors can look different based on the CRI of the light source that illuminates them. A vibrant red under sunlight or a high CRI light can look dull or even orange under a low CRI light.

As a general rule one should stay away from light source with CRI less than 80, unless this light is used for orientation purpose only, outdoors from streetlights, or inside on corridors or stairwells. 

When possible, you should choose lights with higher CRI than 80, as recommended in the table below: 

Application	Minimum CRI value	Recommended CRI Value
Residential
Bedroom	80	90
Living room	80	90
Bathroom	80	95
Kitchen	80	95
Business
Office, general work	80	80
Office, work with colors	90	97
Design studio	80	97
Commercial
Electronics store	80	90
Fashion	90	97
Hardware store	80	90
Interior design store	90	98
Jewelry	80	90
Medical
Dental Clinic	90	97
General Practice	90	97
Hospitality
Café	80	95
Hotel	80	95
Restaurant	80	95
Other
Street light	70	80
Transit/parking lot	70	80
Storage room	70	80
Warehouse	70	90
Photography	90	97

 In our offer you can find LED fixtures and lamps with CRI of at least 80, while our very popular  LED strips and modules are available with the highest CRI today possible, up to 98+, with technologies such as Nichia Optisolis and Seoul Semiconductor SunLike.