What height and diameter for a pendant light above a table?

No standard sets the height of a pendant light in a home: the dimensions below are usage benchmarks shared by lighting publishers and electricians, supplemented by standard NF C 15-100 (ceiling connection) and standard EN 12464-1 (work surface illumination). The dimensions of the models cited come from their specifications in our pendant light collection.

Pendant light height above table

The bottom of the diffuser should be positioned between 70 and 80 cm above the tabletop, i.e. 145 to 155 cm from the floor for a 75 cm table. Lower, the pendant light cuts the line of sight between two diners; higher, faces fall into shadow. Diffusers with reflectors, designed not to dazzle, can tolerate 60 cm; diffusers open downwards require 80 cm and a frosted bulb. This height does not depend on the ceiling: adjust the cable length.

Pendant light height below ceiling

Anywhere people pass standing, maintain 210 cm clearance below the lowest point of the lighting. With a 250 cm ceiling, the standard height of recent homes, that leaves 40 cm for the diffuser and its cable: flat models 15 to 25 cm high (Petite Friture Vertigo, HAY Compass, New Works Tense) are designed for this situation. Above a table or island, the constraint disappears as nobody passes underneath.

Chandelier height below ceiling

A chandelier with arms measures 50 to 60 cm high: it requires a ceiling of at least 270 cm to remain 210 cm from the floor. At 250 cm, prefer a semi-recessed ceiling light or a low chandelier of 30 cm. Above a table, it follows the pendant light rule: bottom of arms 75 cm from the tabletop.

What size for a pendant light

Two usage rules complement each other. In relation to the table: a diameter equal to one third or half the width of the tabletop, i.e. 30 to 45 cm for a 90 cm wide table, 40 to 60 cm for a 120 cm round table, and never more than the table width minus 30 cm. In relation to the room: add the room's length and width in metres, the result read in centimetres gives the diameter of a central pendant light. A 5 x 4 m living room calls for 90 cm; a 3.5 x 3 m bedroom, 65 cm.

Large diameter pendant light

Beyond 80 cm, the pendant light becomes an object in its own right and should be chosen light: caning, paper, cotton threads, openwork slats. A diameter of 110 to 140 cm (Market Set Screen, Petite Friture Vertigo) is justified above a table for 6 to 8 people or in a living room of over 20 m². Check the diffuser height: at 15 cm, a 140 cm Vertigo fits under a 250 cm ceiling.

Kitchen island pendant light height

On an island, the surface is at 90 cm and you work standing: the bottom of pendant lights should be positioned between 75 and 85 cm above the surface, i.e. 165 to 175 cm from the floor, so as not to obstruct the view towards the living area. Allow one pendant light of 20 to 30 cm every 60 to 70 cm: three for a 200 cm island, which achieves the 500 lux recommended by standard EN 12464-1 on a work surface.

Which pendant light above a rectangular table

A single pendant light of 40 to 50 cm adequately illuminates 100 to 120 cm of table; beyond that, its ends fall into shadow. Three solutions:

1. Two identical pendant lights for a table of 160 to 200 cm, each at the centre of its half: on 200 cm, 50 cm from each end, i.e. a centre-to-centre distance of 100 cm. Two Ambit 40 cm (Muuto) or two Semi 47 cm (Gubi).
2. Three pendant lights of 20 to 30 cm for a table of 180 to 240 cm, centre-to-centre distance of 60 to 80 cm, on a triple ceiling rose: the format of the Flowerpot VP1 by &tradition or the Amp by Normann Copenhagen.
3. A linear model on a single ceiling outlet: the Ambit Rail by Muuto carries three diffusers over 126 cm and covers a table of 180 to 220 cm.

Distance between two pendant lights

The practical guideline is a centre-to-centre distance of 60 to 80 cm between two pendant lights of 20 to 40 cm, and 90 to 100 cm between two pendant lights of 45 to 60 cm. The ends of the series stop 40 or 50 cm from the table ends. The cables must have strictly the same length: measure them on the floor before cutting. A single large pendant light remains possible beyond 110 cm in diameter, such as a Vertigo 140 cm above a 200 cm table. Suitable models are brought together in the dining room and living room lighting collection.

Which chandelier with a ceiling rose

The ceiling rose, usually 10 to 12 cm in diameter, covers the electrical outlet and conceals the junction box. It doesn't determine the choice of lighting: any pendant light or chandelier with a single fixing point can be attached to it. The NF C 15-100 standard requires a DCL (luminaire connection device) in new homes: a flush-mounted box with a plug, designed to support 25 kg. A chandelier with arms weighing 3 to 8 kg can be fixed without precaution; beyond 25 kg, or in an old ceiling without a box, fixing is done with a hook anchored into the structure and not into the plaster. Finally, check that the ceiling rose covers the ceiling hole, which can sometimes be 15 cm wide for an old ceiling light. The chandeliers in the catalogue are in the chandelier collection.

Adjusting pendant light height

Three mechanisms. The cable to cut, supplied in 150 to 500 cm depending on the model: measure twice, the cut is final. The cable grip in the ceiling rose: the excess is coiled in the box, the height remains adjustable. The adjustable system with counterweight or winder, like the adjustable version of the Compass by HAY: the pendant light is lowered for dinner and raised again for the rest of the day.

Which pendant light for a living room

A living room can accommodate the largest pendant light in the house, 60 to 90 cm, provided you pair it with table lamps and floor lamps. A diffuser that lets light pass upwards (paper, cane, opal glass) enlarges the space; an opaque dome serves a dining area better. Position it above the coffee table rather than at the geometric centre of the room.

Which pendant light for a bedroom

A diffuser that conceals the bulb when lying down: paper, fabric, opal glass, 40 to 60 cm in diameter. Above the bed, the bottom can hang 100 cm from the mattress; in the centre of the room, maintain 210 cm. Two small pendant lights of 15 to 25 cm as bedside lighting, 50 or 60 cm above the bedside tables, free up the surface.

Which pendant light for a kitchen

Enclosed, washable diffusers (lacquered metal, glass, aluminium) of 20 to 45 cm, in a series every 60 to 70 cm above the worktop or island. Avoid paper and rattan within 1.5 m of the hob. An adjustable model can be raised when working standing up.

Which pendant light for low ceilings

At 240 cm ceiling height, 30 cm remains above the 210 cm clearance: choose a diffuser 10 to 20 cm high, wide rather than deep (Vertigo, Compass, Tense), a cable reduced to a minimum and a flat ceiling rose. Above a table, the problem disappears since the height is measured from the tabletop. Our room-by-room lighting guide details the light levels and complementary fixtures for each room.

Glass

Opal glass diffuses an even light and conceals the bulb: the best choice above a table and in a bedroom. Transparent or smoked glass reveals the bulb and requires a decorative filament bulb, lower in lumens, in a series above an island or as a bedside light. Models are in the glass pendant light collection.

Brass and golden finishes

Solid brass develops a patina over the years; lacquered golden metal keeps its hue. Both warm the light by reflection: a golden lampshade interior gives a more yellow light than a white interior. Find them in the brass pendant light collection and the golden metal pendant light collection.

Wood and rattan

Oak slats, woven bamboo, rattan: these materials filter the light and cast patterns on the ceiling, which suits the living room and bedroom more than a worktop. Models are in the wood pendant light collection and the rattan pendant light collection.

Black or white

An opaque black diffuser concentrates the light downwards and creates a crisp silhouette above a table. A white diffuser reflects the light and blends into a white ceiling: small rooms and low ceilings. Choose from the black pendant light collection or the white pendant light collection.

Which bulb for a pendant light

The socket determines it: E27 (large base) on most diffusers over 25 cm, E14 on small models and chandeliers, G9 on compact glass models; some models incorporate a non-replaceable LED. Think in lumens: 800 lumens above a table for 4, 1,500 to 2,000 lumens distributed across two or three sources for a table for 8. Choose 2700 K for a living room or bedroom, 3000 K for a kitchen or dining room. Respect the maximum wattage permitted by a paper or fabric diffuser.

Petite Friture (France) publishes the Vertigo by Constance Guisset, 110, 140 or 200 cm in diameter and 12 to 17 cm high: the benchmark for large diameters under low ceilings. See the brand Petite Friture.

HAY (Denmark) covers low ceilings with the Compass in aluminium and the Ava in paper, ceiling rose and cable included, and large formats with the Nelson Bubble. See the HAY pendant lights.

Muuto (Denmark) offers the Ambit in 16.5, 25, 40 and 55 cm and in a 126 cm track: the same silhouette for a round table, a series or a linear arrangement. See the Muuto pendant lights.

&tradition (Denmark) reissues the Flowerpot by Verner Panton in 16, 23 and 37 cm and the Formakami in rice paper in 50 and 70 cm: a series above an island or a unique piece. See the brand &tradition.

Market Set (France) weaves cane, linen and paper into discs from 78 to 150 cm, lightweight despite their diameter. See the Market Set pendant lights.

A 200 × 90 cm table under a 250 cm ceiling

The tabletop is at 75 cm, the bottom of the pendant lights should be at 150 cm from the floor: that leaves 100 cm for the cable and diffuser. Two Gubi Semi 47 cm pendant lights at 100 cm centres, or three Flowerpot VP1 23 cm pendant lights at 70 cm centres, light the full length; a 140 cm Vertigo centred also works.

A 22 m² living room used as a through route to the kitchen

The central pendant light cannot hang lower than 210 cm; with a 250 cm ceiling, that leaves 40 cm. A 120 cm Tense that is 15 cm high, or a 110 cm Screen suspended flush with the ceiling, provide the required scale (5.5 + 4 m, i.e. 95 cm recommended diameter) without obstructing the passage. Add a floor lamp near the sofa.

Switch off the power before any maintenance. Glass : remove globe, wash in warm soapy water, dry with a microfibre cloth. Lacquered metal and aluminium : damp cloth, no abrasive. Unlacquered brass : dry cloth. Paper, fabric, rattan and cane : feather duster or hoover with soft brush, no liquid. A well-assembled pendant light lasts decades; the weak point is the bulb, hence the value of a standard socket.

What orders placed on The Cool Republic between January and September 2026 in the Pendant Lights collection show. Shares are counted in number of orders, not quantities, so that a large purchase does not weigh more than another.

What is ordered most in 2026

• Colours: white (18%), beige (16%), black (11%).
• Materials: linen (17%), glass (11%).

The most requested brands

As a share of orders: Market Set (19%), The Cool Republic (16%).

The most ordered models since January

• Beige linen, birch and black metal pendant light 110 cm Screen, The Cool Republic
• Cane pendant light 110cm Screen, Market Set
• Cream fabric pendant light 58cm Pebble, Market Set
• Copper pendant light 45cm Petite Volière, Mathieu Challières

• Hanging the dining room pendant light at the same height as the living room one: at 210 cm from the floor, the table remains in shadow; above a table, the bottom must be at 150 cm.
• Choosing a diameter greater than the table width minus 30 cm: a 70 cm diffuser on an 80 cm wide table, and you bump into it when standing up.
• Lighting a 200 cm table with a single 40 cm pendant light: both ends of the table fall into semi-darkness.
• Placing a 45 cm high dome under a 240 cm ceiling in a passage area: the necessary 210 cm clearance is not maintained.
• Suspending a chandelier weighing more than 25 kg from a DCL ceiling rose or a plasterboard anchor: the fixing must reach the structure.