Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a measure of how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects compared to natural light. Rated on a scale from 0 to 100, higher CRI values indicate better color accuracy. For example, a CRI of 80 or above is considered good for everyday environments, while a CRI of 90+ is recommended where color precision is critical, such as retail, design studios, or medical settings.
Choosing lighting with the right CRI is important because it directly affects how spaces look and feel. Poor CRI lighting can make colors appear dull, washed out, or inaccurate, while high CRI LED lighting ensures vibrant, natural looking colors that improve visibility, enhance aesthetics, and support better decision making in both professional and everyday applications.
CRI is determined by comparing how a light source renders the colors of a set of standardized test samples against a reference light, such as natural daylight or an incandescent lamp. The closer the light source reproduces the colors to the reference, the higher its CRI value will be.
The measurement uses eight standard test colors (R1–R8), which represent a variety of tones from pastel shades to strong colors. For more critical applications, extended CRI testing (R9–R15) is used, with R9 (strong red) being especially important in industries like retail, healthcare, and photography, where accurate reds are vital.
CRI is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher numbers representing more accurate colour rendering. Here’s a simple breakdown of how different CRI ranges perform in real-world settings:
The Colour Rendering Index plays a vital role in how we experience spaces. Lighting with a poor CRI can make objects look dull, washed out, or even misleading, while high-CRI lighting ensures colours appear vivid and true to life. This directly influences comfort, productivity, and the overall impression of an environment.
In commercial settings such as retail, accurate colour rendering enhances product displays and makes items more appealing to customers. In offices and educational spaces, good CRI improves concentration and reduces eye strain. In healthcare environments, accurate colour reproduction is essential for diagnosis and patient care.
By choosing high-CRI LED lighting, you not only improve aesthetics but also support better functionality, safety, and decision-making across different applications.
The difference between high and low CRI lighting is often immediately noticeable.
In short, high-CRI lighting enhances aesthetics, improves comfort and helps people make better decisions, while low-CRI lighting can create a lifeless or misleading appearance.
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When selecting LED lighting, CRI should be considered alongside other factors such as brightness (lux), colour temperature (CCT) and energy efficiency. The right CRI depends on how the space will be used:
It’s also worth considering R9 values in addition to the overall CRI. High R9 ensures that strong reds — important for skin tones, textiles and food displays — are rendered correctly.
By balancing CRI with other performance factors, you can achieve lighting that is both energy-efficient and visually effective for its intended purpose.
Understanding CRI is essential when choosing LED lighting, as it directly affects how colours appear in any environment. A higher CRI ensures that spaces look vibrant and natural, while supporting comfort, performance and accurate decision making. Whether it’s for homes, offices, retail or specialist applications, selecting the right CRI helps you get the most out of your lighting investment.
At Nexis Lighting, we design intelligent and efficient LED lighting solutions tailored to your needs. If you’d like expert advice on achieving the best colour rendering and overall lighting performance for your project, our technical sales engineers are here to help.
Contact us today at sales@nexislighting.co.uk
For most applications, a CRI of 80 or above is considered good, while 90+ is recommended for areas where colour accuracy is critical, such as retail, healthcare, or design studios.
CRI determines how accurately colours appear under a light source. High CRI lighting ensures that objects look natural and vibrant, which improves aesthetics, comfort, and functionality.
CRI (Colour Rendering Index) measures colour accuracy, while CCT (Correlated Colour Temperature) describes the appearance of light on the warm-to-cool scale. Both factors influence how lighting affects a space.
Not necessarily. While many modern LEDs achieve CRI 80 or higher, cheaper or older LEDs may have lower CRI values. Always check the specification when colour accuracy is important.
No. While CRI is important, other factors such as CCT, lux levels, efficiency, and glare control should also be considered to achieve the best lighting results.
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