Chandelier Size Calculator

HOW TO SIZE A Chandelier

When selecting a chandelier for your home, room, entryway, etc, you want to make sure you are getting the correct size. First, you want to make sure of the chandelier is the proper diameter for the room size. This can be achieved through the simple calculation of: adding the (L)length and (W) Width of the room and then converting the total into inches. For example, if your room is 10' x 14', which would equal 24', the optimal diameter of your chandelier would be 24".

If your chandelier is going to be hanging above a table, you will need to take the Ceiling height and table size into account, as you want the chandelier be proportionate to the table. The best way to achieve this is to select a fixture that's diameter is somewhere between half and three quarters the diameter (or width) of the tabletop. For example, if the dining room table was 48" wide x 60" long, the chandelier that is 24" to 36" in diameter would be an appropriate size to compliment the table. Use our calculator below to determine an ideal chandelier size based on your table dimensions and ceiling height.

Our step-by-step guide will help you determine the general sizing and placement of a chandelier for your dining room, kitchen, or breakfast nook based on the size of your room, living space, or your furniture. You can also use these measurements in other areas of your home, some with special considerations. See our placement guidelines for living rooms, bathrooms, foyers, and long hallways below.

Step 1. Determine Chandelier Width

– Measure the length and the width of the room
– Add the two measurements
– Convert the measurement unit from feet to inches

The converted sum is the ideal width (or diameter) of your chandelier. For example, if your dining room is 10′ x 18′, a chandelier with a 28″ diameter or width is the best fit for your space. This applies regardless of the shape of the chandelier. However, for round or rectangular fixtures, the length should be at least one-half, but not more than two-thirds the length of your table.

You can also use the square footage of your room to help estimate the size of chandelier that would be proportional. We’ve provided a quick reference chart below showing the appropriate width or diameter by square footage. Square footage is calculated by taking the length of the room multiplied by the width of the room. Using the example above, a 10’ x 18’ dining room would be 180 square feet, and a chandelier around 28” in diameter would be proportional.

Sizing By Table Size

To determine the width of your chandelier by the size of your table, assuming you have an open floor plan or just want to make the chandelier the centerpiece of the room, we recommend that the width or diameter of the chandelier should be one-half to two-thirds the width of the table. With ceilings over the standard eight feet, you base the size of the chandelier on the room size or living space. In this case, you would want to make sure the width of the chandelier is one foot less than the width of the table, to ensure six inches of clearance on either side of the table.

Hanging Two or More Chandeliers

A good place to start is to work with the rule of thirds. However, in this case we want to balance out the fixtures with the negative space. We have developed two formulas for how wide a chandelier should be in this situation.

Formula 1: Divide the length by 5 to calculate the three negative space values along with sizes for the chandeliers. For example: A 10’ long kitchen island or dining table divided by 5, gives you equal parts of negative space at 2’ along with 24” wide chandeliers. This is a great rule of thumb to start with.

Formula 2: Divide the overall length by 2, and then divide by 2 again. For a 10’ long table you would have 5’ (60”) then divided by 2 again to equal 30” fixtures. The distance between the fixtures should equal the diameter of each piece. Conclusion: Pick fixtures that are either 24” or 30” for a 10’ wide table and make sure to keep 24” or 30” between the chandeliers once installed.

*Source: Lightopia