How High Should a Pendant Hang? Heights Explained Simply

Standard Pendant Heights for Tables, Islands and Rooms

Pendant lighting often looks wrong not because of the fixture, but because of its height. A pendant that hangs too low feels intrusive. One that hangs too high feels ineffective.

Getting the height right is one of the simplest ways to improve comfort, balance, and visual clarity — yet it is one of the most common lighting mistakes.

This guide explains pendant heights clearly, without rules that only work in showrooms.

Why Pendant Height Matters

Three-panel comparison showing pendant lights hung too high, at recommended height, and too low above a dining table. — *Pendant height comparison showing high, recommended, and low positions over a dining table.*

Pendant height affects more than appearance. It controls glare, shadow, brightness at task level, and how a space feels when you move through it.

Because pendants sit directly in the field of view, even small height errors are noticeable.

Good pendant height feels invisible. Poor height demands attention.

The Basic Rule for Most Spaces

In most situations, pendants should hang low enough to light what matters, but high enough to stay out of the way.

For general guidance:

Over tables, islands, and surfaces: the bottom of the pendant should usually sit around 700–900 mm above the surface.

In open spaces or walkways: the bottom of the pendant should sit comfortably above eye level, typically 2000–2100 mm from the floor.

These ranges work because they respect human sightlines rather than ceiling heights.

Pendant Height Over Dining Tables

Dining tables benefit from lower pendants because the table itself defines the activity zone.

Hanging the pendant too high makes the table feel underlit and disconnected. Hanging it too low creates glare and blocks conversation.

A good height allows the light to sit within the dining space without dominating it.

Pendant Height Over Kitchen Islands

Kitchen islands require clarity without glare.

Pendants should sit low enough to illuminate work surfaces evenly, but high enough to avoid casting harsh shadows when you move.

Multiple smaller pendants often work better than a single large one, as they spread light and reduce visual weight.

Pendants in Open Rooms and Walkways

In circulation spaces, pendant height is about clearance and comfort.

Pendants should never feel like obstacles. If you notice yourself adjusting your path to avoid them, they are too low.

In these areas, height matters more than brightness.

Ceiling Height Changes the Feeling Not the Rules

Higher ceilings do not automatically mean pendants should hang lower or higher.

What changes is scale. Taller ceilings allow for larger or longer pendants, but the relationship to eye level and surfaces remains the same.

Design should respond to people first, architecture second.

Common Pendant Height Mistakes

The most common mistakes are hanging pendants based on ceiling height alone, copying showroom displays, or prioritising symmetry over comfort.

Pendants should relate to how a space is used, not how it photographs.

Why Height and Bulb Choice Work Together

Height alone cannot fix glare or discomfort.

A pendant hung at the correct height with the wrong bulb can still feel harsh. Likewise, a well-chosen bulb can improve comfort even when height is slightly off.

Good lighting comes from treating height, bulb, and shade as one system.