What’s The Right Chandelier Height Above A Table?

One of the most common questions when hanging a chandelier is ,what’s the right chandelier height above a table? Are you getting ready to add a new light fixture above your dining table. Before you get your electrician or handyman (or yourself) started on the job, follow these tips so your light fixture looks just right. The proper height when the bottom of the fixture is 30-36″ above the center of the dining table, but there are other factors to consider.

There are lots of different light fixtures that you can hang above a dining table. Read this post if you are looking for guidance about how to choose the right SIZE chandelier.

Let’s assume you already have your new light fixture. There are general guidelines to consider when you determine the height of the fixture including the height of your ceiling and the shape of your room.

Ceiling Height Affects Chandelier Height

Proportion is something that can make a room feel just right or a little off for some reason that you can’t quite put your finger on. How high you hang your chandelier is in part determined by whether you have low ceilings, tall ceilings or vaulted ceilings. As a general rule of thumb, If you have high ceilings (10 feet or more), hanging a chandelier 30 inches above your table surface makes it look out of proportion.

Adjust your fixture/chandelier height using this formula (the formula applies to pendant lights as well). For every additional foot of ceiling height over the standard 8-foot ceiling, add three inches to the height your chandelier hangs above the table.

For example, if your ceiling height is ten feet, you should have 36 inches between the bottom of your chandelier and the table.

This rule applies whatever your chandelier size is and whether you have a round or a rectangular table. It doesn’t apply in a living room where the chandelier is NOT over a table.

Why Does Chandelier Height Matter?

When your light is hung at the right height it can make your dining table have a much more intimate feeling. If you hang your crystal chandelier too high, it can feel like the table doesn’t belong where it is.

Where to hang a chandelier if your table is not in the center of the room?

It seems that more often than not a dining table is NOT in the center of the room. This could be because you need space on one side to get into the room or if you have a large room it may be too large to have the table smack dab in the middle.

Wherever the table is, the chandelier should be centered over the table and not in the center of the room. A chandelier is like jewelry for your dining table and can be a focal point. It needs to light up that space and not provide light for an entire room. You can add enough light in other areas of the room by using other lighting fixtures such as floor lamps, table lamps or recessed lights..

How Far Should a Chandelier be from the Ceiling?

This is a common question for people who have just purchased a new chandelier. But it’s not the right way to look at where to hang your chandelier. If your chandelier is OVER A TABLE, you shouldn’t focus on how far it hangs from the ceiling, but rather how high it is above the dining room table.

Ceiling height is only a factor if your ceilings are over eight feet. But the formula is always based on the height above the table.

What’s Next?

When in doubt, hang your chandelier in the middle of your table with the lowest point at 30 inches above the table. Once your fixture is hung, you can make it the correct height by adjusting the chain length. You can simply take links out of the chain or cut the hanging rod.

If you find that the height feels off, you’re probably right. Your eye tells you things about proportion even when you don’t realize that’s what it is saying. Trust your gut and make adjustments.