Recommended CRI index levels for various lighting projects

By Ledrise Led Professional
Apr 9, 2025

Recommeded CRI index levels for various lighting projects (residential, commercial, business, medical)

In the nuanced world of lighting design, the quality of light transcends mere brightness. It encompasses how accurately colors are rendered under artificial illumination—a factor quantified by the Color Rendering Index (CRI). This guide delves into the intricacies of CRI, its significance across various settings, and considerations for selecting lighting that faithfully reproduces the hues of our environment.

CRI comparison

The Significance of CRI in Various Environments

High CRI lighting is pivotal in settings where accurate color perception is essential:

• Retail Spaces: Accurate color rendering enhances the visual appeal of products, influencing purchasing decisions.

• Art Galleries and Museums: Preserving the integrity of artwork colors is paramount, necessitating lighting with a CRI of 98 or above.

Residential Settings: High CRI lighting contributes to a comfortable and visually pleasing home environment.
Healthcare Facilities: Precise color differentiation can be critical for diagnostics and treatment.

In locations where natural daylight varies significantly across seasons, incorporating high CRI lighting can maintain consistent color perception indoors, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.

Recommended CRI for various applications

When choosing lighting, consider the following CRI guidelines based on application:

Residential applications: LED lights with a CRI of at least 90 are recommended for bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens
Business applications: lights with a CRI of 90 are suitable for general work in offices, while lights with a CRI of 97 are recommended for offices where work with colors is involved, as well as design studios and photography studios
Commercial applications: LED lights with a CRI of 90 or higher are recommended for electronics stores, hardware stores, and jewelry stores, while lights with a CRI of 98 are ideal for interior design stores.
Specialty applications: LED lights with a CRI of 90 are recommended for medical applications such as dental clinics and general practices, while LEDs with a CRI of 99 are ideal for hospitals. For hospitality applications, LED lights with a CRI of 95 are suitable for cafés, hotels, and restaurants.
Streetlights, transit/parking lots, storage rooms, warehouses: a minimum CRI value of 70 or 80 is recommended.

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	90
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

The international lighting standard JIS Z 9112:2019 also classifies LED based on the minimum CRI as shown below.

Minimum CRI Values for LEDs

The minimum CRI required for each class is specified as follows:

Standard type is mainly for outdoor use
Class 1 CRI LED (Ra80) is for offices and residences
Class 2 CRI LED (Ra9085) is for stores, inspection, and medical use, as well as in offices and residences, especially in situations where communication is important; Class 3 CRI LED (Ra95) is for museums and art galleries
Class 4 CRI LED (Ra9585) is for color inspection, painting, dyeing, and printing.

The Color Rendering Index is a crucial consideration in lighting design, influencing how we perceive our surroundings and interact with them. By understanding CRI and its implications, individuals and professionals can make informed decisions to create environments that are both functional and visually harmonious.

Nichia White LED Technology: Revolutionizing Lighting

Nichia, the world’s largest LED manufacturer, has developed an innovative series of LEDs with CRI from 70 to 99 that feature special lighting technologies, designed to revolutionize many lighting applications. At our manufacturing center in Germany, equipped with advanced production systems, we manufacture LED strips & Modules with these lighting technologies.