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 general answer is 30-36″ above the 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 in this post. There are a few factors to consider when you determine how high to hang your chandelier including the height of your ceilings 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 a finger on. If you have high ceilings (10 feet or more), hanging a chandelier 30 inches above your table makes it look out of proportion.

Adjust your fixture/chandelier height using this formula. For every foot over eight feet, add three inches to the height it hangs above the table. For example, if your ceiling height is ten feet, you should hang the light 36 inches above the 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 the light is too high, it can feel like the table doesn't belong where it is.

chandelier height over table

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 sometimes the room is too large to have the table smack dab in the middle.

Wherever the table is, the chandelier should be in the center of the table and not in the center of the room. A chandelier is like jewelry for your dining table. It needs to light up that space and not be the light for an entire room. You can add other lighting, like floor lamps, table lamps or recessed lights to the space to light up other areas.

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 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 bottom of it 30 inches above the table. Once your fixture is hung, you can usually adjust the height by taking links out of the chain OR cutting down 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.

I am blogger with a 9to5 job. I like to work on my home on the weekends, one piece at a time. I like to research and noodle over rugs, lights, furniture, art and more. I want to share what I learn about how to decorate like a pro.