8 ft ceiling, 6 ft island
36-inch counter, opaque 14-inch shades. Hang the bottoms 30 inches above the counter, which is 66 inches off the floor and 30 inches below the ceiling. Use 2 pendants, 30 inches apart, centers 21 inches in from each end.
Kitchen island pendants
How high to hang pendant lights over a kitchen island
The bottom of the shade should sit 30–36 inches above the counter. Taller ceilings use the top of that range. Opaque shades hang lower. Open shades hang higher so the bulb is not at eye level.
Bottom of the shade
32 in above the counter
68 inches above the floor · 40 inches below the ceiling
- Pendants
- 3
- Spacing
- 30 in
- From each end
- 18 in to center
Opaque shades use the low end of the range so light reaches the counter.
How to measure
- Measure from the finished floor to the ceiling, not to a soffit or a beam unless the pendant hangs from that beam.
- Measure the counter you actually cook on. A standard kitchen counter is 36 inches. A bar-height island is often 42 inches.
- Measure the island length, then the width of one shade. Spacing is center to center, so shade width changes how far the glass sits from the end of the island.
- Mark the height on the wall with tape before the electrician drills. Multiple pendants have to be level with each other.
Three common islands
9 ft ceiling, 8 ft island
36-inch counter, opaque 14-inch shades. Hang the bottoms 32 inches above the counter, 68 inches off the floor. Use 3 pendants, 30 inches apart.
10 ft ceiling, 9 ft bar
42-inch bar top, open 14-inch shades. Hang the bottoms 36 inches above the counter, 78 inches off the floor. Use 4 pendants. Even spacing lands near 27 inches, still inside the 24–36 inch range.
The rule this page uses
Designers measure from the countertop to the bottom of the fixture, not from the floor and not from the canopy. The usual band is 30–36 inches. On an 8-foot ceiling stay at 30–32. On a 9-foot ceiling use 32–34. On a 10-foot ceiling use 34–36. Above that, 36–40 inches still lights the island. Much higher and the pendant becomes a ceiling light.
An opaque shade throws light down, so this page picks the low end of the band. An open globe spills light at eye level, so it picks the high end. After you hang a sample, sit on a stool. If you look into the bulb, raise an open shade. If a tall person hits the shade, raise it an inch or two.
How many, and how far apart
One pendant under 5 feet of island. Two from 5 to 7 feet. Three from 7 to 9 feet. Four from 9 feet up. Past 12 feet, a linear light is usually calmer than a row of small shades. Centers are set about 30 inches apart and kept at least 6 inches of clear counter beyond the outer edge of each end shade.
Questions people ask
How high should pendant lights hang over a kitchen island?
30–36 inches from the counter to the bottom of the shade. Use the shorter distance on an 8-foot ceiling and the longer distance on a 10-foot ceiling.
How many pendant lights for a 6 foot island?
Two. On a 72-inch island with 14-inch shades, place the centers 21 inches from each end so they are 30 inches apart.
How far apart should island pendants be?
About 24–36 inches from center to center. Leave at least 6 inches between the outer edge of an end shade and the end of the island.
Does a higher ceiling change the height?
Yes, a little. Keep measuring from the counter. A 9-foot ceiling wants about 32–34 inches above the counter. The extra ceiling height is taken up by a longer stem or chain, not by floating the shade near the ceiling.