A Guide to Finding the Best Height for Light Fixtures in ...

When selecting new light fixtures for your home, you may focus on things like style, finish, and shape, but it's also important to know how high to hang light fixtures so that they can provide the most illumination to a space without getting in the way of your daily use of the space. Whether in a kitchen, bathroom, or living room, the position of your light fixtures can significantly impact the room's design and functionality. 

In this guide to the best lighting fixture height, we will explore different types of light fixture options for your home, such as pendants, chandeliers, and sconces, and how to position and place them for optimal use in a given space. 

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Ceiling Height for Light Fixtures

The standard height of most ceilings is eight feet. However, many homes have taller ceilings, with nine and 10-foot ceilings becoming gradually more common in newer constructions. 
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Before installing new light fixtures in your home, take these questions into consideration:

• What is the purpose of the light fixture? Is it primarily for decorative or aesthetic purposes? Is it providing illumination to the entire room or just ambient light?
• Have you measured the space? This would involve measuring the height from floor to ceiling for hanging lights or the wall height for sconces. 

While there are always exceptions to any rule about installing light fixtures, below you will find some general guidelines for different rooms in your home and how high you should hang light fixtures in those spaces. 

Dining Room Lighting Fixture Height

Pendant lighting adds a chic look to any dining room space, but it's critical to measure properly and take note of your ceiling height, as well as the light fixture's length. Be aware of other elements of the room that could impact your fixtures, such as windows, doorways, and any existing furniture. 

When hanging a pendant light fixture or chandelier over a dining room table, consider how far down you want the light to hang. After all, the fixture should provide illumination without obstructing any functionality of the space. In general, the pendant light height from the floor should be around 72 inches, so that the bottom of the fixture is at least 30 inches from the top of the dining room table. If you choose to hang multiple pendant light fixtures, make sure they are evenly spaced, with around two feet between each pendant.

The guidelines for chandeliers over a dining room table are the same, except that a chandelier has the added concern of diameter. Choose a chandelier fixture with a diameter between half or two-thirds that of the table over which it will be suspended. 

Pendant Lights Over Island Height

Unlike dining room lighting, which often focuses on ambiance, kitchen lighting places an emphasis on functionality, providing plenty of illumination for tasks such as preparing dishes and cleaning. Pendant lighting over a kitchen island or peninsula can offer ample light while maintaining a stylish and elegant appearance. 

Similar to dining room light fixtures, pendant lighting over a kitchen island should be at least 30 inches from the surface of the countertop. Another measurement to take into account is that there should be approximately 72 inches between the bottom of the light fixture and the floor. 

As always, ensure that multiple pendant lights are spaced properly, leaving an equal-sized gap between each fixture. Generally, around 30 inches between pendant fixtures is considered good spacing.

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Hallway and Entryway Lighting Fixture Height 

Installing light fixtures in hallways and entries can be a little more difficult than in dining rooms and kitchens simply because you don't have countertops or tables to use in your measurements. The main rule of thumb for open spaces such as corridors and foyers is that light fixtures should be positioned to leave plenty of space between the fixture and any obstruction, including doors, windows, and furniture. These fixtures should also be well above head height to avoid any harm to those walking beneath them.

For pendant lighting in hallways and entryways, leave at least seven feet between the bottom of the fixture and the floor and around four feet between the fixture and any surrounding wall, doorway, or other potential obstacles. This rule is the standard for eight-foot ceilings, so for each additional foot of ceiling height, add another six to seven centimeters. For example, when considering chandelier height, 9-foot ceilings are slightly taller than the standard, so add a little extra space in your measurement. 

If your home has especially high ceilings, such as 18-foot, hang pendant lighting or a chandelier about six feet from the ceiling. If you have an entryway that is two stories, make sure that any lighting fixtures are not hanging below the second story. Instead, you may want to center the light fixture to a window in the entryway if one is available. 

Best Height for Bathroom Wall Sconces

Common around bathroom vanities, wall sconces provide ample lighting when installed at the proper height. In general, wall sconces should be positioned anywhere from 66 to 72 inches above the floor. However, there is no set rule for this type of lighting fixture, so you can position them in the place that works best for your personal use. For example, in a hallway, you may want to install sconces lower on the wall to illuminate the area more fully, while in a bathroom, you will likely want these lights at eye level to provide plenty of light for using the mirror. Consider a variety ofbathroom lighting ideas before making a final decision. 

For vanity light height, 8-ft. ceilings are standard in bathrooms, just as they are in other areas of the home. For taller walls, consider opting for longer wall sconces and make sure to take note of the fixture's depth, as well as its height, before installing. You may want to select sconces that make a statement, such as those that resemble lamps with shades, to add a touch of elegance to your bathroom design, or explore other luxury bathroom lighting ideas.

Best Lighting Fixture Height FAQs

How high should bathroom light fixtures hang?

When installing lighting in a bathroom, keep in mind that you want to be able to see your reflection clearly in the mirror, unless you choose to install luxury lighted mirrors to provide additional illumination. As a general rule, bathroom lighting installed above a vanity mirror should be about 75 to 80 inches from the floor. If you are installing wall sconces, position them at eye level, at about 60 to 70 inches from the floor. 

Is there a way to test out lighting heights before installation?

''A good trick for determining the height of pendant lighting is to use balloons hanging on strings. Use different sizes and shapes of balloons for areas where you plan to install multiple pendant light fixtures to get a clearer picture of proper spacing and size before purchasing lighting fixtures.

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Distance between cans should not exceed the distance from the light to the surface to be lighted, is the general rule I have always used. But it depends on what you want for light, if you want high light levels you must put them closer together, and of course further apart will decrease light levels.

Kitchen counter with 8 foot ceiling means there is 5 feet between the counter and the light source. Go no more than 5 feet between cans, but aim for around 4 feet for better lighting. Sometimes you have to deal with equal spacing limitations and framing members that can not be easily moved and settle on something not quite what you prefer.

It depends on what you are doing but that is not a bad rule of thumb. I try for about 5' apart and 30-36" off the wall. If you are wanting to light pictures on the wall then I would go about 24" off the wall.

A good guideline, but you also need to consider what kind of bulb will be in the can light. If you put in a PAR type bulb, you can get them in different beam spread angles. For 5' vertical to counter and 5' spacing, you want to use bulbs with a beam angle of more than 45 degrees to provide some overlap.
If you use type A or a bare spiral CFL, you can make some spread adjustments by moving the socket up and down in the can.
If you install the commercial style reflective cans with tubular FL, use the spacing recommendations that come with the luminaire. Here is the method I used when I remodelled my house. Grab a couple cases of cans and start laying them out on the floor. Move them around, step back, adjust, add cans, take away cans, move cans, go get more cans if you think you need them, repeat. Step back and look at the room; repeat as much as needed until a feeling of calm rests on you. Transfer the locations up to the ceiling. The light knows where it wants to be, you just have to listen.

Here is the method I used when I remodelled my house. Grab a couple cases of cans and start laying them out on the floor. Move them around, step back, adjust, add cans, take away cans, move cans, go get more cans if you think you need them, repeat. Step back and look at the room; repeat as much as needed until a feeling of calm rests on you. Transfer the locations up to the ceiling. The light knows where it wants to be, you just have to listen.

Do you find that the same method works for steeply sloped high ceilings too, or is it only practical for level ceilings? The light knows where it wants to be, you just have to listen. This part is crucial.

And to be perfectly serious I have used said method with home owners on large custom homes with all types of ceilings. But then you get into your up lights, down lights, task lights, what do you want to do you see yourself doing here?, and such. It was one of the parts of resi work that I enjoyed.

Here is the method I used when I remodelled my house. Grab a couple cases of cans and start laying them out on the floor. Move them around, step back, adjust, add cans, take away cans, move cans, go get more cans if you think you need them, repeat. Step back and look at the room; repeat as much as needed until a feeling of calm rests on you. Transfer the locations up to the ceiling. The light knows where it wants to be, you just have to listen.

You are indeed wise. I just always waved my hand in front of the home owners face and said "these are not the lights you are looking for.":lol: I always design the lighting depending on the layout of the furniture. If the customer will change the furniture around then the lighting gets designed so it illuminates the room evenly. Generally, it is 30-36" from the walls then 48"-60" apart.

As far as the picture or frame lighting, generally you measure from the center of the frame to the ceiling then divide it by half, that is the location of the lighting on the ceiling.

I always design the lighting depending on the layout of the furniture. If the customer will change the furniture around then the lighting gets designed so it illuminates the room evenly. Generally, it is 30-36" from the walls then 48"-60" apart. QUOTE]

If you're trying to light the room evenly, then the distance from the lights on the outer edge of the room to the wall should be half the distance between the lights. So starting 30 - 36" from the walls would space the lights 60 - 72" apart.