Choosing the right sized chandelier (or other hanging light) is crucial to achieving a balanced look, whether you’re completely renovating or looking to spruce up one room. Fortunately, you can determine what size chandelier you need using a few simple guidelines. Then, it’s on to the fun part – selecting the perfect style!


Generally when selecting a chandelier, the width is the most important factor to determine the size needed. A chandelier’s width is its diameter, from one outermost point to the other. The ideal chandelier width for your space depends on how the fixture is to be used.


For Use Above a Kitchen Island or Table:




  • Step 1: Measure the width of your table (or diameter, if it’s a round table).
  • Step 2: Subtract 12″ from that number. This is the maximum diameter or width your hanging light should be. Ideally, you want the width of your chandelier to come close to this number.


For General Lighting Use (e.g., in a home’s foyer):




  • Step 1: Measure the room you wish to light, from corner to corner.
  • Step 2: Convert this number to inches. This is the ideal width of the fixture.


Other Tips:




  • Your chandelier’s ideal height just depends on the decorating effect you’re going for, and a bit of common sense. For example, if you have an informal breakfast area with low ceilings, a tall, multi-tier chandelier will probably overpower the space. If you have very high ceilings, a single tier fixture may appear too “flat.”
  • Keep in mind that a fixture with a busy, “heavy”, or complex design will actually appear larger, so if this is the case you’ll want to scale your maximum width down slightly.
  • Although they may be a good source of general light, many chandeliers and pendants are not sufficient to light an entire room. Remember to install your lighting in “layers” (using ambient, task, and accent lighting) for the best results!

LightsOnline.com is the Web’s premier lighting showroom, with thousands of today’s top products (including beautiful indoor chandeliers) at competitive prices! Besides our wonderful lighting selection, LightsOnline.com offers plenty more lighting techniques, and how-to’s in our Lighting Trends area. Check out our “How to Choose a Chandelier” video for more helpful tips.