How-to
The Pendant Height Calculator: A Simple Formula
Three numbers decide where your pendant should hang. Memorise them and you will never second-guess an install.
Marcus Reed · June 21, 2026 · 4 min read
Hanging height is the most-searched lighting question on the web, and for good reason — get it wrong by even a few inches and the room looks off. The good news: there is a formula.
The three numbers
For a pendant above a dining table or kitchen island, the bottom of the fixture should sit 30 to 36 inches above the surface. For a pendant in a hallway or entryway, the bottom should clear 7 feet (84 inches) of headroom. For a pendant over a bedside table, hang it so the bottom is at seated shoulder height — usually 48 to 54 inches off the floor.
If you can see the bulb when you walk past, it is hung too low. If you have to step back to see it, it is hung too high.
When to break the rules
Vaulted ceilings, sloped ceilings, and staircases each need their own adjustment. The 30-to-36 rule assumes a flat 8- to 9-foot ceiling. On a vault, hang so the pendant reads visually centred to the surface below, not to the ceiling above.