So you want to buy a gorgeous chandelier or a pretty pendant light to hang over a table in your dining room or kitchen….but what size of chandelier should you buy?
As an interior design consultant there are many design rules of thumb that I work with….
….and I’m going to share with you the trick on picking the perfect chandelier size for your table!
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.
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 a handy chart 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 chandy 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!!
Heather Luckhurst is the publisher and owner of the Design and Lifestyle website 
keri @ shaken together says
September 6, 2013 at 11:29 amSO smart – I had no idea! Pinning!
Heather SettingforFour says
September 6, 2013 at 1:23 pmThanks 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!!!
Debbie Borthwick says
September 6, 2013 at 12:42 pmGreat tip, Heather. I’m going to measure my table now.
Debbie 🙂
Heather SettingforFour says
September 6, 2013 at 1:22 pmOh great Debbie!! I’m so glad you like this guide and glad you are finding it helpful!
Abby Lawson says
September 6, 2013 at 2:13 pmSo helpful to know! Thank you so much for the tip, Miss Heather!
~Abby =)
Jacque @ theDIYvillage says
September 6, 2013 at 2:57 pmVery cool, thanks for the great tip!
Jenny Piirto says
September 6, 2013 at 6:17 pmSo many beautiful chandeliers here! Good tip!
ANNE says
September 9, 2013 at 1:19 pmGreat tips! Now if I could only find one I actually liked!!
Heather SettingforFour says
September 9, 2013 at 1:33 pmLOL – it can be hard Anne!!!
Shannon says
September 9, 2013 at 2:02 pmGreat post, Heather! Sharing on Facebook this afternoon! xo, Shannon
Cynthia Weber says
September 9, 2013 at 2:28 pmGreat tips… Pinning!
Tanya Payzant says
September 9, 2013 at 2:38 pmI 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!
Heather SettingforFour says
September 11, 2013 at 1:36 amFabulous Tanya!! You are so funny! Glad to hear your chandy is the perfet size for your table!
Inspire Me Heather says
September 10, 2013 at 12:58 pmThanks for the handy tip and for the sizing chart!
Daniela Duriavig says
September 14, 2013 at 6:59 amThanks for the info – just what I needed!
Heather SettingforFour says
September 16, 2013 at 2:02 amGreat – thanks Daniela!
May says
November 22, 2015 at 11:25 pmDo you have a guideline for a rectangular shaped light fixture to a rectangular shaped table? Thanks.
heather says
November 25, 2015 at 7:27 pmHi May – I’d say a light fixture length that is 2/3 the length of your table would work!
Lara says
November 24, 2015 at 12:17 pmI’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
Lara says
November 24, 2015 at 1:03 pmI’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?
heather says
November 25, 2015 at 7:33 pmIt 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!
Jayne says
March 22, 2016 at 9:51 pmGreat tip! Thanks for sharing! I’m changing lights out in my house and will be keeping this in mind.
heather says
March 28, 2016 at 11:59 pmAwesome!! So glad you found my post and size guide then Jayne! Have fun with your new lighting! 🙂 xo Heather
ams says
April 11, 2016 at 5:24 pmWhere is this chandelier from?
Traditional Dining Room by Vancouver Architects & Designers Kerrisdale Design Inc
Thank you!
heather says
April 19, 2016 at 8:52 amHi ams – I don’t know where it’s from! Have a great day!
Nikki says
September 19, 2016 at 1:24 pmI’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.
Jeannie says
November 23, 2016 at 1:10 pmTerrific 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?
Kay says
August 19, 2017 at 4:07 pmMy table is counter height 36″, 30″ w and 48″ long. A 15″ pendant light seems like it would overwhelm the table. Thoughts?
Chetna Patel says
November 4, 2018 at 2:07 pmI have a 10’ ceiling and I am doing a 72” square or round table. Can that claccomodate a 43” chandelier?
Chetna Patel says
November 4, 2018 at 2:13 pmI 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.
heather says
November 5, 2018 at 4:29 pmHi – 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!