A By-the-Numbers Guide to Choosing a Chandelier For Every Space

Wondering about the perfect height to hang a chandelier? Or how to find the perfect sized chandelier for your room? This chandelier measuring and hanging guide has all the answers. It includes designer tips and tricks, printable worksheets and formulas you can use to calculate the ideal chandelier dimensions and hanging height for your space.

This by-the-numbers chandelier decorating guide is designed to answer all your question about choosing lighting for your home. It will demystify the process of calculating chandelier height and size, based on a room’s dimensions.

And it will answer common questions like, “How high do you hang a chandelier over a dining table?” and “What’s the ideal chandelier height for 9 foot ceilings?”

I’ve also created printable worksheets and cheatsheets that you can take with you when you’re out shopping for lighting. These will help you avoid costly lighting mistakes.

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You can keep reading for all the tips and calculations or use the Table of Contents below to jump ahead.

Jump to:

• How to Avoid Common Lighting Mistakes
• How big should my chandelier be?
• How High to Hang A Chandelier
• How high should I hang a chandelier if I have 9 foot ceilings?
• How high should I hang a chandelier if I have 10 foot ceilings?
• How high should I hang a chandelier if I have 12 foot ceilings?
• How high should I hang a chandelier in a foyer or a two-story room?
• How tall should a chandelier be when you have high ceilings?
• How tall should a chandelier be when you have standard ceilings?
• Shop for Chandeliers By Ceiling Height
• How do I choose a the right size chandelier for above my dining table?
• Can I hang two chandeliers or lights above my dining room table?
• How high (or low) should I hang a chandelier above my table?
• How high should I hang lights above a kitchen island?
• What’s the rule for chandeliers above nightstands?
• How high should I hang a chandelier above a bed?
• What size chandelier should I hang in my foyer?
• Can I hang a chandelier above a bathtub?
• How much light do I need for my room?
• Printable Chandelier Guide & Worksheets
• More Decorating Tips & Guides

How to Avoid Common Lighting Mistakes

When buying lighting for their homes, people often struggle with the scale. They’ll buy a chandelier that is either too big or too small for their space, and it will throw the whole look of the room off.

Hanging a chandelier too high or too low is another common mistake.

But there are some simple mathematical formulas and rules you can follow to avoid these decorating pitfalls.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How high to hang a chandelier over a dining room table, a kitchen table, a kitchen island, a bed or nightstands.
• To calculate how high to hang a chandelier or lighting based on your ceiling height.
• How to choose the right size chandelier for your space.  
• Tips for choosing the right lighting for your foyer.
• How to choose a fixture or chandelier that provides enough light for your room — so important in spaces like home offices.

I learned these lessons the hard way, and I’m hoping to save you from a costly mistake, or from banging your head on a chandelier that’s hung too low. Ouch!

A few years ago, I was redecorating my office and found a gorgeous chandelier for the space. But when it got here, I realized I’d made a major decorating mistake.

I’d done my research and knew to match the chandelier’s diameter to the room’s perimeter dimensions. But I failed to account for the 8-foot ceilings in my office. Talk about a head slap, literally! My new chandelier was way too tall for our ceilings.

With 8 foot ceilings, I needed a flushmount or semi-flushmount light or small chandelier that was no more than 12 inches tall.

Thankfully, I found another place in the house (with much taller ceilings) to hang the chandelier and DIYed a pretty lighting fixture for my office.

And I’ve whipped up this learn-from-my-mistakes, do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do, by-the-numbers guide to choosing and hanging chandeliers.

You’ll get answers to these questions:

• What size chandelier should I buy for my room?
• How high should I hang a chandelier in my living room?
• How high should I hang a chandelier in my foyer?
• What size chandelier should I buy for my foyer?
• Can I hang a chandelier above my bathtub?
• What size chandelier should I buy if I have 8 foot ceilings?
• What size chandelier should I buy if I have 9 foot ceilings?
• What size chandelier should i buy if I have 10 foot ceilings?
• What size chandelier should I buy if I have 12 foot ceilings?
• What size chandelier should I buy to hang above my dining room table?
• How high should I hang a chandelier above my dining room table?
• How high should I hang chandeliers or pendant lights above a kitchen island?
• How high should I hang a chandelier above my bed?
• How how should I hang pendant lights or a chandelier above nightstands?
• How do I ensure my chandelier or light fixture will provide enough light in my room?

How big should my chandelier be?

As I mentioned earlier, I think a lot of people make the mistake of using chandeliers that are too small for their rooms.

If you keep this formula in mind, you’ll never make that mistake.

Length of the Room (in feet) + Width of the Room (in feet) = Diameter of the Chandelier (in inches)

So, if your room is 12 feet by 14 feet, add 12+14=26. Using this calculation, you should choose a chandelier that is at least 26 inches in diameter.

How High to Hang A Chandelier

If you’re planning to hang a chandelier in the middle of a room, and not above a dining table, kitchen islands, a bed or nightstands in the bedroom, you need to measure how tall your ceilings are.

Choose a chandelier that will hang no lower than 7 feet (84 inches) above the floor to allow for head clearance. Ideally, if your ceiling height can accommodate it, you want to allow 7 feet, 6 inches from the bottom of the chandelier to the floor. This provides ample head clearance.

Source: Ballard Designs

Anything lower is dangerous (head smack!) and it will look out-of-scale, too. (Remember, I sadly know this from experience.)

How high should I hang a chandelier if I have 9 foot ceilings?

Aim for at least 7 feet above the floor and ideally 7 feet, 6 inches above the floor. Keep reading for tips on what size chandelier to choose for a room with 9 foot ceilings.

How high should I hang a chandelier if I have 10 foot ceilings?

If you’re blessed with ceilings that are 10 feet or higher, install a chandelier so it hangs at the sweet spot of 7 feet, 6 inches from the floor. Keep reading for tips on what size chandelier to choose for a room with 10 foot ceilings.

How high should I hang a chandelier if I have 12 foot ceilings?

With taller 12 foot ceilings, you can hang your chandelier a bit higher at 8 feet from the ground, but make sure it is at least 7 feet, 6 inches from the floor.

How high should I hang a chandelier in a foyer or a two-story room?

Rooms with vaulted ceilings, like foyers, call for taller chandeliers with more vertical weight. This is the perfect place to hang a chandelier with two or three tiers of lights.

When hanging a chandelier in a two-story foyer or a two-story living room like ours, or in a room with vaulted ceilings, don’t hang the light any lower than the height of the first floor. Put another way, the chandelier shouldn’t hang below the second story.

Another rule of thumb to keep in mind: When hanging a chandelier or pendant light in an open foyer, make sure the bottom hangs at least 6 inches higher than the door.

If your foyer doesn’t have high ceilings, follow the 7-foot rule so people don’t hit their heads when they walk under the chandelier. If you have enough room, aim for 7 feet, 6 inches of clearance under your foyer chandelier.

How tall should a chandelier be when you have high ceilings?

If you don’t have to worry about bumping your head and the 7-foot rule, the designer’s rule of thumb is to allow 2 ½ to 3 inches of chandelier for each foot of ceiling height.

Let’s do the math.

12 foot ceilings?

12 X 2.5= 30

12 X 3 = 36

Choose a chandelier that is 30 inches to 36 inches tall to go with your 12 foot ceilings. Don’t forget to take into account the canopy and chain length when doing these calculations.

10 foot ceilings?

10 X 2.5 = 25

10 X 3 = 30

Choose a chandelier that is 25 inches to 30 inches tall to go with your 10 foot ceilings. Don’t forget to take into account the canopy and chain length when doing these calculations.

How tall should a chandelier be when you have standard ceilings?

9 foot ceilings?

Because of clearance issues, you should chose a chandelier or pendant light that is no more than 24 inches tall. 

8 foot ceilings?

Because of clearance issues, a small chandelier, flushmount or semi-flushmount fixture is best for rooms with 8 foot ceilings. The light must hang no lower than 7 feet from the floor, meaning it should only be about 12 inches tall, including chain, pole and canopy.

Shop for Chandeliers By Ceiling Height

Looking for a light fixture or chandelier for a particular space in your home?

Here are some shoppable options based on ceiling height. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s specifications to make sure the light will work for your space.

• Chandeliers for 12 Foot Ceilings
• Chandeliers for 10 Foot Ceilings
• Chandeliers for 9 Foot Ceilings
• Chandeliers & Lights for 8 Foot Ceilings

How do I choose a the right size chandelier for above my dining table?

You can use the room dimensions calculation above, but a better way is to choose a chandelier that is proportionate to your table.

Designers and lighting experts recommend buying a chandelier that is half the width of your table.

Source: Pottery Barn

If you have a 60-inch round table, a chandelier that is 30 inches in diameter should be perfect.

For an oblong table that measures 48 inches by 72 inches, go with a chandelier that is 24 inches in diameter.

Can I hang two chandeliers or lights above my dining room table?

Blessed with a large dining room and a long table? Why not hang two chandeliers above it instead of one?

When hanging multiple lights above a table, choose fixtures that are a third the width of the table and hang them centered at each end of the table.

How high (or low) should I hang a chandelier above my table?

The bottom of your chandelier should be 30 inches to 36 inches above your tabletop.

Hang the chandelier at the right height, but don’t forget to fill up the vertical space. Use the designer’s rule of thumb of allowing 2 ½ inches to 3 inches of chandelier height for each foot of ceiling height.

Source: Ballard Designs

• If you have 8 foot ceilings, make sure the chandelier above your table is 20 to 24 inches in height.
• For 10 foot ceilings, buy a chandelier that is 25 to 30 inches tall.
• For 12 foot ceilings, choose a chandelier that is 30 to 36 inches tall.

How high should I hang lights above a kitchen island?

There are lots of things to consider when choosing lighting for a kitchen island.

The lighting should be proportional to your island. You should consider sight lines when choosing pendants or chandeliers to hang above a kitchen island. You also want to make sure the lights provide good illumination for cooking and other kitchen tasks.

• Allow for 30 to 36 inches of clearance between a chandelier or pendant light and your kitchen island countertop.
• Don’t hang pendants too close to the end of the island. Bring them in at least 6 inches from the edge.
• As a general rule of thumb, space pendants about 30 inches apart.
• The number of lights is determined by your island size and the pendant size. If you’re using larger lights, you’ll need fewer of them.

What’s the rule for chandeliers above nightstands?

As you would with a dining table, choose a chandelier with a diameter that is in proportion to your nightstand. A good rule of thumb is to choose chandeliers with a diameter half the width of your nightstands.

Then hang lights 20 to 30 inches above your nightstand. You want the chandelier light at the same height as a bedside table lamp.

How high should I hang a chandelier above a bed?

A chandelier above a bed is such a romantic and luxurious look.

You don’t have to follow the 7 foot clearance rule when hanging a chandelier above a bed. Just make sure you won’t bang your head when you sit up in bed.

Some designers recommend kneeling on the bed and making sure the chandelier hangs above your head. You also want to make sure you don’t hang the light so low that it obstructs your view of the television or other sight lines.

A chandelier can be centered in the bedroom or centered over the bed. If centering in the room, use the room dimensions to calculate the correct size.

Room Length (in feet) + Room Width (in feet) = Chandelier Diameter (in inches)

If you are centering the chandelier over the bed, make sure the size is proportional to the bed. These dimensions should work best:

• King or Queen bed: 36 inches in diameter
• Full or Twin bed: 24 inches in diameter

What size chandelier should I hang in my foyer?

If you a large entryway, tall ceilings or a two-story entryway, you can really make a statement with a large chandelier.

Calculate the room’s dimensions and use the formulas above to pick the right diameter and height for your entryway light.

In a foyer, you may need a chandelier with multiple tiers of light.

If you have a window in the foyer about the front door, hang your chandelier so it is centered in the window and can be seen from the outside.

In a two-story foyer, remember not to hang the chandelier below the second story. You should also make sure the bottom of the light at least 6 inches higher than the door.

If you’re hanging a chandelier above a staircase in a foyer, make sure to allow for 84 inches to 90 inches of clearance under the light.

Can I hang a chandelier above a bathtub?

Some electricians may be wary to hang a chandelier above a bathtub for safety reasons.

But if you have tall ceilings, like we do in our master bathroom, you may be able to hang a chandelier over the tub. Check local and national building codes to see what is allowed in your area.

Just make sure there is at least 8 feet of clearance. Some experts recommend allowing 8 feet from the top of the tub to the bottom of the chandelier.

If your bathroom ceilings aren’t high enough to allow for a chandelier over the tub, you can still have one in the room. Just make you hang the chandelier at least 3 feet away from the tub.

You’ll also need to allow for at least 7 feet of clearance between the bottom of chandelier and the bathroom floor. A clearance of 90 inches — 7 feet, 6 inches — is ideal.

How much light do I need for my room?

Don’t get left in the dark by choosing a chandelier that doesn’t provide enough light for your room. This is really important in spaces like a home office, where you need ample overhead illumination.

Four light, six light, eight light? Which chandelier do you choose?

Source: Ballard Designs

To figure out out, you’ll need to do some more simple math.

Calculate the square footage of your room by multiplying the length times the width. Then multiple that number by 1.5 to determine the proper wattage to light the room for general use.

Let’s say your room measures 12 feet by 14 feet.

12 X 14=168 square feet.

168 X 1.5=252 watts.

To ensure the room is properly lit, you’ll need to make sure the wattage output by your chandeliers, sconces, lamps and any other lighting in the room equals at least 252 watts.

Be sure to check the manufacturers’ specifications to find out what types of bulbs the chandelier requires.

I hope this guide for choosing a chandelier saves you lots of headaches — real and financial!

Printable Chandelier Guide & Worksheets

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