A sconce is a light fixture fixed to a wall rather than hung from the ceiling or placed on a table. The word comes from the Old French esconse, a covered lantern, and for centuries a sconce was a wall bracket that held a candle. Today it is an electric wall light: a back plate fixed to the wall, sometimes an arm, and a shade that sends light up, down or all around. In the UK the same fixture is usually called a wall light. This guide explains the main types of sconce, where they work best, and gives the real sizes of the sconces in our wall lights collection, including how far each one sticks out from the wall.
Sconce, wall light, wall lamp: is there a difference?
Not really. "Wall sconce" is the usual term in the US, "wall light" in the UK and Australia, and "wall lamp" is used for both. All three describe a fixture mounted on the wall. What does change from one sconce to another is the direction of the light and the way it is powered.
The main types of sconce, by light direction
- Uplight: the light leaves through an open top and washes up the wall, like the Pleated Glazed Ceramic Wall Sconce or the Vintage Shell Glass Sconce. Good for a soft, indirect glow.
- Downlight: a beam falls toward the floor or a surface, like the Travertine Wall Sconce. Good for marking a path or lighting a console.
- Up and down: two pools of light on the wall, above and below, like the Walnut & Hammered Copper Wall Sconce or the Two-Tier Plaster Wall Sconce.
- Glowing shade: the whole shade lights up in glass, stone or fabric, like the Ribbed Tulip Glass Wall Sconce or the Spanish Marble Alabaster Wall Sconce.
- Adjustable or task sconce: a shade you can aim, like the Adjustable Polished Metal Spotlight Sconce or the Aluminium Cone Wall Sconce, whose shade rotates to face up or down. This is the type to choose for reading in bed.
Hardwired or plug-in?
A hardwired sconce is connected to the wiring inside the wall and is usually switched from a wall switch or from a switch on the fixture. A plug-in sconce has a cord that runs down the wall to a socket, which suits renters. Most of the sconces in our collection are hardwired: the mounting and switch are listed on each product page, so check them before you order and plan the installation with an electrician.
Real sizes of our sconces, including projection
Projection is how far the sconce stands out from the wall. It matters most in a narrow hallway or beside a door, where a deep sconce can catch a shoulder. All figures below come from the product pages.
| Sconce | Size | Projection from the wall | Light | Suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travertine Wall Sconce | H 16 × W 6.5 cm | 6.5 cm | Downward beam | 3–5 m² |
| Crystal Disc Wall Sconce | Disc Ø 16 cm | 7.3 cm | Circular halo | 1–3 m² |
| Spanish Marble Alabaster Wall Sconce | H 50 or 75 × W 20 cm | 10 cm | Whole stone glows, dimmable | 5–10 m² |
| Vintage Shell Glass Sconce | W 28 × H 24 cm | 13 cm | Upward | 3–5 m² |
| Pleated Glazed Ceramic Wall Sconce | W 25 × H 27 cm | 13 cm | Upward | 5–10 m² |
| Walnut & Hammered Copper Wall Sconce | W 19.7 × H 50.5 cm | 15.4 cm | Up and down | 5–10 m² |
| Aluminium Cone Wall Sconce | H 13 × W 10 cm | 18 cm | Up or down (rotates) | Not stated |
| Classic Fabric Wall Sconce | Shade Ø 17 cm, H 23 cm | 25 cm | Up and down through fabric | 3–5 m² |
| Vintage Brass Flower Wall Sconce | H 25 cm | 25 cm | Glass flower glows | 3–5 m² |
Mini-guide: which projection for which space
In public buildings in the US, accessibility rules (the ADA standards) limit wall-mounted objects in a walkway to a projection of 4 inches, about 10 cm, when they hang between 27 and 80 inches (69 to 203 cm) from the floor. Homes are not bound by this rule, but it is a useful benchmark for a tight corridor:
- Hallway under about 100 cm wide: stay at or under 10 cm of projection. The Travertine Wall Sconce (6.5 cm), the Crystal Disc (7.3 cm) and the Spanish Marble sconce (10 cm) fit.
- Wider hallway, landing or living room: 13 to 16 cm works well, which opens up the shell, ceramic and walnut sconces.
- Beside a bed or an armchair: nobody walks past, so a 25 cm arm such as the Classic Fabric Wall Sconce brings the light closer to the page.
For the height, see our guide to bedside sconce height. To compare materials, read our guides to glass wall sconces and ceramic and wood wall sconces.
Where to use a sconce
Sconces free up floor and table space, so they shine where room is short: on each side of a bed instead of two bedside lamps, on each side of a bathroom mirror, along a hallway or a staircase, beside a doorway, or above a console in an entrance. A pair on either side of a sofa or a fireplace adds a second layer of light below the ceiling light. Browse them all in our wall lights collection or in the glass wall sconces collection.
To combine sconces with pendants and lamps room by room, see our bedroom lighting ideas and living room lighting ideas.
Not sure whether a sconce or a ceiling pendant suits your room? Our guide to pendant lights vs wall lights compares the two room by room, with real sizes.
Choosing sconces for a particular room or style? Our guide to wall sconces for the living room covers placement and mounting height beside a fireplace, a sofa or an armchair, and our vintage wall sconces guide groups the brass, glass, fabric and ceramic models by look.
Choosing a wall light? Our guide to wall sconces with shades compares fabric, paper, glass and ceramic shades, and our guide to modern wall sconces covers stone, plaster and crystal designs, both with real sizes.
Two related guides: colored glass lighting sorts our green, amber, pink and blue glass lights by colour, and mid-century wall sconces covers drum, sunburst, tulip and glazed ceramic designs, both with real sizes.
Placing sconces in a specific spot? See wall lights beside a mirror and staircase lighting ideas; to count how many you need, see how many lights a room needs, and for a tall room, pendant lights for high ceilings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a sconce and a wall light?
There is none in practice: "sconce" is the usual American term and "wall light" the usual British one for a light fixture mounted on a wall.
Do wall sconces need to be hardwired?
Not always. Plug-in sconces run a cord to a socket. Most sconces in our collection are hardwired, so check the mounting line on each product page and use an electrician.
Which sconce is best for a narrow hallway?
A shallow one. In our collection, the Travertine Wall Sconce projects 6.5 cm and the Crystal Disc Wall Sconce 7.3 cm from the wall.
