Let There Be Light: A Designer’s Guide to Choosing the Right Chandelier Size

A well-placed chandelier can completely transform a room—it’s like the jewelry of your home. Get the size right, and it feels effortlessly chic. Get it wrong, and suddenly, your stylish lighting moment becomes a design dilemma.

Whether you’re refreshing a room or designing a space from the ground up, figuring out the right chandelier size can feel confusing. But don’t worry, we’re making it simple. Think of this as your go-to cheat sheet for finding that just-right chandelier that works in harmony with the scale of your space.

Sizing Up: How Big Should a Chandelier Be?

Chandeliers are all about balance. Too small, and they’ll feel like an afterthought. Too big, and they’ll overpower everything else in the room. The trick is understanding proportion.

Room Size Formula: A Foolproof Starting Point

Here's a handy starting point:
Add the room’s length and width in feet, and that total equals the chandelier’s diameter in inches.

Example:
If your room is 12 feet by 14 feet, your ideal chandelier diameter is 26 inches.

This gives you a size that feels tailored—not too shy, not too showy.

Vertical Space Matters: What About Ceiling Height?

Next up: how tall should your chandelier be?

Here’s a quick guide: Take the height of your room in feet, then multiply it by 2.5 to get the chandelier’s height in inches.

Example:
Got 10-foot ceilings? 10 x 2.5 = 25 inches tall.

This works best for fixtures with a vertical drop, like classic pendant chandeliers. For flush mounts or more compact styles, you may not need to follow this as closely.

 Heads up: If you’re working with double-height ceilings or especially tall rooms, go a bit higher. We often raise the fixture slightly to keep it feeling grounded without getting in the way.

Where to Hang It: Finding the Sweet Spot

Now let’s talk installation height. Here’s what we recommend based on where your chandelier will live:

Open Living Spaces

For chandeliers in open areas like living rooms or bedrooms, make sure there’s at least 7 to 7.5 feet of clearance from the floor to the bottom of the fixture.

Pro Tip: If the ceilings are particularly high (think vaulted or 12+ feet), we’ll sometimes install them a touch higher for better proportion and visual flow.

Dining Tables & Kitchen Islands

Over a table or island? Keep the bottom of the chandelier 30 to 36 inches above the surface. This keeps things cozy without blocking conversation—or your sightline to the appetizers.

Customizing for the Room: It's Not One-Size-Fits-All

Of course, not every room follows the same rules. Here’s how to adapt your chandelier sizing for specific spaces:

Dining Room Drama

Your chandelier should feel like a natural companion to the table below. As a rule of thumb, aim for a diameter that’s about ½ to ¾ the width or length of your table.

So if your table is 72 inches long, go for a chandelier that’s between 36 and 54 inches across. This helps anchor the light over the table while staying in proportion with the room.

Grand Entrances: Two-Story Foyers

Foyers are prime spots for a statement light fixture—but don’t just think floor to ceiling.

Try this:

• Make sure the bottom of the chandelier is at least 7.5 feet off the ground.

• From the second floor, the chandelier should look well-positioned—either centered in a stairwell window, or just at or below eye level when viewed from above.

Light the Way: Hallways & Corridors

For long hallways, we recommend spacing smaller chandeliers or pendant lights every 8 to 10 feet, and using the hallway width x 2.5 rule to determine diameter.

Example:
An 8-foot-wide hallway would suit a chandelier about 20 inches in diameter.

One Last Thing: Go Bold (When It Feels Right)

We always say: lighting is the one area where you can afford to be a little daring. If you’re between two sizes and can’t decide, bigger almost always feels more intentional—especially in open-concept rooms or high-ceilinged spaces.

Sometimes the chandelier should be the star of the show. A larger fixture can anchor a design scheme, add architectural interest, and bring instant wow factor.

Final Thoughts: Let the Light Lead

Lighting isn’t just functional—it’s foundational. Choosing the right chandelier means blending form, scale, and placement to create something beautiful and balanced.

If you’re unsure, that’s where we come in. Our team helps clients select lighting that not only fits their space, but feels like an extension of their personal style. Whether you're illuminating a grand foyer or cozy breakfast nook, there’s a perfect chandelier waiting to shine.