Short answer: over a dining table, the bottom of a pendant light should sit 75 to 85 cm above the tabletop. Over a bedside table, 30 to 50 cm. Over a kitchen island, 75 to 90 cm. In a walkway with no furniture underneath, at least 200 cm from the floor.
A pendant light needs more planning than a floor lamp. Too high, and it dazzles whoever is seated while the light spreads across the room. Too low, and it hides the person opposite and catches the head of anyone standing up. The right height depends on what sits underneath. This guide gives the measurements for each case.
Over the dining table: 75 to 85 cm from the top
Always measure from the tabletop, not from the floor. Between 75 and 85 cm, the light falls on the table, the seated person does not see the bulb, and the person opposite stays visible beneath the lamp.
On a table 75 cm high, this puts the bottom of the lamp 150 to 160 cm from the floor. The dining tables in our shop are between 74 and 75.5 cm high, so this calculation holds for any of them.
Three adjustments to the range:
- High ceilings. With ceilings above 2.7 m, raise the lamp to the top of the range, 85 cm. With around 2.5 m, 75 to 80 cm works well.
- Opaque lamps closed at the bottom, such as a disc or a dome. All the light goes down, so it can sit nearer the bottom of the range.
- Glass or translucent stone. The piece also lights sideways. Raise it a few centimetres so it does not dazzle those seated.
Before fixing the cable, sit at the table and ask someone to hold the lamp. If you can see the bulb while seated, it is too high. If you cannot see the face of the person opposite, it is too low.
What size of lamp for the size of the table
The limit rule is simple. The lamp, or the group of lamps, should stay at least 15 cm in from the edge of the table on each side. On a table 100 cm wide, that gives a maximum diameter of 70 cm.
The shape of the table decides the rest:
- Round or square table. A single lamp, in the centre. On a 140 cm round table, such as the IMPERIUM round, a 40 cm lamp, such as the larger CÚPULA, draws a circle of light over the centre of the table.
- Rectangular or oval table. One linear lamp, or two to three lamps in a row. The linear lamp should be roughly half to two thirds of the length of the top.
An example with real measurements. The RIVIERA is 200 cm long. The PÉROLA is 115 cm long, with 5 opal glass globes of 15 cm in diameter. Centred over the table, the PÉROLA sits about 42 cm from each end. The light covers the places and the ends stay darker, which is the right effect for a dining table.
How many lamps over the table
- Table up to 150 cm: 1 lamp.
- Table from 160 to 220 cm: 2 lamps, or 1 linear lamp.
- Table over 220 cm: 3 lamps, or 1 long linear lamp.
With several lamps, leave 60 to 75 cm between centres and align the group with the centre of the table, not the centre of the room. The RÉGUA, in alabaster, comes in 52.4 and 69.4 cm lengths. Two 69.4 cm RÉGUA in a row serve a 220 cm table, such as the IPANEMA oval.
All the lamps should hang at the same height. Staggered heights work in a corner of the room, not over a table where people eat.
What light to choose for the dining table
Height solves half the problem. The other half is the light itself.
- Colour temperature: 2700 to 3000 K. Warm light that makes the table welcoming.
- Colour rendering (CRI) of 90 or more. Food and faces keep their true colours.
- Dimming. The same table serves a working lunch and a long dinner. A dimmable lamp, or a dimmer on the wall, gives both kinds of light.
The CÚPULA meets all three: 3000 K, CRI 90 and dimmable light. It comes in 25 cm diameter (1000 lumens) and 40 cm (2300 lumens). The textile cable is 300 cm long, enough for most ceilings.
To see how these pieces look in a dining room, visit the Dining room page. All the lamps are on the Lighting page.
Over bedside tables: 30 to 50 cm
A pendant light can replace the table lamp and free the top of the bedside table. Nobody walks underneath here, so the lamp can hang lower: 30 to 50 cm above the top.
Keep the lamp slightly away from the bed, over the centre of the table or a little closer to the wall. That way it does not catch the head of someone sitting up in bed. To choose the right bedside table, read our guide to bedside table height and measurements.
Over a kitchen island or worktop: 75 to 90 cm
Over an island, the height goes up a little: 75 to 90 cm above the top. The island is used for preparing food and, often, for quick meals. With the lamp higher, the light spreads across the whole worktop and does not get in the way of whoever is cooking.
The rules on quantity are those of the dining table: 60 to 75 cm between centres, and at least 15 cm between the last lamp and the end of the island.
In areas with no furniture: at least 200 cm from the floor
In a hall, a corridor or the middle of a living room, the lamp lights the space and people walk underneath. The bottom should be at least 200 to 210 cm from the floor. Allow about 30 cm clear between the lamp and the head of anyone walking by.
With a 2.5 m ceiling, this leaves little room for tall lamps. In that case, choose flat pieces, such as a disc or a plate.
Summary of measurements
- Dining table: 75 to 85 cm above the top.
- Bedside table: 30 to 50 cm above the top.
- Kitchen island or worktop: 75 to 90 cm above the top.
- Walkway: at least 200 cm from the floor.
- Between lamps: 60 to 75 cm between centres.
- To the edge of the table: at least 15 cm on each side.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a light hang over a dining table?
75 to 85 cm above the top. On a table 75 cm high, that is 150 to 160 cm from the floor to the bottom of the lamp.
Is the height measured from the floor or the table?
From the table. The ceiling height changes the length of the cable, not the right distance between the lamp and the top.
What if the ceiling is very high?
Keep the distance to the table and lengthen the cable. With ceilings over 2.7 m, use the top of the range, 85 cm, so the lamp does not look sunk over the table.
One or two lamps on a 200 cm table?
Two lamps, with 60 to 75 cm between centres, or one linear lamp 100 to 130 cm long.
Do Pistacho lamps come with a bulb and installation?
It depends on the model. The CÚPULA has an integrated LED, which cannot be replaced, and installation is not included. The details of each lamp are on its product page.
