What does Nits mean?

Nit (nt) is the unit of luminance. Luminance describes how much light a source emits per unit area. More precisely, it defines the spatial and directional dependency of luminous flux emitted by a light source. Luminance determines the perceived brightness of a surface area but is not suitable for describing point light sources. The SI unit for luminance is candela per square meter (cd/m²), meaning: 1 nt = 1 cd/m². One candela corresponds approximately to the brightness of a typical candle. In practical terms, this means a screen with 500 nits emits as much light over one square meter as 500 candles would.

The perceived brightness of a light source to the human eye depends on the following variables: the emitted luminous flux Φ (measured in lumens, lm), the area A from which the light is emitted, and the solid angle Ω in which the light is distributed.

The Area A: The surface size matters, because a small area appears brighter than a large one, even if the emitted light is identical. The light output per area is calculated using the formula for radiant exitance: M = Φ / A

The Solid Angle  Ω: The angle in which the light is emitted into space affects brightness—light focused into a smaller angle appears brighter. The luminous intensity is calculated by the formula: I = Φ / Ω

These components are then combined in the fundamental formula for luminance L:

Luminance L is therefore defined as the ratio of luminous intensity I to the illuminated area A in a given direction. This relationship can also be illustrated visually.

Luminance can also be expressed for LED walls. The unit of nits takes into account all the factors relevant to brightness relative to surface area. These include the number of LEDs per pixel, the pixel pitch, and the brightness of each individual LED. But why is luminance especially important for LED walls?

This becomes particularly evident when looking at outdoor LED walls. Their visibility depends on how well they compete with ambient light sources. Depending on their placement, an outdoor LED wall competes with different lighting conditions—such as shaded areas or sunset brightness. This means each location demands different luminance levels. While 800 to 1500 nits may be sufficient in shaded areas, brightness levels of 2000 to 3500 nits are necessary to ensure visibility during sunset.

So here’s what to keep in mind:

The brighter the environment, the higher the luminance an LED wall needs to produce a visible image ✓

The darker the environment, the lower the luminance needed to display a visible image ✓

Each of our LED modules has a specific luminance value tailored to its intended use environment. For example, our indoor module P2+sBL NEO has a luminance of 1500 nits, making it ideal for darker, shaded spaces or enclosed rooms. In contrast, our P3+WH PRO reaches over 3900 nits—and our P4+WH PRO exceeds 5000 nits. Both modules are ideal for outdoor use, as their comparatively high brightness allows them to compete with intense light sources like direct sunlight.

Each of our LED modules has a specific luminance value tailored to its intended use environment. For example, our indoor module P2+sBL NEO has a luminance of 1500 nits, making it ideal for darker, shaded spaces or enclosed rooms. In contrast, our P3+WH PRO reaches over 3900 nits—and our P4+WH PRO exceeds 5000 nits. Both modules are ideal for outdoor use, as their comparatively high brightness allows them to compete with intense light sources like direct sunlight.