A Tiffany table lamp is sized by the diameter of its stained glass shade. The shade decides almost everything else: how tall the lamp stands, how much of the table it covers and how much coloured glass glows when it is switched on. Tiffany-style lamps are often sold as 8, 12 and 16 inch shades, which is roughly 20, 30 and 40 cm. This guide compares the real shade sizes and heights of the Tiffany-style table lamps in our range, from 16 cm to 40 cm, and shows which size fits a bedside table, a desk, a console or a sideboard.
The shade sizes in our range
All figures below are taken from our product pages. Height is the total height of the lamp.
| Shade size | Lamp height | Examples | Where it fits best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ø 16 to 19 cm (6.3 to 7.5 in) | 37 cm (14.6 in) | Red Leaf Pyramid and Pink Flower Pyramid (16 cm), Cream Panel (18 cm), Clear Geometric Cone (19 cm) | Small bedside table, shelf, windowsill |
| Ø 20 cm (7.9 in) | 35 to 38 cm (13.8 to 15 in) | Sunflower, Pink Rose, Jewel Lattice, Blue Stained Glass, Baroque, Gypsophila, House (35 cm) | Bedside table, desk, reading corner, shelf |
| 28 cm (11 in) wide, square | 36.5 cm (14.4 in) | Tiffany Mission Style | Desk, console |
| Ø 30 cm (11.8 in) | 46 cm (18.1 in) | Large Sunflower, Large Jewel Lattice, Large Petal Bell, Large Blue Peacock, Large Medallion, Large Tulips | Sideboard, console, living room side table, large nightstand |
| Ø 40 cm (15.7 in) | 61 cm (24 in) | Horse & Tree | Sideboard, console, large side table |
Base sizes are given on some product pages: 11.5 cm (4.5 in) for the Blue Stained Glass, Baroque and Tiffany Cat lamps, and 15.5 cm (6.1 in) for the Mission. On the other lamps the base size is not stated.
Which size for which place: a quick check
A common tip is to keep the shade narrower than the surface it stands on, with room left for a glass, a phone or a book. Here is what each size leaves free, using the shade sizes above.
- Bedside table 40 cm (15.7 in) wide: a 16 cm shade leaves 24 cm free, a 20 cm shade 20 cm. A 30 cm shade leaves only 10 cm.
- Bedside table 45 cm (17.7 in) wide: a 20 cm shade leaves 25 cm, a 30 cm shade 15 cm. The 30 cm lamps are described on their product pages as suited to a large nightstand.
- Desk 60 cm (23.6 in) deep: a 20 cm shade leaves 40 cm, the 28 cm Mission 32 cm.
- Console 120 cm (47.2 in) long: a pair of 30 cm lamps takes 60 cm and leaves 60 cm for books or a bowl; a pair of 20 cm lamps leaves 80 cm.
- Sideboard 160 cm (63 in) long: one 40 cm Horse & Tree lamp at one end leaves 120 cm, enough for a second, smaller lamp at the other end.
Height follows the shade: about 37 cm for the 20 cm lamps, 46 cm for the 30 cm lamps and 61 cm for the 40 cm lamp. For the right height beside a bed, see bedside lamp height and reading lights.
What changes with the size
- More glass, more glow. A 30 cm dome is almost twice as wide as a 16 cm pyramid, so much more of the pattern lights up. The small sizes make a soft bedside glow; the large ones become the focal point of a sideboard or a living room side table.
- The same light colour. The new 16 to 30 cm models give warm white 3500K light, according to their product pages. None of them is dimmable: they have a simple on/off switch.
- Switch. The 20 cm models have an on/off switch; the 30 cm models have an in-line on/off switch on the cord.
- Plug and voltage. The plug is chosen on the product page (US, EU, UK or AU). Voltage is 85–265 V on the 20 cm models and 110–240 V on the 30 cm models.
Same pattern in two sizes
Several patterns come in both a 20 cm and a 30 cm version, so you can match a small bedside lamp with a large living room lamp: Sunflower, Jewel Lattice, Petal Bell, Beaded Fringe, Glass Drops, Blue Scalloped, Pink Rose, Flowers & Grapes, Blue & Red Flowers and Rose Band. The peacock comes as a green 20 cm and a blue 30 cm lamp.
To learn more about the style itself, read our Tiffany lamp guide and our stained glass lamps buying guide; for other glass lamps, see glass table lamps and types of table lamps.
Choosing by pattern rather than by size? Our guide to floral Tiffany lamps sorts the rose, tulip, grape, lily and hydrangea designs with their sizes, and cute lamps gathers the cat, house and small pyramid lamps that fit a shelf or a small nightstand.
Choosing by shape or by motif? Our guide to Tiffany lamp shade shapes compares cone, pyramid, panel, bell and dome shades with their real sizes, and peacock and bird Tiffany lamps gathers the peacock, hummingbird, butterfly and horse designs.
Two more ways to choose: jewel and beaded Tiffany lamps compares the lattice, glass drops, cabochon and bead fringe shades with their real sizes, and our Tiffany lamp gift guide sorts the range by budget, size and the person you are buying for.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard Tiffany table lamp?
In our range, most Tiffany-style table lamps have a 20 cm (7.9 in) shade and stand 35 to 38 cm (13.8 to 15 in) high. The large models have a 30 cm (11.8 in) shade and stand 46 cm (18.1 in) high, and one model has a 40 cm (15.7 in) shade at 61 cm (24 in).
Is a 30 cm Tiffany lamp too big for a bedside table?
On a 45 cm (17.7 in) bedside table, a 30 cm shade leaves 15 cm free, so it works on a large nightstand. On a 40 cm table, a 20 cm shade (20 cm free) or a 16 cm shade (24 cm free) is easier to live with.
Are these real Tiffany Studios lamps?
No. They are Tiffany-style lamps with stained glass shades, made in the stained glass tradition, not pieces from Tiffany Studios. Our guide on how to tell if a Tiffany lamp is real explains the difference.
See every size in our Tiffany and stained glass lamps collection.
