A pendant light is a light fitting that hangs down from the ceiling on a cord, a chain or a rod, usually with a single shade around one light source. Because it hangs below the ceiling, it brings the light closer to where you need it: over a kitchen island, a dining table, a bedside or a desk. That is the main difference with a flush ceiling light, which sits tight against the ceiling, and with a chandelier, which spreads several lights across arms or tiers. This guide explains the types of pendant lights, the real sizes of ours, and how to work out the height and cord length before you hang one.
Pendant light, chandelier or ceiling light?
| Fitting | How it is fixed | Light | Typical place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pendant light | Hangs on a cord, chain or rod | Usually one shade, light focused below and around | Kitchen island, dining table, bedside, hallway |
| Chandelier | Hangs from the ceiling, larger frame | Several lights or layers, wider spread | Dining room, living room, entrance |
| Flush or semi-flush ceiling light | Fixed against the ceiling | General light for the whole room | Low ceilings, corridors, bedrooms |
The line is not always sharp: several of our designs, such as the Walnut Acrylic Flower Pendant, come as a pendant version or a ceiling version. For the multi-light designs, see our flower pendant lights and chandeliers.
Types of pendant lights
- Silk and fabric pendants: the shade glows evenly and the light is soft. Saucers, ovals, globes, drums and pleated dishes. See our silk and fabric pendant lights guide.
- Glass pendants: ribbed, fluted, globe or coloured glass, either glowing all over or open at the bottom for a brighter light downward. See our glass pendant lights guide.
- Stone and ceramic pendants: opaque shades in travertine or glazed ceramic, with a focused circle of light underneath.
- Natural fibre pendants: rattan and cane, which draw a pattern of light through the weave. See our rattan pendant lights guide.
- Mini pendants: shades of 15 cm or less, used in rows over an island or one each side of a bed instead of table lamps.
Our pendant lights: real sizes, cords and coverage
All figures below come from our product pages. Coverage is the approximate floor area each model is made to light.
| Pendant | Shade size | Cord or suspension | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Glazed Ceramic Pendant | 14 cm wide × 6 cm tall | 150 cm | About 5–10 m² |
| Small Colourful Glass Drum Pendant | Ø 15 × H 10 cm | 190 cm, adjustable | Not stated |
| Travertine Stone Pendant Light | Ø 15 × H 11 cm | Up to 180 cm, adjustable | About 5–10 m² |
| Round Silk Globe Pendant | Ø 25 × H 26 cm | 150 cm | About 5–10 m² |
| Ribbed Fluted Glass Pendant | Ø 31 × H 15 cm | 150 cm, adjustable | About 5–10 m² |
| Beige Silk Saucer Pendant | Ø 40 × H 19, Ø 50 × H 24 or Ø 60 × H 33 cm | 150 cm | About 5–10 m² |
| Hand-Knitted Cloth Pendant | Ø 45 × H 32 up to Ø 65 × H 40 cm | 120 cm, adjustable cable | About 10–15 m² |
| Pleated Fabric Dish Pendant | Ø 50 × H 10 up to Ø 100 × H 18 cm | 1.2 m adjustable wire | About 5–10 m² (Ø 50) to 10–15 m² (Ø 80, Ø 100) |
How high to hang a pendant light: a worked example
A common guideline is to leave 75 to 90 cm (30 to 36 in) between the surface below and the bottom of the shade, over a kitchen island or a dining table. To turn that into a cord length:
- Measure the ceiling height.
- Add the height of the surface (a dining table is often about 75 cm, a kitchen worktop about 90 cm) to the 75–90 cm gap. That is where the bottom of the shade should sit.
- Subtract that figure from the ceiling height: this is the total drop, shade included.
- Subtract the shade height: what is left is the cord you need.
| Example | Ceiling | Bottom of shade | Total drop | Cord needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beige Silk Saucer Ø 50 (H 24 cm) over a 75 cm dining table | 250 cm | 75 + 80 = 155 cm | 95 cm | About 71 cm, within the 150 cm cord |
| Ribbed Fluted Glass (H 15 cm) over a 90 cm island | 270 cm | 90 + 80 = 170 cm | 100 cm | About 85 cm, within the 150 cm cord |
| Hand-Knitted Cloth Ø 55 (H 34 cm) over a 75 cm table | 300 cm | 75 + 80 = 155 cm | 145 cm | About 111 cm, within the 120 cm cable |
In a walkway, where nobody sits underneath, hang the pendant higher so people can pass below it. For islands in detail, read how high to hang pendant lights over a kitchen island; for dining tables, see dining room lighting: size and height.
How to hang a pendant light
Our pendants are ceiling fittings with a canopy, made to be connected to a ceiling light point. In many countries this work has to be done or checked by a qualified electrician, and it is always the safest choice. The usual steps are:
- Switch off the power at the fuse box, not only at the wall switch.
- Fix the mounting bracket of the canopy to the ceiling point.
- Set the cord to the length worked out above before connecting it.
- Connect the wires, close the canopy and fit a bulb or check the LED.
Most of our pendants work on 90–260 V, so the same model fits homes in Europe, the UK, North America and Australia. Check the product page for the bulb type and light colour options.
For style ideas over a worktop, see our kitchen island lighting ideas. If there is no ceiling point where you need light, a wall light may be the answer: our guide to what a sconce is explains the types and real sizes.
Not sure whether a pendant or a wall light suits your room? Read pendant lights vs wall lights. To choose the shade material, see glass vs fabric pendant lights.
Choosing the main light for a specific room? See our guides to bedroom ceiling lights and living room ceiling lights, with a sizing rule and the headroom each fitting takes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pendant light?
A light fitting that hangs from the ceiling on a cord, chain or rod, usually with one shade, bringing the light closer to a table, island or bed.
What is the difference between a pendant light and a chandelier?
A pendant usually has one shade and one light source. A chandelier has a larger frame with several lights, arms or layers.
How long should the cord of a pendant light be?
Ceiling height, minus the height where the bottom of the shade should sit, minus the shade height. On our product pages, cords and cables range from 120 cm to 2 m.
See every model in our pendant lights collection and our kitchen island pendant lights.
