You spent a long time looking for the right dining table, chose the perfect light to go with it, and installed everything. And yet something still doesn't look right. The light hangs too high and gets lost against the ceiling, or it's too small and floats forlornly above the large tabletop. Perhaps it also causes glare while you're sitting because it hangs a few centimeters too low.
It's rarely a matter of taste and almost always a matter of dimensions. The length and size of a pendant light is the most underestimated decision when buying a lamp. It determines whether the table becomes the centerpiece or whether even the most beautiful light ultimately looks out of place.
In the next few minutes, you'll get clear dimensions, simple rules of thumb, and right at the beginning a small tool that tells you exactly which light fixture suits your table.
What matters
When people talk about the “ideal length” of a pendant light, they actually mean two different things. The first question is the height: How low should the light hang above the tabletop? The second is the size: How long or wide may the light be in relation to the table? These are the two dimensions most often misjudged when buying.
Instead of doing lengthy calculations, simply enter your table's shape and dimensions into the following tool. You'll immediately find out which light fixture is suitable, how many you need, how large it should be, and how far apart they should hang.
Find your ideal light
Calculate the perfect pendant light size
What shape is your table?
How large is your table?
Your recommendation
The most important rules at a glance
The configurator takes care of the calculations for you. If you would still like to briefly understand what its recommendation is based on, here are the four rules of thumb in a nutshell.
Hanging height: 60 to 75 cm above the tabletop. At this height, you can comfortably look beneath the light while seated, and it will not cause glare. The reference point is always the tabletop, not the ceiling. With very high ceilings or people over 1.90 m tall, 75 to 80 cm may also be suitable.
Size for round tables: one third to one half of the diameter. So over a 120 cm round table, a light of around 60 cm works well. Round tables pair best with round, globe-shaped or drum-shaped lights.
Size for rectangular tables: 50 to 70 percent of the table length. So over a 200 cm table, choose a linear light between 100 and 140 cm. Important: The light should never extend beyond the edge of the table, otherwise you may hit your head on it when standing up.
Long tables from 200 cm: choose several small lights in a row. Find the spacing by dividing the table length by the number of lights plus one. This keeps the light even and prevents the ends of the table from being left in the dark.
And a few small details that make all the difference: Look for a colour rendering index of at least 90 (we explain why in the article on colour rendering index) and make sure the light can be dimmed. Our tip from experience: Choose a light that can dim down to 2,200 Kelvin, creating genuine candlelight. Normal warm white is ideal for a shared dinner, but in the late hours, when only your closest friends are still there and the wine is open, this warm, golden candlelight really sets the mood. And one more detail that is often overlooked: The light should hang over the centre of the table, not the centre of the room.
And what about LUMIÈRE?
Our lights are designed precisely for this logic. Many models come in several sizes, so you can find the right proportions for every table, and our compact glass globes in particular are ideal for rows over long tables or clusters over round and small tables. In addition, almost all our lights achieve a CRI of 90 or higher, so your food ultimately looks as good as it tastes.
