The Lighting Sizing Guide

How To Size & Place Lighting In Every Room

CHANDELIERS

In a room:
Multiply the ceiling height by 2.5 and 3. Convert the sum to inches to get your suggested fixture hang height range.
A 10’ ceiling calls for a suggested chandelier height of 25–30".
For diameter, add the room’s dimensions and convert the sum to inches.
A 12' x 12' room calls for a suggested chandelier diameter of 24".

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Over a square table:
Keep 36" between the table top and the base of the fixture.
For a square table, the ideal width is 6" less than all edges of the table.

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With high ceilings:
Multiply the ceiling height by 3 and convert the sum to inches to get your suggested fixture hang height.
The general rule of thumb is to leave at least 7' of space between the floor and the base of the chandelier, maybe more depending on ceiling height.
Let your sense of proportion be your guide!

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Over a round table:
Keep 36" between the table top and the base of the fixture.
For a round table, the ideal fixture width is 12–18" less than the diameter of the table.

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Sconces beside a bathroom mirror:
Mount sconces symmetrically a few inches to either side of the mirror while preserving a minimum of 28" between them.
Keep 60–65" between the floor and the midpoint of the sconce backplate.

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Sconces above a bathroom mirror:
Keep 75–80" between the floor and the base of the fixture.
The width of the fixture should measure approximately 75% of the mirror’s width and should never extend past it.
To minimize shadows, select a fixture that doesn’t extend out too far.

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Pendants
Hang a one-light pendant so that the shade is about even with the side of your head or slightly higher from an upright seated position.

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Sconces
Keep 55–60" between the floor and the top of the fixture.
Sconces with a switch or an adjustable arm should be within arm’s reach from a sitting position.

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Table Lamps
Table lamps should be placed so the bottom of the shade sits about 42" off the floor.
Always consider the lamp’s size in proportion to the piece of furniture it will live on.

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Chandeliers
When centering a chandelier over the bed, the bottom of the piece should hang roughly 7" above the ground.
In terms of sizing, a good rule of thumb is to choose a diameter of 24" for twin/full beds and 36" for queen/king beds.

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Pendant in an entryway:
Leave at least 7' between the floor and the base of the fixture. If possible, preserve 4' between the widest parts of the fixture and the wall. If you have a transom window above the door, consider making the pendant visible from the outside.

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Pendants in a hallway:
Divide the length of the hallway by 8 and subtract 1 from the sum to determine how many pendants to use. One fixture every 8' is the norm. Leave at least 7' between the floor and the base of the fixture.

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Flush and semi-flush mounts in a hallway:
Flush and semi-flush mounts should be placed a minimum of 8', and no more than 10', apart. Leave at least 7' between the floor and the base of the fixture. If the ceiling height allows for a semi-flush, they provide better ambient light.

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Sconces in a living area or hallway:
For accent light, mount wall sconces 5'-6' from the floor, higher if you have very tall ceilings. For task light, 5' is the average. In a living room, keep them about 6' apart, bearing in mind what they’re accenting. For hallways, this distance can be extended to 8'.

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Exterior door, side:
Mount exterior sconces 60–65” from the ground. The center of the fixture should be about even with your eye. For optimal light spread, the fixtures should be a quarter to a third of the height of the door. If using only one light, place it on the doorknob side.

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Exterior door, above:
Center a sconce over the door and mount it so the lowest part is 6” above the door frame. For a hanging light, the general rule is to hang a pendant so the bottom of the light is no lower than the top of the door frame.

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Garage door, above:
Install sconces 6–12” above the garage door, making sure the bottom of the shade doesn’t hang lower than the garage frame. You can center one sconce over a single door garage or two sconces over a wider garage door.

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Garage door, side:
Place exterior wall sconces around 66” from the ground. As a rule, the size of the fixture should be 1/4 to 1/3 the size of the height of the garage door opening when installed on either side.

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Table/Floor Lamp:
The most common measurement for a floor lamp places the base of the shade about 60" from the floor.
Keep table lamps’ shades about even with eye, protecting yourself from bulb glare.
This tends to fall between 36"-42" and depends on furniture height.

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Sconces flanking a piece of art:
First, place a sconce at middle height on either side of a single framed picture.
Hang sconces no less than 6" from the edge of the frame and no more than 18" away.

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Picture lights:
When used for art, picture lights are best at a 30° tilt. Widths range from 8"-42".
Select a fixture that is about half the width of the frame.
An 8"-14" wide frame calls for a 4"-5" light.
If the frame is more than 30" wide, use a 30" light.

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Game Table:
Keep a minimum of 40" between the bed of the table and the base of the fixture; about even with the top of the head of a player standing adjacent is a good mark.
All parts of the table should be evenly illuminated, while avoiding glare.
A series of pendants or a linear light work best.

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