Lighting a dining table comes down to two measurements: the width of the light and the height at which it hangs. Get those two right and almost any style works. This guide gives the common guidelines and the sizes of six lights for a dining room.
How wide should a chandelier be over a dining table?
A common guideline is to choose a light whose diameter is between half and two thirds of the width of the table. The light then looks in proportion and nobody bumps into it when standing up.
| Table width | Light diameter |
|---|---|
| 80 cm | 40 to 55 cm |
| 90 cm | 45 to 60 cm |
| 100 cm | 50 to 65 cm |
| 120 cm | 60 to 80 cm |
For a long rectangular table, use one wide light in the centre, or two smaller lights spaced evenly along the table.
How high should a chandelier hang over a dining table?
A common guideline is 75 to 90 cm (30 to 36 in) between the tabletop and the bottom of the light. At that height the light falls on the table and people seated opposite each other can still see one another. In a room with a high ceiling, the light can hang a little higher.
Six lights for a dining room, with sizes
| Model | Diameters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic Flower Chandelier | Ø 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 cm | 120 cm adjustable wire |
| Pleated Fabric Dish Pendant | Ø 50, 60, 80, 100 cm | 1.2 m adjustable wire |
| White Silk Saucer Pendant | Ø 40, 50, 60 cm | 150 cm cord |
| Layered Rattan Pendant | Ø 40, 50, 60, 80 cm | natural cane or dark brown |
| Hand-Knitted Cloth Pendant | Ø 45, 55, 65 cm | 120 cm adjustable cable |
| Large Acrylic Chandelier | D60, D80, D100 cm round, or L120 cm linear | covers approx. 15 to 30 m² |
For a French-style fabric chandelier or a fringe pendant, see our guide to French chandeliers and fringe lamps, which applies the same table-width rule to each model.
Dining room lighting ideas
- One wide, low shade such as a silk saucer or a pleated dish gives an even pool of light across the whole table.
- A sculptural chandelier such as a flower chandelier makes the table the focal point of the room.
- A linear light follows the shape of a long table. The Large Acrylic Chandelier exists in a 120 cm linear version.
- Add wall lights on a dimmer or a separate switch, so that the room is not lit from the ceiling alone. See our wall lights.
Check the room size too
Each product page gives the space a light is suited to. For example, the 60 cm Acrylic Flower Chandelier suits about 10 to 15 m² and the 80 cm version about 20 to 25 m². For a woven shade, our rattan pendant lights guide matches each rattan diameter to a table width.
Open-plan room? Our living room lighting ideas show how to add floor lamps and wall lights around the sofa, with the area each one covers.
If your dining room has a low ceiling, our guide to lighting for low ceilings explains which pendants fit a walkway and which belong over the table.
For a long table, our guide to dining table lights works out how many pendants fit in a row for five common table sizes. To choose between a glass globe and a fabric shade, see glass vs fabric pendant lights.
For a French-style dining room, our French Classic Lighting collection groups our French-inspired lights.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a dining room chandelier be?
A common guideline is half to two thirds of the width of the table.
How high should a light hang over a dining table?
A common guideline is 75 to 90 cm between the tabletop and the bottom of the light.
One light or two over a long table?
Either one wide or linear light in the centre, or two smaller lights spaced evenly.
See all models in our pendant lights and chandeliers collection.
