If you’ve been researching screens for digital signage, you’ve probably come across brightness terms like nits and cd/m². At first glance, they might seem like two different ways of measuring something technical, but they’re actually one and the same.

Understanding how display brightness works is an important factor when making informed decisions about your signage setup, especially when visibility is at stake. For example, if your screen will be in direct sunlight, or behind a window pane, the screen brightness definitely needs to be factored in. 

So, lets dig in, find out what these terms mean, how they affect your display performance, and how to choose the right screen for your environment, whether you're using ScreenCloud or not.

Why brightness matters in digital signage

Brightness refers to how much light a screen emits. It directly affects whether your content is readable, especially in locations with high ambient light, like shop windows or outdoor settings.

Too dim, and your message gets lost. Too bright, and you may end up overspending on power or using an unnecessarily intense screen.

This is why brightness should be part of your digital signage planning, and not just an afterthought.

cd/m² stands for candelas per square meter, the official unit for measuring display luminance.

Candela (cd): a unit of light intensity, roughly equal to the light from a single candle.

Square meter (m²): the area over which the light is spread.

So, a display rated at 500 cd/m² emits 500 candelas of light across each square meter of its screen surface. This unit is common in spec sheets and used by manufacturers worldwide.

A nit is simply a more user-friendly way of describing the same measurement. 1 nit = 1 candela per square meter.

You might see "nits" more often in marketing materials or product listings, especially from TV and monitor brands. But there’s no difference in value—just a different label for the same measurement.

So what’s the difference between Nits and cd/m²?

There’s no technical difference at all. They represent the same unit of brightness. The only variation is in language:

cd/m² is used in official, scientific contexts.

Nits are used in more casual or commercial settings.

When choosing a screen for your signage, focus on the number itself—not the label.

The right level of brightness depends on where and how your display is being used. Here’s a general guide:

Window-facing signage: 1,000–1,500 nits

Outdoor digital signage: 2,000–4,000+ nits

Keep in mind also that brighter screens typically use more power, which may impact running costs if you're managing a large network. Using different displays such as LCD, OLED etc also impacts the power consumption, so its best to check the technical spec of your chosen screen rather than relying simply on the brightness as a guideline. 

ScreenCloud is hardware agnostic, meaning you can run our digital signage software on virtually any screen, regardless of brand or brightness level. Whether you're using a high-brightness outdoor display or a standard office monitor, ScreenCloud helps you manage content consistently across all locations.

For full compatibility details, check out our guide to supported devices and media players.

Screen brightness + great content = Effective signage

Even the brightest screen won’t deliver results if your content isn’t well designed or strategically managed. ScreenCloud helps you create, schedule, and measure your digital signage from one simple platform.

With over 80 integrations, a powerful CMS, and tools built for IT and operations teams, ScreenCloud brings the right message to the right screen, wherever that screen happens to be.

Nits and cd/m² are two terms for the same thing: a measurement of how bright your screen is. The key is knowing how much brightness you need for your environment, and choosing hardware that matches that requirement.

ScreenCloud’s flexible, hardware-agnostic approach gives you freedom to choose the screen that works best for your space, whether it’s a 300-nit monitor in a back office or a 3,000-nit outdoor display facing the high street.

Want help choosing the right setup? Get in touch or explore our digital signage solutions to learn more.

NITs and cd/m² or candelas are commonly used to describe the brightness of screens. But what do these terms mean, and how can choose the right screen?

Nits vs cd/m²: What’s the Difference in Display Brightness Measurements?

Nits vs cd/m²: What’s the Difference in Display Brightness Measurements?

Nits vs cd/m²: What’s the Difference in Display Brightness Measurements?

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