Hang around for how many and how far apart they should be
Choose a pendant light size that is appropriate for the space.
Give at least six inches of clearance from the edges of kitchen islands and tables.
Space pendant lights apart evenly from one another.
Hang pendant lights 28 to 34 inches above tables and counters.
Hang pendant lights at least seven feet above walking spaces.
So, you’ve found the pendant of your dreams, but will it fit your space? Especially popular in kitchens and dining rooms, the right pendant lights can really elevate the style of your home. The first step after placement location is to decide on an appropriate size and number of pendants to best suit the space. Follow this handy pendant size chart to help guide your choices and empower you to shop with confidence.
Unlike chandeliers that hold multiple lights, a pendant light is a single light bulb suspended from the ceiling. Pendant lights are great on their own or as part of a matching set spanning a wider space. In the case of the latter, sets of pendant lights are a hot choice for hanging over kitchen islands and dining tables.
There are different types of pendant lights to suit a variety of tastes, from classic to contemporary, with a range of materials. To ensure you have enough clearance around your kitchen island or dining table, follow this basic formula:
Measure the length and width of your kitchen island or dining table in inches.
Subtract 12 inches from each of these numbers.
The smaller of the two is the maximum diameter for a single pendant.
This gives you at least six inches of clearance from any edge. Say you have a table that is 48 inches by 24 inches. When you subtract 12 from 24, you get 12. This means the largest single pendant you can have is 12 inches in diameter.
What if you want to have more than one pendant? You’ll need to do some more math for that. Divide the diameter you found in the last step by your desired number of pendants, then add one to get the possible maximum width of each pendant. This will help with spacing them out evenly.
For example, say you want to hang three pendants over a 48-inch kitchen island:
48 inches - 12 inches = 36 inches
3 pendants + 1 = 4
36 inches / 4 = 9 inches
Each individual pendant can be up to 9 inches in diameter. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, so you may go a bit bigger if you prefer. This pendant size chart provides some common table and island widths along with the maximum pendant size given the number of pendants.
| Number of Pendants | Diameter Per Pendant |
|---|---|
| 2 | 8 inches |
| 3 | 6 inches |
| 4 | 5 inches |
| 5 | 4 inches |
| Number of Pendants | Diameter Per Pendant |
|---|---|
| 2 | 12 inches |
| 3 | 9 inches |
| 4 | 7 inches |
| 5 | 6 inches |
| Number of Pendants | Diameter Per Pendant |
|---|---|
| 2 | 16 inches |
| 3 | 12 inches |
| 4 | 10 inches |
| 5 | 8 inches |
Understandably, the cost to install a light fixture increases with the number of light fixtures. If you have many pendant lights, it will cost more than if you have a smaller number. As you decide on the number of pendant lights, you also calculate the ideal spacing between them. This is similar to calculating the maximum pendant size for multiple pendants.
Measure the length of your table or island in inches.
Divide this number by the number of pendants plus one.
This provides the distance between the center of each pendant light fixture.
For example, say you have a table that is 60 inches long, and you want to hang three pendants. Divide 60 by four (three pendants, plus one) to arrive at 15 inches between pendants.
If you are ever unsure about what would work best in your space, call local light fixture companies for advice. They can provide expert recommendations based on past experience. In general, smaller islands under five feet should have no more than two medium pendants. You can also choose to have a slightly larger number of smaller pendants over the same space.
As with all other types of lighting, balance is key. When hanging pendant lighting, symmetry is the most common configuration. If you are installing an odd number of pendants, the center pendant should hang directly over the center of your kitchen island or dining room table. In other words, it should be at the four-foot mark above an eight-foot table, for instance. Space out the other pendants accordingly on either side following the formula above.
The same basic idea applies when you are hanging an even number of pendants, except you have two middle lights instead of just one. Find the center point of your table, then measure half of the desired spacing between pendants on either side of this point.
For example, say you want to hang four small pendants over a six-foot table. Six feet is 72 inches. The center point is 36 inches. Following the formula above, the pendants should be 14.4 inches apart, so measure 7.2 inches on either side of this center point to mark where the middle two pendant lights should go.
You have a lot of options when it comes to the types of light fixtures for all the other rooms and spaces in your home. Pendant lights aren’t only for kitchen islands and dining room tables. They may find a home in your living room, den, entryway, or even your bedroom.
If you plan on hanging pendant lights over a specific piece of furniture or built-in, like a fireplace or console table, follow the same basic process as you would for a dining room table. You may not have to worry as much about having six inches of clearance from every edge, though.
For other rooms and spaces where you might be deciding between pendants and chandeliers, use this formula to calculate the appropriate pendant light size for that area:
Measure the length and width of the room in feet.
Add those two numbers together.
Change the unit to inches.
If you have a room that is 8 x 10 feet, adding those numbers together gives you a desired size of 18 inches in diameter for a pendant light.
Along with the size and number of pendants, installing a light fixture also includes deciding on how high to hang it. This depends on the pendant light placement.
Hang them 28 to 34 inches above kitchen islands and dining tables.
Hang them 18 to 24 inches above bedroom nightstands and side tables.
Hang them at least six inches above doorways, like in the foyer or porch.
For open areas, multiply the ceiling height in feet by 2 and 3 for the approximate minimum and maximum height from the ceiling in inches. Try for at least seven feet below the bottom of the pendant light, so people can walk underneath it comfortably.
An example of the last scenario would be a 10-foot ceiling in a family room. The bottom of the pendant light should be 20 to 30 inches from the ceiling. At 30 inches, this would provide 7.5 feet of clearance for people walking underneath it.
These are all just general guidelines. Consider sightlines and other factors when choosing the preferred height for your pendant lighting.
