Having the right pendant light height and spacing over your kitchen island is as important as the style of lighting that you choose. Ever since sharing my favorite kitchen remodel ideas from our recent renovation, I’ve gotten questions almost weekly about the best pendant light height over an island and how far apart to hang pendants.
I decided to put together a quick post sharing the spacing of our kitchen island pendants and tips for getting it right in your own home. I’ve also gathered together some of my favorite kitchen pendants to give those of you planning a kitchen remodel a head start! (post includes affiliate links; disclosure statement available {here})
What’s The Best Pendant Light Height Over an Island?
When hanging pendants over a kitchen island, the distance between the bottom of your pendant lights and your countertop should generally be between 30″-36″:
Kitchen Sources: Lantern pendants | Rattan counter stools in Fog | Pot Filler (vibrant stainless) | Cabinet cup pulls | Other cabinet pulls | Gray geometric rug | Round wood beaded edge tray
Where in that range should you hang your pendants? As a general rule of thumb, if you have 8′ ceilings your pendants will be closer to 30″ while with taller ceilings you may want to hang them a bit higher. You also want to make sure that your lights aren’t blocking your view and that you can see over your counter without them being in your line of sight. You definitely don’t want to have to be dodging around lights to see someone you’re talking to across the room! So ideally, the bottom of your pendant shouldn’t hang lower than the eye height of the tallest person in your house.
This can get tricky if you have super low ceilings like I do or sometimes even with 8′ ceilings. I’ve seen some people say that you shouldn’t use pendants over islands if you have ceilings that are 8′ or less and you should instead stick with recessed lights or semi-flush mount lights. I don’t agree! I feel like that just emphases the fact that you have lower ceilings. It’s actually the pendant light height over the island and the style of pendants that you need to adjust.
My tricks for making pendant lights work in kitchens with low ceilings are to (1) fudge the height measurements a bit and bring your pendants down a little lower (mine are actually hung a bit under 30″) AND (2) use open pendants that you can see through. I have {these pendants} in the 12.5″ size that ended up working beautifully. I feel like you’d never know that my ceilings were unusually low when you’re standing in my kitchen! For a similar look for less, check out {this pendant} and {this pendant}.
How Far Apart Should You Hang Pendant Lights Over an Island?
First I’ll share my own little trick for figuring out how far apart to hang TWO pendant lights over an island. I devised this formula during our kitchen renovation when I had to mark the exact placement of our kitchen pendants when the space was taken down to the studs and there wasn’t yet a single thing (including no kitchen island) to work off of. That’s tough since there’s no option to eyeball it!! Here’s what to do – first measure the length of your kitchen island countertop.
Then divide that number by 4. The number you get is how many inches in from the ends of the island to place the center of your pendants. So for example, my island counters are about 94″ long. I divided that measurement by four: 94 ÷ 4 = 23.5 . Then I centered my pendants 23.5″ in from each end of my kitchen island.
A second option that many use to figure out pendant spacing is to evenly divide the length of your kitchen island by three and hang the two pendants that far in from the end. So for my kitchen island, 94 ÷ 3 = 31.3 so I would hang my pendants about 31″ in from each end. Personally, I don’t like this look as much because it leaves more bare space at the end of the islands and the pendants are a lot closer together in the middle. But much of it boils down to personal preference so there’s no right or wrong answer here as long as make sure your spacing in from both ends is equal.
What if you are hanging three pendants? That’s a little easier – obviously you want to hang one of them in the center of the island. Then space out the two on the ends so that they’re at least 24″ apart. The exact distance apart is going to depend on your island length and size of your pendants but 30-32″ apart works well for most spaces.
How Many Pendants Should I Place Above My Kitchen Island?
I would love to give you a cut and dry works-in-all-situations answer but I’d be doing you a disservice since there are several factors that come into play. The main factor in determining how many pendants to place above your kitchen island is the length of the kitchen island but ceiling height, how much light is needed (you might want more pendants if they’re your primary source of light with no recessed lighting), and the size of your pendants also make a difference.
I will say that I think two pendants is best in the vast majority of kitchens. If your island is on the longer side, usually getting more substantial pendants and sticking with two of them is a better answer than adding a third pendant in my opinion.
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My kitchen island is pretty long at close to 8′ and I feel like two pendants was the right choice even with pendants that aren’t super large:
And the people who tell you that you should have one pendant per stool at your island? Ignore that! I think having three stools and two lights is much more interesting. I would have only considered adding a third light over my kitchen if my island was at least another 2-3′ long.
So overall, if your island is 10′ + long, if you want to use smaller pendants, and/or if you need the extra light are the only situations where I’d consider going with three. Again, just sharing my personal preference from my design aesthetic – if you have a smaller island with three pendants and love it, then you did the right thing because the bottom line is that it’s all about what you love and will be happy with in your home.
Favorite Pendants
I searched for a LONG time before deciding on my kitchen pendants and found lots of other beautiful ones along the way. These are some of my favorites:
Sources: 1. Lantern pendant | 2. White cone pendant | 3. Woven bell pendant | 4. Gray paper cone pendant | 5. Scalloped shade pendant | 6. Round woven pendant | 7. Black cone pendant | 8. White cone pendant with brass trim
I hope you found these tips helpful for projects you’re currently working on or those coming down the road (be sure to Pin an image or two if you want to be able to find these tips later)! If you have any questions about sources for anything in our kitchen, I put together a complete Source List at the end of this post. And if you missed any of my previous must-have measurements posts, you can check those out here:
Must-have Measurements for Your Bathroom
Decorating Your Living Room: Must-Have Tips
Decorating Your Dining Room: Must-Have Tips
Hanging Lighting & Choosing The Best Size Light Fixtures
Hope you all have a great start to your week,
Paint color: Benjamin Moore Cloud White (Flat for Walls, Satin for Trim) | Cabinets: See details on my kitchen cabinet design | Appliances: Monogram (more details {here}) | Countertops: Caesarstone’s Statuario Maximus – more details {here} | Flooring: See my Hallmark wood floors review | Backsplash tile: Mosaic behind range: Walker Zanger mosaic (Villa D’ Oro Granada) | Subway tile: AKDO Essential Ceramic in Cloud | Liner around mosaic: AKDO Vista Liner Essential Ceramic in Cloud | Grout Color: See details on our white subway tile with gray grout
See my post on our kitchen remodel before and after for more pics of our kitchen and a complete list of sources!
Sandi says
This was filled with good advice. I think hanging our pendant lights was the hardest part of our kitchen Reno. That, and the 3 piece matching lights over our table. We also had to do it with a room down to studs and no cabinets or island in place. We used chalk drawings of cabinets and island and lots of research on how much clearance between, and space for oven and dishwasher doors etc. it was the only part that actually made me cry a little in fear and frustration. Since my husband was hanging them it was a one shot deal! Haha.
Karen B. says
Kris,
Are you sure you aren’t a contractor? You have more info on these details than more contractors I’ve worked with. Haha. This is such valuable information when you’re trying to remodel a room as important as a kitchen. I love your new kitchen…will it be hard to leave it behind?
xo,
Karen
Sherry says
How far in from edge of your island (seat side) is center of your pendant hanging?
Kjelstad says
That is what I was looking for. We are doing a bunch of lighting in the kitchen. I ran can lightning on the edge of the counter but is seems as if you want these over the place settings. I would love to know what you figured out.
Anonymous says
I am so thankful for this post! We are doing the Darlana small in our home with 8’ ceilings and 8×3 island. So glad to see how yours looks and for the much needed guidance on where to hang the pendants
Tammy Beamish says
My island is 55X98, I picked up two fixtures similar to yours but they are 17 wide. Does that sound too big?
Amanda C says
Hi Kris,
Can you share the lightbulbs used in your kitchen pendants. I love the globe bulbs you use – what is the wattage with so many bulbs in each pendant? Thank you!
Nippon says
Keep up the good work, it’s hell lot inspiring!!
Anonymous says
We have a 10’ Island. Do you think three of the Small Darlana pendants would be too much?
Mayra says
I wish she answer i have the same question I have a 10’ island and don’t know if I should do 2 or 3 using the same pendants as hers
leann says
Do you think two 12in lantern light pendants for a 5ft kitchen island is too big?
karin kurnot says
DId you ever figure this out? I want to do the same and I have 6 foot island
karin kurnot says
can I please bother you ask if you think your pendent lights are to large for my 6foot island I have 9 foot ceilins thank you so much
Sally says
Hi, did you use the medium or large size pendants? Thanks!
Melissa B says
This was extremely helpful. Thank you. We are struggling with placement because the sink is not centered in the island. We are doing a 10′ island and would prefer just 2 lights. Half the island has seating on both sides facing each other. The other half of the island is where the DW and the sink are. We have picked HICKS 16″ dome lights and placing them 30″ in from the ends leaves about 48in between the lights. How wide can that space be between the lights? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Lisa says
Hi Kris, your article was so helpful. Our reno was done over two years ago and finally going to hang pendant lights and cover the canned lights still in place (they became off balance when the reno was done). Our island is large, recommended by the cabinet builder. Now realizing it could be a few ft smaller but.. it’s too late. The island is 144in and I found 2 pendants 11 inches wide. A bulb type and very similar to the Flynn pendant light. Do you think this would be okay for such a large island?
Deb M says
I have no idea when this was asked, but this size pendant would be entirely too small. That’s 12′ island! I would do at least 2 pendants of 15′ wide. You could probably do 3 that size! Do a mock-up of your counter in cardboard or with painters tape on the floor. Then cut out squares/circles the size of lights. Remember that lights look smaller when hung. To get ideas, you could go to model homes in your area to get ideas of how large Pendants are now.
kristen peer says
Hi Kris, Your tips are always amazing and so appreciated! We are working on renovating our kitchen right now. It has been so exciting but so difficult at the same time. Our kitchen design is very similar to yours with white kitchen, contrasting gray island. Our ceilings are only 89″ high. Our island will be 126″ long with a sink in the center. (our kitchen space is 302″x151″) What are your thoughts on this pendant light: From Bellacor.com, the Modern Gold Three-Light Mini Pendant by Millennium Lighting. I like the modern take on the lantern style lights. I was thinking of placing two pendants above island with using your spacing formula. Your input on this would be so appreciated. Thank you!!
Kristen
Christine says
This is a great post!! Although I”m still agonizing over 2 or 3, but I like 2. I have an island that is long, 118 inches, and 36 wide. I found pendants that are 15.25 wide and 18 tall. Can I do two? I saw your comment that if your island was 2 or 3 feet longer you would have considered 3. I’m right at that beginning cusp!!!
Kris Jarrett says
Honestly when you’re right on the cusp like that it really depends on small things like your ceiling height, how open your fixtures are, and what else is going on in your kitchen to make the call. Sometimes when you’re right in between you can make either work and it’s just personal preference!
Chrissy says
thank you! They are Capital Lighting’s Bailey. They are open like you suggested b/c my ceiling is only 8 ft. I guess I can’t go wrong. I am worried about them looking lost.
Liz Farber says
I was just wondering what you suggest for an island that is more square shaped. 51 by 63. I have two seats at the end of it. Would you do one pendant in the middle or try to get two smaller pendants in?
Kris Jarrett says
It depends on the type of pendants you’re looking to use – if they’re not too large, two would likely work but you could also consider one large pendant or even a single chandelier with multiple lights.
Melanie says
Can one pendant light (like your gorgeous 4 light gold pendant) be hung in the middle of a kitchen from the ceiling rather than over an island? Our kitchen is roughly 9 by 10 feet and has one central light source. How far from the ceiling is the lowest it should hang down (our ceilings are 8 feet)
Jale Breidenstein says
Beautiful kitchen . How big were the pendant lights you used over your kitchen island? Your island is the same length as mine but how wide is it? Mind us only 36 inches wide. Trying to decide how large of pendant lights I can get? Thanks!
Halle says
This is such great advice! I’m so glad I found your website! I do have a question….. I’m hoping you’d be so kind as to help me. I have an island that will be 123″ x 54″ and 10′ ceilings. I am trying to decide between 2 sizes of EF Chapman Darlana- style pendants. One is 19″W x 29″H, and the other is 24″W x 36″H. The second would be pretty big and dramatic, which I like, but I’m wondering if it’s too big. I would place two over the island. What do you think?
Michelle says
Hi Kris, we just started our kitchen remodel and our middle island will only be 51×51”. Would two 10” wide lantern style pendants work for that size island or would you only do one in that case?
Liz Zielke says
Hey There, I appreciate the article, but I am seeing articles that say your pendants should be 2x the width of each pendant apart. (i.e. if your pendants are 15″ wide, then they would be 30″ apart). But I don’t know if that means 30″ apart from center to center? or 30″ apart space between each pendant edge. I have seen it calculated both ways and can’t get clarification on this. We are installing a 6′ island and need to know the size pendants. Right now I am looking at 18″ square lanterns. Thanks!
Anonymous says
Hi Kris – What light bulbs did you use in the pendants? Thanks!
Scotty says
Hi
Some say put hanging lights over a island forward of centre,some say back of centre.
Is centre fine?
Thanks
Kris Jarrett says
I actually prefer my lights centered in the middle (that’s how they were done in our kitchen shown in this post).
casey Gould says
Thanks. I wanted to get your opinion on some pendants we are thinking of getting. We have a 10′ island. Agree with you i think two larger pendants work the best. Using your first method, the center of each light would be 30″ from the edge of island. The fixtures are 23″ wide. After all the math that leaves 37″ in the middle of the island for eye space. Do you think the size of the pendants are large enough or do we need to pick bigger pendants. They are Elliot Extra large pendants. thanks for all the help!
Gina says
We have a 56″ x 51″ island with 10′ ceilings, large kitchen. I really wanted 2 pendants but have been told I should only do one. What are your thoughts and what diameter pendant(s) should I go with. I want all glass and brass or open brass which seems less obtrusive thus I could go with 2 possibly.
JT says
What size are the pendants (are they 12 in or 17 in as assuming it is the lantern pendant linked but that’s the small size)? I also have just over 8 ft island and struggling if 2 x 16 inch is too small.