Solspot · All plant tools
Window light estimator
Pick a window direction and how far back the pot sits. You get an estimated lux range, the light category it falls in, and the houseplants that suit it.
This is an estimate, not a measurement. Direction, obstruction and distance are the three biggest factors, so a rough answer is possible from them alone. Roof overhangs, wall colour, glass coatings, your latitude and the weather on the day all move the number, which is why the result is a wide range rather than a figure. To find out what a spot really gets, measure it with Solspot.
Plants that suit this spot
Stop guessing and measure it
Solspot reads the spot in lux through your phone's exposure meter, names the light category with the honest range attached, and matches it against all 100 species here. Free, offline, no account.
Common questions
How much light does a north facing window get?
In the northern hemisphere a north facing window is the dimmest aspect, because it never gets direct sun. Right at the glass on a clear summer day it usually lands somewhere around 2,000 to 6,000 lux, which is Low to Medium light. In winter it can drop below 1,500. In the southern hemisphere the same is true of south facing windows instead.
What does bright indirect light actually mean in lux?
Roughly 10,000 to 20,000 lux: right at an unobstructed window, without sun falling on the leaves. It is much rarer indoors than the phrase suggests. A spot that looks bright to you is often only 2,000 to 5,000 lux, because your eyes adapt to indoor light and a meter does not.
How accurate is estimating light from window direction?
It is a rough guide. The inputs here are the biggest factors, but overhangs, wall colour, glass coatings, latitude and the weather all shift the result, which is why the answer is a range and a category rather than a number. The category is the part to act on.
Why does light drop so fast away from the window?
Indoor light falls off quickly with distance. One metre back often gets about half what the sill gets, and two metres back can be under a third. That is why a plant that is fine on the sill slowly declines on a shelf across the room, even though the room still looks bright to you.
Does a net curtain make much difference?
More than most people expect. A sheer or net curtain typically cuts light by around 40 percent, and frosted or textured glass by around half. That is often enough to move a spot down a whole category, from Bright Indirect to Medium.
A free tool from Bald.studio, built from the plant database of Solspot.