I was watching Dream Home Makeover (naturally what one does on a Sunday morning). In the episode, Shea explained design rules and the measurements she uses when hanging light fixtures, specifically a chandelier over a dining room table. This got me questioning, how low should a dining room light hang over a table?
It was good timing because “move the dining room chandelier from the kitchen back to the dining room” was on our to-do list for (checks watch) three years. Doh! And why was our dining room light in the kitchen you ask?
During the chaos of 2020, we decided (briefly) we no longer needed a formal dining room. As did many who suddenly found themselves to be hermits. So we turned the dining room into a living room and the living room into a playroom.
In the new living room, we persistently banged our heads on the former dining room light since it was hanging low. So we flopped light fixtures with the kitchen. The chandelier came out of the old dining space and moved above the table in the kitchen, and vice versa.
Later that year, we reopened the dining room for business but never switched the light fixtures back. Enter exhibit number one, the dining room with a light that belongs in our kitchen.
The light is not the right light for a dining room. It’s too small, doesn’t illuminate the space well, and hangs way too high. It was time to bring proper lighting back to the space.
But what is the optimal chandelier height for over a table? I’ve always eyeballed it and used my personal preference for what looks good. So it was fun doing a little research on the right size chandelier and the ideal hanging height.
What’s The Right Height To Hang A Dining Room Light?
Generally speaking, most interior designers and professionals recommend hanging the light so the bottom is between 30″ and 36″ from the top of the dining table. However, let the record show that the Studio McGee standards are 32″ to 36″. Ballard Designs uses 30″ to 36″ along with Emily Henderson, HGTV, Wayfair, and Homes & Gardens. But…
Depends On Height Of Your Ceiling
The general rule of thumb on the ideal height depends on the height of your ceiling. A hanging height of 30-36″ assumes a standard 8′ ceiling height. If the height of the ceiling is taller, add 3″ to the space between the bottom of the light and the top of the table for every foot above 8′.
So a 9′ ceiling, means a proper height of 33-39″ above the table, and 36-42″ for a 10′ ceiling.
Consider Size And Scale
Rules are great, but sometimes you also need to use your eyes and make adjustments. The perfect height for your light fixture may fall within the general guidelines but it may not.
Many dining room light fixtures are the focal point in a room. The size and scale of the fixture are also important to consider with the hang height. The light should take up ample space and be proportionate to your table size. Generally, the edges of the chandelier should fall within 6″ from any table edge.
It’s helpful to hang your light fixture using the buddy system. Have someone hold it at the correct height and walk around your room. See how it fills the space from all angles, checking sight lines and scale. Use the guide as a starting point and try different heights until you’re satisfied.
When The Light Hangs Too Low
Safety Hazards
A light too low above a dining room table can be a safety hazard. For one, too much light shines into your eyes while dining. And two, hitting your head is more likely. Speaking from experience, we’ve hit our heads a few too many times with this light being too large and hanging too low over the kitchen table.
Blocked Vision
Depending on the size of the chandelier and factoring in different styles, it can also block your vision. Your dinner guests may not be able to see you across the table and you cannot see them. So consider this your dinner party eye contact PSA and hang the light with enough clearance to keep conversation flowing.
When The Light Hangs Too High
Scale Feels Off
When the light is too high, the scale of the fixture compared to the room can feel off. Although, other factors like the size of the room, table, and chandelier also play a role. With a too-small chandelier hung too high, it’s a design miss for the scale of light for the room. You want the light to provide a visual impact, not only illuminating your dining experience but providing a design element to the space.
Disconnect Between The Light And The Table
You also want there to be a visual link between the light and the top of your table. Too much space between them breaks that visual link. Lighting is a design element and you want the combo to feel cohesive.
Doesn’t Provide Enough Light
A light hung too high over the dining area simply does not provide enough light. Dining room lights walk the fine line of providing general ambient lighting for conversation over dinner while also enough lighting so you can see your plate.
Can Feel Like A Spotlight
This depends not only on how high the chandelier hangs but also on the type of light. But a light too high can feel like a spotlight, or like you’re being interrogated.
So How High Did We Hang Our Dining Room Chandelier?
The short answer, precisely-ish 30-3/4″ from the bottom of the chandelier to the table surface. For the record, we have 8′ ceilings. So this hanging height is at the low end of the recommended range.
I checked out all the major sight lines before landing at this height. Here’s a view from the hallway to the keeping room.
From the keeping room to the hallway.
And from the kitchen to the back corner with the vintage trunk console table.
I even sat at the table and snapped a picture from my eye level looking towards the buffet table.
I wouldn’t go any lower than this. At this height, it illuminates the table well, the whole room feels well-lit, people sitting at the table can easily see each other, and there’s no risk of hitting one’s head on the light. My husband even tested it, who is much taller than me at 6’5″ and he liked the placement as well.
Could I Hang It Higher?
This is the height we’ve always hung the light at. It’s always felt just right. But now was a great time to explore hanging it towards the upper end of the appropriate hanging height spectrum. So we used an open chain link to temporarily hang the light higher at almost 36″ from the table top.
I checked the sight lines and how the light looked regarding the other elements in the room and liked where it sat. Surprisingly, I liked the height better, especially the view from the keeping room to the hallway.
However, I didn’t like how the style of our light fixture looked without much chain to hang from. It felt a little too squished against the ceiling when the style asked for it to hang. So back to 30-3/4″ it went.
The TL;DR Version For Chandelier Height Above A Table
A good rule of thumb is to hang your dining room chandelier 30-36″ inches from the bottom of the light fixture to the top of the table. This is for an 8′ ceiling.
Add 3″ of distance for every extra foot of ceiling height. But in the end, use your eyes and check your sightlines to adjust as needed.
