nits (nt) to stilbs (sb) conversion

1 nt = 0.0001 sbsb → nt
Formula
1 nt = 0.0001 sb

Understanding nits to stilbs Conversion

The nit (nt) is the SI luminance unit of one candela per square metre, the figure used to rate display and screen brightness. The stilb (sb) is a CGS luminance unit equal to one candela per square centimetre — 10,000 times larger than the nit — historically used in optics and photometry. Converting nits to stilbs yields small decimals and is mainly needed when comparing modern display specifications with older CGS-based measurements.

Conversion Formula

1 nt=0.0001 sb1\ \text{nt} = 0.0001\ \text{sb}

To convert nits to stilbs, multiply by this factor:

sb=nt×0.0001\text{sb} = \text{nt} \times 0.0001

Step-by-Step Example

Convert 25 nits to stilbs.

sb=25×0.0001=0.0025 sb\text{sb} = 25 \times 0.0001 = 0.0025\ \text{sb}

How to Convert nits to stilbs

Convert display luminance in nits to the CGS stilb unit by dividing by 10,000.

  1. Take your nit value: Start with the luminance in nt (cd/m²).
  2. Multiply by 0.0001: Equivalent to dividing by 10,000, since one stilb is 10,000 nits.
  3. Record the stilbs: The result is the luminance in sb.
  4. Worked result: 25 nt × 0.0001 = 0.0025 sb.

nits to stilbs conversion table

nits (nt)stilbs (sb)
00
10.0001
20.0002
30.0003
40.0004
50.0005
60.0006
70.0007
80.0008
90.0009
100.001
150.0015
200.002
250.0025
300.003
400.004
500.005
600.006
700.007
800.008
900.009
1000.01
1500.015
2000.02
2500.025
3000.03
4000.04
5000.05
6000.06
7000.07
8000.08
9000.09
10000.1
20000.2
30000.3
40000.4
50000.5
100001
250002.5
500005
10000010
25000025
50000050
1000000100

What is the nit?

The nit is a unit of luminance used to describe the brightness of light emitted from or reflected by a surface, most familiarly the screens of televisions, monitors, and phones. It is numerically identical to the SI unit, the candela per square metre.

Definition

One nit is exactly one candela per square metre, the luminous intensity of one candela spread over one square metre of projected surface area.

1 nt=1 cd/m21\ \text{nt} = 1\ \text{cd/m}^2

The two units are interchangeable: 1 nt=1 cd/m2=1 lm/(m2⋅sr)1\ \text{nt} = 1\ \text{cd/m}^2 = 1\ \text{lm}/(\text{m}^2 \cdot \text{sr}).

Origin and History

The name "nit" derives from the Latin nitere, meaning "to shine," and came into use in the mid-20th century as a convenient shorthand for the candela per square metre. It remains popular in the display and photometry industries.

Law and Notable Facts

The nit is not an official SI unit name but is exactly equal to the SI candela per square metre, so it carries no ambiguity. Display manufacturers routinely quote peak brightness in nits, with high-dynamic-range (HDR) televisions marketed at 1000 nits or more.

Real-World Examples and Conversions

  • Standard SDR television: about 100 nits reference white.
  • Modern OLED and LCD monitors: 250–600 nits.
  • HDR displays: peak highlights of 1000–4000 nits.
  • 1 nt=1 cd/m2=10−4 stilb≈3.14159 apostilbs1\ \text{nt} = 1\ \text{cd/m}^2 = 10⁻⁴\ \text{stilb} \approx 3.14159\ \text{apostilbs}.

What is the stilb?

The stilb is a CGS unit of luminance, describing the brightness of a surface in terms of luminous intensity per unit area. It was widely used in older photometric literature before the SI candela per square metre became standard.

Definition

One stilb is one candela per square centimetre. Since there are ten thousand square centimetres in a square metre, the stilb is a large unit relative to the SI luminance unit.

1 sb=10000 cd/m21\ \text{sb} = 10000\ \text{cd/m}^2

Exactly, 1 sb=1 cd/cm2=104 cd/m2=104 nits1\ \text{sb} = 1\ \text{cd/cm}^2 = 10⁴\ \text{cd/m}^2 = 10⁴\ \text{nits}.

Origin and History

The stilb was introduced by the French physicist André Blondel around 1920, its name taken from the Greek stilbein, "to glitter." It belonged to the centimetre–gram–second system and was used chiefly in continental Europe.

Law and Notable Facts

The stilb is not part of the SI and has largely fallen out of use in favour of the candela per square metre. Because it references the square centimetre, a single stilb represents a very bright surface: the sun's disc at the horizon is on the order of a few hundred stilbs.

Real-World Examples and Conversions

  • A frosted incandescent lamp surface: a few stilbs.
  • The sun's disc viewed from Earth: roughly 160,000 cd/m², or about 16 stilbs.
  • 1 sb=104 cd/m2=104 nits1\ \text{sb} = 10⁴\ \text{cd/m}^2 = 10⁴\ \text{nits}.
  • 1 cd/m2=10−4 sb1\ \text{cd/m}^2 = 10⁻⁴\ \text{sb}.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many stilbs is one nit?

One nit equals exactly 0.0001 stilbs, because a stilb is one candela per square centimetre — 10,000 times larger than a nit.

How do I convert nits to stilbs?

Multiply the nit value by 0.0001 (divide by 10,000). For example, 5,000 nits × 0.0001 = 0.5 sb.

How do I convert stilbs back to nits?

Multiply the stilb value by 10,000. So 1 stilb = 10,000 nits.

Why is the stilb so much larger than the nit?

The stilb is defined per square centimetre while the nit is per square metre, and a square metre contains 10,000 square centimetres, giving the exact 10,000× ratio.

Where is the stilb used?

The stilb appears in classical optics and older photometry texts; contemporary display and lighting work uses nits (cd/m²) instead.

People also convert

nt to cd/m2nt to asbnt to Lnt to fL

Complete nits conversion table

nt
UnitResult
candelas per square metre (cd/m2)1 cd/m2
stilbs (sb)0.0001 sb
apostilbs (asb)3.141593 asb
lamberts (L)0.0003141593 L
foot-lamberts (fL)0.2918635 fL

Luminance conversions