How Do You Hang A Chandelier From A High Ceiling?

Dining room chandeliers are frequently hung above the dining table and are an important element of the room’s design scheme.

In other words, a chandelier’s height plays a significant role as a light fixture and as a decorative element. In reality, this is not as complicated as it sounds.

Make a few simple adjustments based on the standard height recommendation. In actuality, you can’t go wrong. Your lighting arrangement and how the design looks will determine whether it’s done right.

Getting The Light Right

When you’re decorating, it’s easy to forget the reason for having a chandelier: to light your table. The lighting industry and decorating rules for this do not apply since every light is unique.

In addition to the fixture’s design, the bulbs you use, and the height of your fixture, many factors affect how light is cast onto the table. Even if the installation is only temporary, hanging it over the table and plugging it in is the only way to test the lighting effect.

Then, you can evaluate the chandelier height for all functions – both practical and decorative – in all lighting conditions.

Adjusting For Table Size

For dining room chandeliers, the lighting industry recommends that the fixture diameter be two-thirds of the table’s diameter.

The diameter of an LED fixture should be half the width of the table. A 42-inch-wide table requires a chandelier that is no more than 30 inches wide.

Achieving the right proportions between the table and chandelier helps reduce the risk of people bumping their heads on the table or as they get up from it.

You may want to hang your chandelier higher if your chandelier is relatively large for your dining table. A series of small hanging lights, such as pendants, might be more appropriate if your table is small or unusually long and narrow.

Adjusting For Room Size

According to some designers, the height of the chandelier should not be determined by the ceiling height. If you consider the fixture’s primary function as an illumination source, this makes perfect sense.

Chandeliers serve another important purpose as design features. After considering its role, you should look at how it looks best in a room.

Don’t just admire the chandelier from the table; see it from the ground up. However, it also matters how it looks outside or from a vantage point other than the table, such as when you enter the room.

You should consider how the chandelier looks from every angle that is commonly viewed when the dining room is part of an open floor plan. It can also be affected by how big and how tall the chandelier is.

A chandelier that fills up a lot of visual space may need to be hung several inches above the standard height.

Standard Height Recommendation

Chandeliers generally hang 30 to 36 inches above the dining room table. That is generally accepted as part of the general rule. Listed prices assume a ceiling height of 8 feet.

To accommodate higher ceilings, the chandelier should be raised 3 inches for every foot of extra height. It is possible to hang your chandelier 6 inches higher in an 8-foot ceiling room than in a room with a 10-foot ceiling.

It is standard to recommend an average range, of course. Be sure to consider the room’s size before choosing a height. The table size, as well as how the fixture projects a light, should also be considered.

Steps For Hanging A Chandelier From A High Ceiling

1. Prepare The Light Fixture For Installation

The beam or strut where you intend to hang your chandelier must be capable of supporting its weight. The strut typically holds 50 pounds before another stud is needed to mount it.

2. (If Necessary) Remove The Old Lighting Fixture

Replace the dome box with a new one, and remove the crossbar, dome box, and canopy. When lowering the fixture, be careful. Disconnect the old fixture’s detachable parts.

3. Wire Connections Should Be Checked

Make a note of where the wiring connects to the old light fixture or chandelier. The color, insulation, and ridge lettering of two or more wires should be noted.

It is usually possible to tell which wire goes where from a diagram. You might mark the wires with colored tape if that is not the case.

4. Turn The Power Off

Utilize a voltage detector to verify there is no power before installing the light fixture. Lights should be turned on.

5. Prep The Electrical Box

Any chandelier installation must start with removing the mounting box (aka the junction box).

If you are installing an electrical box in the ceiling, make sure the screws are securely fastened. Then you must inspect all wires for damage, including the white and black ones. Observe if the fabric is fraying. 

Wire strippers are effective at removing insulation from wires if any of these issues are evident.

6. Ensure The Chandelier Is Assembled And Check It

You should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions if the chandelier doesn’t come fully assembled. Be sure to wipe any dust off the chandelier as you clean it.

7. Measure The Chain Length

Each foot of ceiling height should be three inches long for the chandelier chain. For every chandelier hanging loop, your chain should measure 4 inches plus one link.

8. Secure And Attach The Chandelier

If your home has two electrical boxes, you will have two options for hanging a chandelier. To learn more about specific directions, consult the instruction sheet from the manufacturer.

An electrical box bracket should be used to attach the chandelier. After inserting the hook into the bracket, attach the bracket to the hook.

Using the mounting strap of the fixture, thread the stem through the canopy and tighten with a nut.

9. Connect The Black And White Wires

There are usually two wires in most newer fixtures. Connect the black chandelier wire to the black ceiling wire or electrical supply wire. Join the chandelier’s wires by twisting the wire nuts. If they’re not tightly fitting, you should fix them. 

Then, place all of the white wires into the electrical box and the white wires on the fixture and electrical supply. You can cover the excess wiring with a canopy or decorative plate.

10. Add Light Bulbs And Finish Up

The chandelier is now ready for display! Depending on your preference, you might like incandescent bulbs or halogen bulbs. Incandescent bulbs give off a warm glow, whereas halogen bulbs have a bright light like natural sunlight. Ensure that the bulbs you use match the wattage of the fixture, or the installation may fail.

A Rod Chandelier Hanging From A Vaulted Ceiling

Your home may not be properly illuminated by lighting fixtures close to or flush with the ceiling if it has tall ceilings. Lighting fixtures that are mounted on pendants for chandeliers direct light downward. 

When you purchase a light, you should take into account a vaulted ceilings slope. Since the rod allows the chandelier to hang properly, rod chandelier pendants are ideal for vaulted ceiling installations.

Can You Hang A Chandelier On A Vaulted Ceiling? 

Lighting fixtures that are mounted on pendants or chandeliers direct light downward. When you purchase a light, you should take into account a vaulted ceilings slope. When installed on vaulted ceilings, rod chandelier pendants are ideal because their rods allow them to hang correctly.

Entryway and Foyer Chandeliers will be good for these types of ceillings.

Final Words 

On a 20-foot ceiling, what is the correct height for a chandelier? Chandeliers for rooms with 20-foot ceilings must be at least 13 to 16 feet high and 80 to 200 inches high. 

However, the fixture may need to be hung a little lower than recommended, based on its length exceeding 70 inches. And that’s all there is to it.