A pendant over a dining table is one of the few lights where a few centimetres really matter. Hang it too high and it lights the ceiling and dazzles anyone standing. Hang it too low and people talk around it. Choose one too small and it looks lost; too large and it crowds the table. Here are the rules designers use, with real numbers you can check against your own room.
How high should a pendant hang over a dining table?
Aim for about 70 to 85 cm between the tabletop and the bottom of the shade. At that height the light falls on the table, the shade sits above eye level for seated diners, and people can see each other across it. Go towards the lower end for a wide or opaque shade that directs light down, and towards the higher end for a glass shade you might see the bulb through.
Over a kitchen island, where people stand, most people hang pendants a little higher, often 75 to 90 cm above the worktop.
What size pendant suits your table?
Two rules of thumb work well together:
- Table width minus 30 cm gives the largest single pendant that will not overwhelm the table. A 90 cm wide table suits a pendant up to about 60 cm across.
- Half to two-thirds of the table width is the comfortable range. For that same 90 cm table, that is 45 to 60 cm.
So a 90 cm wide table could take Leto, a hand-woven rattan pendant 50 cm across. Nephele, at 65 cm wide, suits a wider table or a large island, where its soft resin form has room to breathe.
Long tables: one pendant or several?
For a table of 180 cm or longer, one central pendant leaves the ends dim. Use two or three smaller pendants in a line, or a single linear fitting, and keep the light at least 15 cm in from each end of the table.
As an example, Phaethon comes as a single ring (30 or 40 cm), a double (60 cm long) or a triple (100 cm long). On a 180 cm table, the 100 cm triple leaves 40 cm at each end, which looks balanced. For a smaller round or square table, the 30 cm single is the better fit.
Worked example: a 2.4 m ceiling
Many UK homes have ceilings of about 2.4 m, and most dining tables are about 75 cm high. Here is how to work out the drop:
- Table height (75 cm) plus the gap above it (75 cm) puts the bottom of the shade at about 150 cm from the floor.
- Ceiling height (240 cm) minus 150 cm means the bottom of the shade should sit about 90 cm below the ceiling.
- Subtract the height of the shade to get the cable or rod length.
With the large Apollo, which is 27 cm high, that leaves roughly 63 cm of suspension. With Nephele, 35 cm high, about 55 cm. With a Phaethon ring, 9.5 cm high, about 80 cm, well within its adjustable 150 cm cable. Measure your own ceiling and table first, because a few centimetres either way changes the result.
Some designs need more room overhead. Hyperion, for example, needs a ceiling height of at least 2.4 m when suspended.
Light colour and dimming
For dining, warm white around 3000K flatters food and faces. Apollo comes in warm 3000K, cool 6000K or dual-white versions; for a dining room, warm is usually the one to choose. A dimmer lets the same pendant work for a family breakfast and a late dinner, but check the product first: Phaethon is dimmable with a compatible separate dimmer, while Nephele is not dimmable.
Before you order
- Pendants are hardwired to the mains. In the UK, have them fitted by a qualified electrician.
- Check where the ceiling rose is. If it is not centred over the table, a pendant with an adjustable or sloping cable can help; Phaethon's cable can slope up to 30 degrees.
- Add wall lights for a softer second layer. Aglaea, a fluted glass fan 28 cm wide, is designed with dining rooms in mind.
Quick answers
How far should a pendant be from the table?
About 70 to 85 cm from the tabletop to the bottom of the shade.
How big should a pendant be for a 6-seater table?
A typical 6-seater is about 90 cm wide, so a single pendant of about 45 to 60 cm suits it, or two to three smaller pendants if the table is long.
Can I hang a pendant over a round table?
Yes. Centre one pendant over the middle and use the same size rule, based on the table's diameter.
See all pendant lights and dining room lights.
Every lamp page on OLYMP'D includes a dimensions image drawn to scale, so you can check the size before you order. If you are still unsure, email support@olympd.shop with your measurements and we will reply within 1 to 2 business days. Delivery to the UK and Ireland is free and takes 7 to 14 business days.