I'm adding a small island to my kitchen. 38x36 in size. Should I do more than one light? I love this pendant--it comes in 13 in diameter and 17 in diameter. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I love this light too but personally I like two or three lights over an island and 13 inch in diameter is way too big to put two over a 36 or 38 inch space. If the light was going somewhere off to the side or was an accent light in the kitchen off to the side over the sink I would say one is fine but if this is going as a center piece to the room I would find a smaller light and do 2. See the photo above with the 2 glass lights- that space is way bigger than 36 and they are doing two smaller glass. I think they could have maybe gotten away with doing slightly larger lights but that space is more like 48 or bigger. Just my unprofessional opinion. If the counter is off to the side and you have other pendent lighting in the room - one light over it might work.

hmm okay. I think I needed someone to tell me that it would not look right. What about these? They are 8.5 in diameter. I would do two. copper pendant

i like them. and 2 would work well and fit.

Hello, I'm looking for any suggestions on how to space the pendants over the 60" by 35" island with the hob on and either to do 2 or 3 of them. Lights are about 9-10" inch. Thank you

I need help as well...but I'm confused by all of the comments above (so I apologize if this has already been answered)...I have an island that is 74" long and appx. 40" wide. I picked out two pendants that are each 10" in diameter...my questions are:

1. Do I use 2 or 3 pendants?
2. If I use 2...how far should I space them?
3. If I use 3...how far should I space them?

We have installed 2 can lights in the kitchen area and 6 can lights in our living room...so the pendants are more for decorative purposes versus lighting.

I should also state that we will be adding an overhang so there is space for stools.

My island is 7 1/2 feet long and 36 inches wide. I plan on putting three pendants, each 9-1/2 inches wide above it. One side of my island will be extended for seating. How should I space them?

I can't believe I've stumbled onto this site. I've been sitting here for far too long trying to calculate how far apart we need to hang our pendant lights (and yes, I've even tried drawing a scaled sketch to figure this out). So here's what we've got:

We have a peninsula extending out from a pantry that is 77" long, 42" wide. We want to hang two pendants which have glass domes that measure 12" in diameter. Ok - now work your magic (please)!

Also, what's your rule of thumb for how high to hang them? Our peninsula is counter height.

Need help on getting my builder info on measurements to hang two pendants I recently bought to go over my kitchen island. Island will measure 110 inches long x 60 wide. The pendants are 16.00" in width and 27.50" height (including chain). I bought only two cause I thought three might be to big??? Ceiling height is 10 feet. Can someone please help me get correct measurements on spacing of these two 16 inch pendants on a 110 inch island ?

This was how I was going to calculate it, but want to make sure. Island 110 inches - 32 inches for two pendants total in inches = 78 inches divided by 3 . That being 26 off each end of island and 26 apart of each other ?? Is this correct ??

Who made the rule that the the pendant spacing needs to be larger than pendant themselves? I am going with the Tom Dixon beat pendants which are 14 inches wide, I am choosing 5 over an island that is 110 wide. That leaves me with 8 inches in between. I think that looks more modern than wide spaces in middle.

There is no hard and fast rule. That is just my own personal guideline. If there is a certain look you are trying to achieve, of course you are free to make your own rule!

I am not a pro but I was the one who started this thread 3 years ago! Someone commented saying that pendant spacing needs to be larger than the pendant themselves...I'm not sure that is true. However, I do think 5 lights at 14" over a 110" island is a little too busy. I personally think 3 is plenty. I do see that your light is sleek and modern but if you have too many can be too busy, which is the opposite of what most modern contemporary looks are. I think the most important factor is not to have the lights too close to the edge of the island which I think 5 lights will do. Someone could literally hit their head. The island prevents them from hitting there head but if its close to the end of the island they can. My island is 118" long and my 3 lights are 14". I have one in the middle and then ceiling spaced 36" from the center of the middle canopy to the other canopies on either side.

Ironically I am in the middle of changing my lights and because I may go bigger on the light, larger than 14'' maybe 20" but still think I'll keep to 3.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. I went to the Tom Dixon showroom in lower Manhattan this evening and fell in love with this arrangement below and have instead purchased a combination of below lamps. Two of the "flater wider" pendants, two tall as you see on the left side and one "fat" one in the middle. As you see they are hung quite close together and are absolutely gorgeous and very neat looking. Very "artsy".. I'm sure there is a better word but its been a long day.

I actually randomly just found the exact same arrangement I want to do... le sigh. Just when I thought I had the idea. lol

I like it because they are different lights and sizes. The two skinny ones are a lot smaller than the two on the outer edge which is what you showed above. If you had 5 of the same light I would not like it. Just my opinion. but the above with different is cool....

Diameter wise I think both are fine. If they are simple looking I'd do the larger BUT if using the larger one do you have enough room for the chain. Sometimes when a light gets bigger in diameter then the height of the actual fixture gets larger too (the entire light get bigger) and you have no room for the chain. Most electricians recommend 30" from the counter to the bottom of the light. So make sure you know how tall the pendant is when diameter is 17" plus you need a few links of chain and then the canopy. Hope that helps.

If I have an island that's 105" and two orb pendants that are 24" in diameter where would I put them? I had them marked and thirds but I think I did it wrong and they might be too close together- it leaves 10" between them. Electricians already drilled the holes and they come back tmrw to install

I would like to know spacing too. I have 72 inch island and three pendants that are 12 inches wide.

@hinghammom I have a 105" long island by 60'' wide. I'm looking at the the attached lights. One is 20" H x 19"W x 19" D (4 lights) & the other is 6 lights, 25.5"H x 24" W x 24" D...would you do 3 of the 19" W? 2 of the 24" W?

p.s. we are neighbors, I'm a NorwellMom : )

Does the comment about the spacing between fixtures being larger than fixture itself apply to two oversized fixtures above an island? My island is 103" x 29" I am currently looking at a fixture that is 38.5"X11"

No they are not too big

I would say over the island. I have recessed lighting in my house where some lights are closer to the beams and not centered on the ceiling. Obviously a hanging light is different but I would stay true to the island. Hopefully the lights won't be too close to the beams?

also to Duke blue02 above - if you are doing 2 lights over the island - do not do them closer to the edges - do but the opposite- They should be more in the middle and off the edge.

I have a 52" island. I bought two 9.88" pendants lights to hang over it. I'm concerned that they are too big for the island. I love the pendants but don't want to be too off-scale. Any advice is welcomed. Thanks.

I have a 54" by 10 Foot island with 8 foot ceilings and I have three glass pendants that are 12" in diameter. With your size of island I would do as big as you can. Going any smaller than 12" width is too small. Maybe even do two huge pendants like 16" width and with your nice big height ceiling you can actually have chain and a longer light fixture. So Yes with a sizable island and large ceilings - yes go large. Just remember the bottom of your light should only be 30-32" off of the island. Many people with tall ceilings make the mistake of floating their pendants way too high up. And I have an ocean view and the pendants do not take away from the view. Mine are glass so maybe consider that. Couldn't make heads or tails of the picture you sent.

These lights I've attached are amazing from Urban Electric and if I could do my island over I would jump all over these. You can change the inside color to whatever you want!

Currently I have these glass lights - you can only see 2 but I have three going across- also from Urban Electric.

Not sure how to do lighting over this kitchen island with a support posts, 60 inches apart. The counter extends out 15 inches between posts as breakfast bar. I was thinking two pendants over breakfast bar at post.

Hello! After reading all of the recommendations for distance between pendants I think I have confused myself even more! If anyone can help...I have an island that is 103 inches long (almost 9 feet) and wanted to put up two pendants that are 12 inches wide (the shade part). Do I still space them 36 inches apart for each other? I feel like once up they might look and be too close since the pendants are 12 inches. Or maybe I should get 8 inch pendants but I feel those are too small for an island our size. Any help or recommendaFiona would be so appreciated!!! Thank you.

when measuring distance between pendants is everyone referring to the base / center of the pendants or the widest side of the pendant itself? Thank you!

HI - I am actually the originator of this post/thread from 4 years ago! Just addressing the last two questions from Lindaamo49 and Tessa H.

First Tessa H- I always talk hole to hole in the ceiling. So when I said 36" apart I am saying 36" from the center of one hole measured to the center of the adjecent hole.

Linda Your island is very long. Mine is actually 118" long so slightly longer than yours and I have 3 12" glass pendants. I personally think 2 at 12" for your island is not enough. I would buy a 3rd 12" light. When doing only 2, I like big oversized pendants. As big as 16 or 18", especially for an over 100" island! I like bigger verses smaller lights.

However if you go with only 2, In your case, say your island is 100" if you were to evenly place them the holes would be drilled at 25 and 75"- right? Start with that by marking your ceiling and hanging something from there or placing something on your island to mark it and you may find because you are only using 12" lights the gap between the two is too big and you need to bring them in closer.

36" between the holes in my ceiling takes into account that I am doing three at 12" and I have a 118". There really isn't a formula. I probably could have brought the two outer lights closer into the middle one but I don;t have recessed lighting in the middle of the my kitchen ceiling so I wanted the light to be spread more. Probably way over thought that.

This is my island here....

Someone above posted this picture. These lights are 20" wide (4 candles) and it looks like there is probably just 2 and the island I bet is at least 100" I absolutely love this.

I also posted slightly above a picture in January of lights that are blue. Those lights are huge at like 18 and the island is way smaller than yours.

Thank you so much hinghammom! I am hanging two glass pendants 11 1/2" wide. My island is 84"L x 50"W and my contractor has already cut the holes / wired and started hanging them 30" apart from the center (before I saw your post!) and I just wasn't sure if this was too close together. I do have recessed lighting as well. These are the pendants here. Do you think it's bringing them out a few inches at this point? I just don't want them to look too crowded. Thanks!

hi hinghammon!
I've read so many of your comments about not having the pendants light be placed so close to the edge of the island. It worries me in my case because right now, my first choice to fix my off centered 2 pendant lights over the island is moving one further out to match the other side (making it more to the edge). Is your concern only that someone will bump their head into the light? or do you also think it doesn't look very pleasing having two pendants spread so far apart? Thank you for posting! such a helpful thread. oh, here's my off-centered pendants and my two options to fix it by my builder.

I personally like the last photo where you have the lights hung there (gray color ones verses the black). Closer together. I just think it looks so much better than having the lights spread far apart that's all. I don't think anyone will hit their head no matter where you place the lights. Don't hang them too high either. From the counter to the bottom of the light should just be about 30". I think a lot of people hang their lights too high. Hope this helps