By James Batten, 299 Lighting · Published · Updated
In short
Choose one pendant per 60–80 cm of island, hang it 75–85 cm above the worktop, and pick a shade that throws light down rather than glare across the room.
Kitchen island pendants do two jobs: they light the worktop for prep, and they set the look of the whole room. Getting the number, height and shade right matters more than the exact fitting. This guide covers the rules our team at 299 Lighting uses when specifying Ideal Lux pendants for kitchens.
How many pendants over an island?
Work on one pendant for every 60–80 cm of island length, keeping 30–40 cm clear from each end.
| Island length | Small pendants (Ø15–25 cm) | Medium pendants (Ø30–40 cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 120–150 cm | 2 | 1–2 |
| 180–220 cm | 3 | 2 |
| 240–300 cm | 4 | 3 |
Odd numbers look balanced on long islands. On short islands, two medium pendants often look calmer than three small ones.
What height should kitchen pendants hang?
Hang the bottom of the shade 75–85 cm above the worktop. Go towards 85 cm if you are tall or the shade is wide, and towards 75 cm with small glass pendants. In rooms with ceilings over 2.7 m, Ideal Lux cable pendants can be cut to length, so ask us for the drop when you order.
Which shade works best?
- Metal cones and domes push light down onto the worktop and hide the lamp, which avoids glare when you sit at the island.
- Clear or smoked glass looks lighter but shows the bulb, so use a frosted or globe lamp.
- Opal glass gives soft all-round light, good for open-plan kitchen-diners.
Browse our Ideal Lux pendants to compare cone, glass and cage styles.
Bulbs, colour and dimming
Choose 2700K warm white for kitchens that double as dining spaces, and 3000K if the space is mainly for cooking. Put pendants on their own dimmer circuit, separate from task downlights. For the ceiling grid around the island, see our guide to recessed downlights.
Layer the rest of the kitchen
Pendants alone rarely light a kitchen well. Combine them with recessed downlights and under-cabinet strips. For long continuous runs, linear LED profiles are a clean option. If you want a full layout with lux levels, the 299 Lighting design service can draw it up.
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should pendant lights be over an island?
Space pendants 60–80 cm apart, centre to centre, and keep 30–40 cm clear from each end of the island.
How high should pendant lights be above a kitchen island?
Hang the bottom of the shade 75–85 cm above the worktop.
Can Ideal Lux pendant cables be shortened?
Most Ideal Lux cable pendants can be shortened on installation. Ask 299 Lighting for the maximum drop when you order.
