A chandelier that is too small looks lost; one that is too large crowds the room. Designers use a few rules of thumb to get the scale right. They are starting points, not strict laws, but they work for most rooms.
1. Diameter for the room
Add the length and width of the room in feet. The total is a good diameter for the chandelier in inches. A room 14 by 12 feet gives 26, so a chandelier about 26 inches across will feel in proportion.
2. Width over a dining table
Over a table, the table matters more than the room. Aim for a chandelier between one half and two thirds of the table width, and keep it at least 12 inches narrower than the table on each side so nobody bumps their head standing up.
3. Hanging height
- Over a dining table: the bottom of the chandelier about 30 to 36 inches above the tabletop, a little higher for tall ceilings.
- In an entry, hall or open floor space: at least 7 feet of clearance underneath so people can walk beneath it.
- In a two-storey entry: hang it so it sits roughly level with the second floor, where it can be seen from above and below.
4. Overall height for the ceiling
Allow roughly 2.5 to 3 inches of fixture height for every foot of ceiling height. An 8 foot ceiling suits a fixture around 20 to 24 inches tall; a 10 foot ceiling can take 25 to 30 inches.
Brightness and installation
Check the number of lights and bulb type, and fit a dimmer if you can: it lets one fixture work for both dinner and cleaning up. Chandeliers are hardwired, so we recommend a qualified electrician for installation, especially for heavier crystal pieces that need a properly rated ceiling box.
Every chandelier in our lighting collection lists its width, height, number of lights and bulb type, so you can check it against these numbers before you order.