Dining room lighting guide · ET2 & Hammerton Studio
How to size and hang a chandelier over your dining table.
Four simple formulas, a sizing chart for round and rectangular tables, the right hanging height, and the ET2 and Hammerton Studio fixtures we’d choose for each size.
Start with the table
The table sets the size. The ceiling sets the height.
The most common mistake we see in Laguna Beach and Orange County homes is a fixture chosen for the room’s ceiling instead of the table under it. A chandelier that is too small reads like an afterthought; one that is too large crowds the people sitting under it and glares in their eyes.
The fix is a little arithmetic. Measure the tabletop, not the room, then check the result against the room and the ceiling. The formulas below are the same rules of thumb designers use, and the chart turns them into real fixtures from ET2 Lighting and Hammerton Studio, with today’s prices.
If you’re new to Hammerton, our introduction to Hammerton Studio lighting covers its Salt Lake City studio and glass families. This guide is about getting the size and height right.
The four formulas
Everything you need, on one napkin.
Worked example. A 48″ round table in a 12 × 14 ft room with a 9 ft ceiling. The table rule caps the fixture at 36″; the room rule suggests 26″. Choose in between, around 27–33″, such as the 27″ Mesa Cluster Bloom (12 lights) or the 33″ Souffle. Hang it about 33–39″ above the table: the 30–36″ base plus 3″ for the extra foot of ceiling.
Sizing chart
Chandelier size by dining table, with fixtures that fit.
Find your table in the left column. The round column is the diameter range we’d shop, with the table-minus-12″ maximum in brackets. Seats are typical, at about 24″ per person.
| Table | Seats | Round or drum Ø | Linear length | Our picks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36″ round or square | 4 | 18–24″ (max 24″) | — | Hammerton Downtown Mesh Drum Small 19.3″ or Medium 24″ |
| 42–48″ round | 4–6 | 24–32″ (max 30–36″) | — | ET2 Souffle 25″; Hammerton Mesa Cluster Bloom 24.2″ or 27″; ET2 Souffle 33″ for a 48″ top |
| 54–60″ round | 6–8 | 30–40″ (max 42–48″) | — | ET2 Pebble 30-Light 36″; Hammerton Glacier Ring Medium 36″; Downtown Mesh Drum XL 38.4″ |
| 72″ × 36–40″ rectangle | 6 | 24–28″ | ≈ 48″ | ET2 Manta 47″; Hammerton Mesa Linear Small 44″; Downtown Mesh Linear Small 44.6″ |
| 84–90″ × 40–42″ rectangle | 8 | 28–30″ | 56–60″ | ET2 Manta 59″; ET2 Soji 60″; Mesa Linear Medium 58.9″; Downtown Mesh Linear Medium 59.6″ |
| 96–108″ × 42–44″ rectangle | 8–10 | 30–32″, or two fixtures | 64–72″ | ET2 Unity 69″; ET2 Manta 70″; Hammerton Icefall 9-light 64.9″; Cosmos 9-light 70.4″ |
| 120″+ banquet table | 10–12 | Two matching fixtures | 72–80″ | Hammerton Mesa Linear Large 75.6″ or Downtown Mesh Linear Large 74.4″, or a pair of round chandeliers on the table’s two halves |
Fixture sizes are from each product’s specifications. Round and drum diameters are for round or square tables; on rectangles, a round fixture should stay within the table width minus 12″.
Hanging height
Hang it for the people sitting down.
Start at 30–36″. Measure from the tabletop to the lowest point of the fixture. With an 8 ft ceiling that range keeps light on the table and the fixture out of everyone’s sightline. For each foot of ceiling above 8 ft, add about 3″: 33–39″ at 9 ft, 36–42″ at 10 ft.
Then check the fixture’s own height. A common rule is 2.5–3″ of fixture height per foot of ceiling, so 20–24″ tall at 8 ft and 25–30″ at 10 ft. Open forms such as rings and glass clusters can run larger than solid drums because you see through them.
Read the overall height on the spec. Each product page lists an adjustable overall height (OAH), the distance from ceiling to fixture bottom. Make sure your target fits inside it. The ET2 Pebble 30-Light adjusts from 30″ to 185″; the Hammerton Glacier Ring Large from 36″ to 126″.
Sloped or beamed ceiling? Many Hammerton glass linears and clusters, including Mesa, Icefall and Cosmos, are rated for sloped ceilings up to 45°. Send us a photo and we’ll confirm the canopy.
Rectangular and long tables
Linear chandeliers: two-thirds, centered, inside the edges.
- Length: about two-thirds of the table. A 72″ table takes 44–50″; 84–90″ takes 56–60″; 96–108″ takes 64–72″.
- Ends: leave at least 6″ of table past each end of the fixture, and 12″ if you can. The light should belong to the table, not the room.
- Depth: keep the fixture’s width at least 6″ inside each long edge. Most linears here are 6–17″ deep, well inside a 36–44″ top.
- Center on the table: not on the junction box. If the box is off, ask your electrician to move it before you order; it’s easier than fixing a crooked line of light.
- Very long tables: at 120″ and up, two matching fixtures look more deliberate than one stretched linear.
Choose a style
Five looks that work over a dining table.
Rings & halos
A thin ring of light that reads lighter than its size. Ideal for round tables and lower ceilings.
Glacier · SouffleHand-blown glass
Clusters and linears of artisan glass that sparkle when lit and look like sculpture when off.
Mesa · CosmosSculpted LED
Slim LED forms that draw one continuous line down a rectangular table.
ET2 linear · UnityDrums & mesh
Softer, shaded light and a defined silhouette. Good in casual or industrial dining rooms.
Downtown Mesh
Round and square tables
Chandeliers we’d hang over a round table.
Listed from smallest to largest. Diameters are in each card; prices are our current list prices for the starting size and finish.
ET2 · ring · 25″ Ø
Souffle 25″ LED Ring
From $498
Scalloped cast concrete with an opal diffuser, in Chalk White, Gray or Terra Cotta. Sized for a 42″ round.
View details
ET2 · ring · 33″ Ø
Souffle 33″ LED Ring
From $998
The same concrete ramekin form at 33″, only 3.25″ tall, so it works under lower ceilings over a 48–54″ table.
View details
ET2 · crystal · 36″ Ø
Pebble 30-Light LED Pendant
From $5,598
Thirty irregular crystal pebbles on polished-gold clasps under a 36″ canopy. A statement for a 54–60″ round.
View details
Hammerton · blown glass · 24–27″ Ø
Mesa Cluster Bloom
From $7,995
Striated hand-blown crystal in Clear, Smoke, Amber or Bronze; 9 lights (24.2″) or 12 lights (27″). Dimmable, 93+ CRI.
View details
Hammerton · drum · 19–48″ Ø
Downtown Mesh Drum
From $2,095
Handcrafted steel-mesh drum in four sizes, from 19.3″ for a 36″ table to 47.9″ for a large round or square.
View details
Hammerton · cast glass · 36–48″ Ø
Glacier Ring Chandelier
From $7,495
Thick cast glass with upcycled studio glass, uplight through the ring and downlight on the table. Medium 36″ or Large 48.2″.
View detailsRectangular tables
Linear chandeliers by table length.
From a 72″ table for six to a 108″ table for ten. Several come in more than one length, so you can match the two-thirds rule exactly.
ET2 · linear · 47″
Manta 47″ LED Linear
From $868
One curled panel of etched acrylic, 47″ long. About two-thirds of a 72″ table. Also in 59″ and 70″.
View details
ET2 · linear · 60″
Soji 60″ LED Linear
From $1,234
Satin-white glass lanterns in a black-and-gold frame, inspired by Japanese lanterns. Right for an 84–96″ table.
View details
ET2 · sculptural · 50.5″
Rinkle 3-Light Linear
From $2,798
Three crinkled metal shades in Brushed Gunmetal, French Gold or Polished Chrome over a 72–80″ table.
View details
ET2 · sculptural · 69″
Unity 6-Light LED
From $3,798
Intersecting stainless loops in Black Chrome or Brushed Champagne. 69″ long for a 100–108″ table.
View details
Hammerton · blown glass · 44–76″
Mesa Linear Chandelier
From $5,295
Striated Mesa crystal in a clean linear frame: Small 44″, Medium 58.9″ or Large 75.6″. Dimmable, 93+ CRI.
View details
Hammerton · hand-formed glass · 45–65″
Icefall Linear Pendant
From $5,595
Hand-formed clear glass that echoes ice, in 7 lights (44.7″) or 9 lights (64.9″). Rated for sloped ceilings up to 45°.
View details
Hammerton · mesh · 45–74″
Downtown Mesh Linear
From $4,095
Airy steel mesh in Small 44.6″, Medium 59.6″ or Large 74.4″, with frosted or exposed lamping.
View details
Hammerton · blown glass · 43–70″
Cosmos Linear Pendant
From $3,895
All three Nebula hand-blown glass shapes under one canopy: 5, 7 or 9 lights, LED or E26 bulbs.
View detailsLight quality
Warm, dimmable and true to color.
Color and CRI
For dining, warm white between 2700K and 3000K is the sweet spot. Hammerton Studio’s integrated LEDs come in Warm Light 2700K or Soft White 3000K, with 93+ CRI on glass families like Mesa, Icefall and Cosmos. The ET2 fixtures in this guide are 3000K with 90 CRI, except Pebble at 3500K.
Dimming and layers
A chandelier on a dimmer can serve homework at six and dinner at nine. Hammerton lists TRIAC/ELV dimming for its integrated-LED glass models; dimmer compatibility varies across ET2 fixtures, so check the spec sheet linked on each product page. Recessed lights or sconces handle the rest of the room.
Lead times
Hammerton Studio fixtures are handcrafted to order in Salt Lake City; the models in this guide typically take 4–6 weeks. ET2 availability depends on stock. We confirm timing before you order.
Choosing the table too?
Size the table first, then the light. Our guide to extendable dining tables for holiday hosting covers sizing for 8 to 12+ guests. Browse extension tables and round dining tables, or read our guides to Copeland and ALF Italia dining.
Chandelier sizing questions
Frequently asked
What size chandelier do I need for a 60-inch round table?
Aim for roughly 30 to 40 inches in diameter, and don’t go past 48 inches (60 minus 12). That leaves at least six inches of clear table on every side. A 36-inch fixture such as the ET2 Pebble 30-Light or the Medium Hammerton Glacier Ring is a confident fit.
How high should a chandelier hang above a dining table?
With an 8-foot ceiling, hang it so the bottom of the fixture is 30 to 36 inches above the tabletop. Add about 3 inches for each extra foot of ceiling. Sit down before the installer leaves: you should see the people across the table under or past the fixture, not through it.
How long should a linear chandelier be over a rectangular table?
About two-thirds of the table length, and at least 6 inches (ideally 12) short of each end. A 72-inch table takes about 48 inches; a 96-inch table about 64 inches.
How do I size a chandelier from the room instead of the table?
Add the room’s length and width in feet. The total is a good diameter in inches. A 12 × 14-foot dining room suggests about 26 inches. Use it as a check against the table rule, and let the table win if they disagree.
Should I use one chandelier or several pendants?
One chandelier or linear anchors a table and is the simplest install. Two or three pendants work over long tables and islands; space them evenly and keep the outside pendants at least 12 inches in from the ends. Banquet tables of 120 inches or more usually look best with two matching fixtures.
What color temperature is best for a dining room?
Warm white, 2700K to 3000K. Hammerton Studio offers its integrated LEDs in Warm Light 2700K or Soft White 3000K, and most of the ET2 fixtures here are 3000K. Pick a high CRI (90+) so food and skin tones look natural, and put the fixture on a compatible dimmer.
Can I see ET2 and Hammerton fixtures before I order?
Yes. Visit our Laguna Beach showroom with your table size and ceiling height, and we’ll help you size the fixture, compare glass and finishes, and confirm lead time.
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