Question:

We’re putting new lighting above the kitchen island. Our electrician doesn’t exactly have an eye for design. How high above the kitchen island should it be?

Answer:

How high should lighting be hung over a kitchen island? That question is not as simple as it seems.

The height of the kitchen lighting is such an important decision. The lighting over a kitchen island is often a primary or secondary focal point because of its prominence in the room. The thing about lighting is that it’s a fusion of function and beauty. With that in mind, there are “rules” regarding placement, and there are tweaks that can be made depending on all the other elements in the room and the purpose of the lighting.

Many factors influence the best height to hang a lighting fixture, including the height and shape of ceilings in the room. In general, we recommend that a light fixture hangs between 30-36 inches above the kitchen island or cooking surface. That’s about 72 inches off of the floor if the ceiling is 8 feet high.

These specs are not always the case. The visual weight of the lighting, the height of who will be preparing food at the kitchen island, whether or not people will be sitting and eating at the island all factor into how high you should hang the lighting.

There is no hard and fast rule, making it a little more challenging for most people. We suggest that you have someone hold it in place to gauge how it will look and function before the final installation.

Other things to consider if you haven’t already are the size of the room, the size of the kitchen island, and how much light is needed. All of those factors help in determining the size, quantity, and positioning of the lighting.