How High to Hang Pendant Lights Over a Kitchen Island
Pendants over a kitchen island light the counter where you prep, eat and work, and they are one of the first things you see when you walk into the kitchen. Hung too low, they block the view across the room and get in the way. Hung too high, they light the ceiling more than the counter. Here are the measurements to get right before you order.
1. The height: 30 to 36 inches above the counter
Hang pendants so the bottom of each shade is about 30 to 36 inches above the countertop. Measure from the counter, not the floor. A standard US kitchen counter is 36 inches high, so the bottom of the shade usually ends up about 66 to 72 inches (5 ft 6 in to 6 ft) above the floor.
- Toward 30 inches: for a cozier, more focused pool of light, or when the people in your home are on the shorter side.
- Toward 36 inches: when the people in your home are tall, when you want a clear view across the island into the room, or with a ceiling above 9 ft.
- Bar-height islands (a raised counter about 42 inches high): measure the 30 to 36 inches from the raised top.
Sit at the island and stand beside it before you fix the height. You should see the people across the island under or past the shades, and the bulbs should not shine straight into your eyes.
2. How long a cord or rod you need
Work out the drop from the ceiling to the bottom of the shade, then take away the height of the shade itself:
Ceiling height − counter height − 30 to 36 in − shade height = cord or rod length
- 8 ft ceiling (96 in): 96 − 36 − 33 = 27 inches from the ceiling to the bottom of the shade.
- 9 ft ceiling (108 in): 108 − 36 − 33 = 39 inches.
- 10 ft ceiling (120 in): 120 − 36 − 33 = 51 inches.
Then check the cord or rod length in the Specifications table on the product page. The Elmhurst, Elvora and Canto pendants have 59 inch adjustable cords, and the Strati comes with a 78.7 inch cord that can be shortened. Linear pendants such as Monvera hang on rods that you combine to set the height.
3. How many pendants, and how big
Match the pendants to the length of the island. As a starting point:
- Island up to about 5 ft: two pendants about 10 to 14 inches wide, or one 47 inch linear pendant.
- Island about 6 to 7 ft: two pendants about 14 to 18 inches wide, three about 10 to 14 inches wide, or one 59 inch linear pendant.
- Island 8 ft or longer: three pendants about 12 to 16 inches wide, or one 71 inch linear pendant.
- Small shades (under about 8 inches): three to five in a row, or grouped together over the middle of the island. The Canto and Lunor are both 5.9 inches wide.
Odd numbers (one, three, five) tend to look balanced over an island, but two matched pendants work well over a shorter one.
4. Spacing them along the island
- Even spacing: divide the island's length by the number of pendants and hang one in the middle of each section. Over a 96 inch island, three sections of 32 inches put the pendants 16, 48 and 80 inches from one end.
- Ends: keep the edge of each outer shade at least 6 inches in from the end of the island.
- Between shades: leave at least about half a shade's width of space between neighboring shades, so they don't look crowded.
- Linear pendants: choose one about 12 inches shorter than the island or more, so there are at least 6 inches at each end. The Alderline and Monvera come in 47.2, 59.1 and 70.9 inch lengths.
Before the electrician fixes the ceiling boxes, mark the centers on the ceiling right above the middle of the island, measuring from the island, not from the walls or cabinets.
5. An example: three Elmhurst pendants over an 8 ft island
Take an island 96 inches long with a 36 inch high counter, in a kitchen with a 9 ft ceiling.
- Number and size: three Elmhurst pendants, each 15.7 inches wide.
- Spacing: centers 16, 48 and 80 inches from one end. That leaves about 16 inches between the shades and about 8 inches between each outer shade and the end of the island.
- Height: the bottom of each shade 33 inches above the counter, or 69 inches (5 ft 9 in) above the floor.
- Cord: 108 − 69 = 39 inches from the ceiling to the bottom of the shade. Take away the 9.4 inch shade height and you need about 30 inches of cord, well within the 59 inch adjustable cord.
6. Light for cooking
- Color temperature: 2700K to 3000K gives a warm light that suits open-plan kitchens. For a brighter, more neutral light at a work surface, look at 3000K to 4000K bulbs. Our color temperature and bulb guide explains Kelvin, lumens and bulb bases.
- Shade type: open-bottom and glass shades send more light down onto the counter; solid shades and opal glass give a softer glow. The Elvora has an integrated LED with a white acrylic diffuser, and the large size gives 2,800 lumens.
- Dimming: a dimmer lets the same pendants light food prep and a relaxed dinner. Check the product page to see whether a light, or the bulb you choose, is dimmable.
Before you order
- Check the Specifications table on each product page for the shade size, cord or rod length, socket type and whether bulbs are included.
- Heavier pendants need a ceiling box that can carry their weight: the large Elvora, for example, weighs about 16.5 lb.
- Hardwired pendants should be installed by a licensed electrician, following your local electrical code.
- Hanging pendants over a dining table instead? The same 30 to 36 inch rule applies, and our chandelier size guide covers sizing to the table.
- Not sure what fits? Email us at support@lumorahearth.com with your island length, counter height and ceiling height, and we'll help you choose.