See this helpful How to Pick the Perfect Chandelier Size Guide with Printable!
So you want to buy a gorgeous chandelier or a pretty pendant light to hang over a table in your dining room or kitchen?
The question is: What size of chandelier should you buy to fit your dining table?
As an interior designer there are many design rules of thumb that I work with, this is one of them.
Today, I’m going to share with you the trick on picking the perfect chandelier size for your table!
Chandelier Size Guide:
Chandeliers vary widely in size, shape and weight and tables vary widely in size too. So how do you choose the right size for your table?
These are the things you want to keep in mind: It must be big enough to provide light to everyone sitting at the table but not too big that you’ll bump into it when you are sitting down or getting up.
The Formula
A chandelier should be 12 inches smaller than the table width (or diameter if it’s a round table).
Table width – 12 inches = Chandelier size
Example: if your dining table is 42 inches wide, your chandelier should be 30 inches in diameter (42 – 12 = 30).
Here’s the handy chandeleir size guide that you can print out to keep in your purse or wallet to use the next time you are shopping for a chandelier!
Chandelier Size Calculation and Chart:
My Table Width (inches) | Subtract 12 inches | My Chandelier Size (inches) |
| – 12 | = |
House Beautiful
This is an example of a chandelier perfectly sized to provide light to everyone at the table and it’s not so large that it won’t be bumped:
Buying the correct size chandelier doesn’t need to be frustrating or intimidating!! Use this chandelier size guide to make it easy!
I hope you enjoyed using this chandelier size guide!
Let me know what other design guides you’d love to see in the comments below!
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Heather is a Designer and the owner of the Interior Design and Lifestyle website 
SO smart – I had no idea! Pinning!
Thanks Keri!! It’s so great to have a guide when making these sorts of decor decisions – it’s so helpful for my design clients too!!!
Great tip, Heather. I’m going to measure my table now.
Debbie 🙂
Oh great Debbie!! I’m so glad you like this guide and glad you are finding it helpful!
So helpful to know! Thank you so much for the tip, Miss Heather!
~Abby =)
Very cool, thanks for the great tip!
So many beautiful chandeliers here! Good tip!
Great tips! Now if I could only find one I actually liked!!
LOL – it can be hard Anne!!!
Great post, Heather! Sharing on Facebook this afternoon! xo, Shannon
Great tips… Pinning!
I just dropped the laptop and ran for the measuring tape…table 42″…chandelier 30″. What a stroke of luck!!! LOL!! Thanks Heather, just shared this on our TakeSix.ca FB page!
Fabulous Tanya!! You are so funny! Glad to hear your chandy is the perfet size for your table!
Thanks for the handy tip and for the sizing chart!
Thanks for the info – just what I needed!
Great – thanks Daniela!
Do you have a guideline for a rectangular shaped light fixture to a rectangular shaped table? Thanks.
Hi May – I’d say a light fixture length that is 2/3 the length of your table would work!
I’ve been looking for chandeliers for my 46″ table and haven’t found anything I really like. Love the Kenzie Mercury Chandelier from Pottery Barn but it’s only 16″ diameter. They show it over a table and looks great. Do you think it’s too small?
http://rk.pbimgs.com/pbimgs/rk/images/dp/wcm/201542/0070/kenzie-mercury-chandelier-c.jpg
I’ve been looking for chandeliers for my 46″ table and haven’t found anything I really like. Love the Kenzie Mercury Chandelier from Pottery Barn but it’s only 16″ diameter. They show it over a table and looks great. Do you think it’s too small?
It might work Lara because it’s 43″ tall – so it’s height might balance out your table size! What I’d do is ‘trial’ it in your home by cutting a sheet of newspaper 16″ diameter and placing it on your table so you can get a feel of how big it is relative to your table. I’d also call PB customer service and ask them if they think it will work with your table size. Good luck – it’s beautiful!
Great tip! Thanks for sharing! I’m changing lights out in my house and will be keeping this in mind.
Awesome!! So glad you found my post and size guide then Jayne! Have fun with your new lighting! 🙂 xo Heather
Where is this chandelier from?
Traditional Dining Room by Vancouver Architects & Designers Kerrisdale Design Inc
Thank you!
Hi ams – I don’t know where it’s from! Have a great day!
I’m soooo confused… Haha I thought you measured the dimensions of your room …example, like if your room is 15 x 11= 26 inch chandeliere…now, measuring my table I need a 40 inch chandeliere…lol this is going to cost me a fortune on chandeleirs hehe… Thanks for the tip.
Terrific Tips!! Thank you. So if I have a rectangular dining room table 71x39Wx30H, would a rectangular chandelier of H31” X W 39” Depth10” be ok?
My table is counter height 36″, 30″ w and 48″ long. A 15″ pendant light seems like it would overwhelm the table. Thoughts?
I have a 10’ ceiling and I am doing a 72” square or round table. Can that claccomodate a 43” chandelier?
I also want to know if I can fit a 43 inch chandelier in my 20’ ceiling foyer. It’s about 10 x21’
But there is a rounded staircase so the ceiling is much wider than the actual hallway floor. The current fixture I have Ana 32” and seems small.
Hi – I offer online decor services and can help you with this. I can’t answer unless I see photos of your space ect…..you can email me at [email protected] if you’d like to work together!
I’m looking at a light for over my dining table which is 73″ long. The light is rectangular with a length of 42″ and a width of 14″ . Can you give me a guideline for a rectangular light.
Thank you
The light seems to narrow at 14 inches – it should be half the width of your table – the length might be okay.
I have researched and read all the guidance. I have found a fixture I love. But even though fixture is right size (30″W), it is also 30″H. I only have 8′ ceilings. So this means 30″H table + 30″ hang clearance (minimum) + 30″ fixture only leaves me 6″ at the ceiling. Is 6″ of chain enough for a 30″ fixture. Seems odd to me….like a ceiling-hugging chandelier. Wouldn’t really have the look of a chandelier, so what’s the point. Should I stick with 30″W but go smaller in the height of the fixture? Thank you!
Heather, if I have a 50″ table but would like to hang 2 pendants vs 1 chandelier, what size should each pendant be?
Thank you!
Sorry it’s a 106″ table. 50″ is the current chandelier size.
Hi! Can you give me advice on a linear chandelier? Im assuming you would go by the length of the table and not the width? Thank you
Hi Jennifer – A linear chandelier length should be at least 12 inches less than the table length. Hope that helps!