LightTools was built by a lighting designer with 18 years of industry experience — someone who has spent nearly two decades specifying fittings, sizing drivers, calculating lux levels, and checking voltage drop on jobs ranging from residential fit-outs to large commercial and hospitality projects.
The frustration that led to this site was simple: there was no single, reliable, free tool that covered the everyday calculations a lighting professional actually needs. Most online calculators were either too basic, based on approximate rules of thumb, or locked behind a registration wall. Spreadsheets worked, but weren't shareable or mobile-friendly. So these tools were built from scratch, using the real formulas and the real standards.
Every calculator on LightTools is built the way a professional would build it — not as a simplified approximation, but using the actual methods: copper resistivity for voltage drop, photometric point calculations for lux, proper IP and CCT logic for strip selection. The results are shown with the working, so you can verify them and understand what's driving the numbers.
Because the best tools in this industry have always been shared freely between professionals. LightTools is kept free through Google AdSense advertising and a small number of Amazon affiliate links on product recommendation pages. These cover hosting costs and keep the site running — the tools themselves will never be paywalled.
The calculators are built to the relevant electrical and lighting standards for each supported region:
Where standards differ — for example in acceptable voltage drop limits or cable sizing conventions — the relevant local standard is applied when you switch regions.
The calculations use industry-standard formulas and are accurate for the inputs provided. However, real-world installations involve variables that no calculator can fully account for — ambient temperature, installation method, cable bundling, load diversity, and more. LightTools results should be used as a starting point and professional reference, not as a substitute for a full engineering assessment. All electrical installation work should be carried out or verified by a licensed electrician.
Yes. Cable sizing, emergency lighting calculations, and a power load estimator are all under consideration. If there's a calculation you do regularly and wish there was a better tool for, get in touch — the best ideas come from people using these tools in the field.
Found a bug? Got a suggestion for a new calculator? Something not quite right for your region? Reach out at feedback@lighttools.com.au — all feedback is read and genuinely appreciated.