How the pendant and chandelier calculator works
Choose where the light will hang (over a dining table, over a kitchen island, or in the middle of a room or entry), enter the measurements and the calculator gives you the right size of light, how high to hang it, how much chain or cord you need and, for an island, where every pendant goes. A side view shows the result at scale.
What size chandelier for a dining table?
A chandelier over a dining table looks best when it is about half to two thirds of the table width, and at least 12 in narrower than the table so that it does not crowd the people sitting at the ends.
| Table width | Light width |
|---|---|
| 36 in | 18 to 24 in |
| 42 in | 21 to 28 in |
| 48 in | 24 to 32 in |
| 60 in or round 60 in | 30 to 40 in |
For a long rectangular table, a linear light about half to two thirds of the table length looks right. You can also hang two or three matching pendants along the centre line.
How high should you hang a light over a table?
The bottom of the light should be about 30 in above the table in a room with an 8 ft ceiling. Add 3 in for each extra foot of ceiling height, up to about 36 in. A 9 ft ceiling means 33 in, and a 10 ft ceiling means 36 in.
A 30 in table is therefore 60 in from the floor to the bottom of a light on an 8 ft ceiling, which gives a clear view of the people across the table.
Pendant lights over a kitchen island
- Height: hang the bottom of each pendant 30 to 36 in above the counter. A 36 in counter puts it about 66 to 72 in from the floor.
- Spacing: 24 to 36 in between the centres of the pendants, with 30 in the usual choice. Closer spacing looks like a cluster, and wider spacing looks sparse.
- Number: an island that is 7 ft long suits three pendants, 30 in apart. Use two for a shorter island, or an odd number if you can.
- Ends: keep the last pendants at least 6 to 12 in in from the end of the island.
Light size for a living room, bedroom or entry
For a light in the centre of a room, add the room length and width in feet, and use that number as the width of the light in inches. A 12 ft × 10 ft room suits a light about 22 in wide.
The height of the light itself is about 2.5 to 3 in for each foot of ceiling height, so a 9 ft ceiling suits a light 23 to 27 in tall. Hang it so that the bottom is at least 7 ft above the floor in any place where people walk. In an entry with a high ceiling, you can hang it lower over a table and higher over open floor.
Low ceilings
If the ceiling is 8 ft or lower, a hanging light is difficult to fit over the walkway. Choose a semi-flush or flush light for the middle of the room, and keep pendants for places over tables and counters, where nobody walks beneath them.
Worked examples
A 48 in dining table, 8 ft ceiling
The light should be 24 to 32 in wide. Hang it 30 in above the table, which puts the bottom at 60 in from the floor. With a 20 in tall light, you need about 16 in of chain.
A 7 ft kitchen island, 8 ft ceiling
Three pendants, 30 in apart, with the centres 12 in, 42 in and 72 in from the left end. The bottoms sit 66 in from the floor.
A 12 ft × 10 ft living room, 9 ft ceiling
A light about 22 in wide, hung with the bottom 7 ft from the floor. With an 18 in tall light you have a ceiling drop of about 6 in of chain.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a light that is too small. Small lights look lost over a large table.
- Hanging it too high. A light that is too far above the table does not light it, and looks disconnected from the room.
- Hanging it too low. A light that blocks the view across the table is irritating at every meal.
- Not centring it. Centre the light on the table, not on the room, if the two are different.
- Forgetting to order enough chain. Check the length that comes with the light, and buy extra links if you need them.
Tips
- Put the light on a dimmer. It makes a dining room feel much better.
- Use paper or tape to mark the size of the light on the table before you buy.
- Choose bulbs that are warm white (2700K) for dining and living areas.
- Have the electrician hang the light if it is heavy, and make sure that the ceiling box is rated for its weight.
