Color Temperature Calculator
Color temperature describes the color of light, measured in Kelvin (K). Lower values are warm and orange; higher values are cool and blue. The difference between a bedroom at 2700K and an office at 6500K is not just aesthetic — it affects alertness, mood, and sleep. This calculator shows you exactly what any Kelvin value looks like.
Kelvin → Color Calculator
Common light sources and their color temperatures
| Color | Kelvin | Source | Best for |
|---|
Warm vs cool: what the difference actually means
The terms "warm" and "cool" in lighting are counterintuitive: warm light has a lower Kelvin value and a warmer (orange-yellow) color. Cool light has a higher Kelvin value and a cooler (blue-white) color. This inverse relationship confuses people because in everyday language, high temperatures are associated with red and orange (fire) and low temperatures with blue (ice) — the opposite of the Kelvin scale convention for light sources.
Choosing color temperature for different spaces
Bedroom (2700–3000K): Warm light supports the production of melatonin and signals to the body that it is evening. Blue-rich light above 4000K suppresses melatonin and disrupts sleep — a significant problem with screens viewed at night.
Kitchen and bathroom (3000–4000K): Neutral-warm light provides good task visibility without the harshness of cool white. Food looks most appetising under warm to neutral light.
Office and workspace (4000–5000K): Neutral to cool white increases alertness and supports concentration. Color accuracy improves at higher Kelvin values, important for design and detail work.
Photography and video (5500–6500K): Daylight-balanced light (approximately 5500K) is the standard for photography. Most camera and monitor calibration targets D65 (6500K) as the standard white point.
Monitor calibration (6500K): The D65 white point — 6500K — is the international standard for display calibration. Most monitors are calibrated to this temperature for consistent color reproduction.