How to Hang Your Light Fixtures at the Right Height

When it comes to hanging light fixtures, there are so many questions that come to mind. Like how low must the chandelier hang, or how much distance should be there be between the light fixtures? It’s important to use precision when installing such pieces not only because of the aesthetics but also because we want the right amount of light to be cast by these fixtures. Let 5-Minute Crafts be your guiding light here (pun definitely intended).

The basics

• If you wish to determine the height for your light fixtures, consider hanging balloons of different sizes and shapes by threads on your ceiling upside down.
• Decide if the light fixture you’re wishing to install will act as an ambient light or will provide exposure to the room.
• Measure the space of the room so that it’s easy to decide if the light is too small or large for the room.
• Measuring the ceiling height helps in determining the drop height of the light.
• The tips mentioned in this article may only be applicable to people of average height. If you have taller family members then you may need to consider installing your light fixtures a bit higher.

1. Dining table

Here the bottom of the light fixture must be around 30 inches (around 75 cm) above the table. But if your table itself is 30 inches high, then the bottom of the fixture must be 60 inches (around 150 cm) above the floor. If the light piece is big then install it a few inches higher so that it doesn’t look overwhelming above your head when you’re sitting at the dining table.

2. Kitchen island

In this case, the bottom of the light fixture must be 6 feet (around 2 m) above the floor. When you have the extra height, you’ll be able to see more than the kitchen island and they will not hinder your height when standing too. If you have multiple lamps, don’t overload the space with them. Keep at least a 30 inch (around 75 cm) gap between each bulb. But if the lamps are large then consider a spacing of at least 24 to 30 inches (around 60-75 cm).

3. Billiard or pool table

Here the bottom of the light fixture must be at least 32 to 36 inches (around 80-90 cm) above the table. If the billiard or pool table itself is 30 inches (around 75 cm) in height, then there must be a gap of 62 to 66 inches (around 157-167 cm) between the bottom of the light fixture and the floor.

4. In a usual room

If there’s a light fixture in any room like an entryway, bedroom, bathroom, stairwell, etc., then the bottom of the light fixture must be at least 7 feet (2 m) from the floor. To determine the size of the light fixture here all you need to do is add the width and depth of the room together.

For example, if the width of the room is 15 feet and the depth of the room is 20 feet, then the light fixture can be 15+20=35 inches (89 cm).

5. High ceiling

If you have a very high ceiling, preferably around 18 feet high (5.5 m) or more, then you need to center your light fixture around 5 feet (1.5 m) from the ceiling. But if you have a huge picture window near the light piece then center the fixture in the window.

• If you have very high ceilings then you can install a pulley system for your lights if you wish to change them. This will also avoid the risks of using tall ladders and scaffoldings.

6. Bathrooms

If you’re installing lights above the mirror and if your ceilings are 8 feet (2.4 m) high, then note that they should be around 75 to 80 inches (190-200 cm) from the floor. If you have a 9-foot ceiling, then keep an 80-inch (200 m) gap from the floor. When hanging light sconces on any side of the mirror, consider keeping them at eye level, around 60 to 70 inches (152-178 cm) from the floor.

• Although it is very popular to install a chandelier over a bathtub, you may still want to check with your electrician or local officials if your local building code allows you to do so.