Kitchen Island Pendant Lights
Spaced 24–30 inches apart, hung 30–36 inches above the counter.
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Choosing kitchen island pendant lights
Pendants over an island are a spacing problem before they are a style one. Set centres 24 to 30 inches apart and keep the outermost pendants about 12 inches in from each end of the island. A 72-inch island takes three at 24-inch spacing; a 48-inch island takes two.
Hang the bottom of the shade 30 to 36 inches above the countertop. That is low enough to pool light on the work surface and high enough to see the person opposite you across the island.
Shade shape matters more in a kitchen than anywhere else. An opaque metal shade throws light straight down onto the worktop, which is what prep needs; open glass spreads it around the room and is better over a breakfast counter than a chopping station.
Kitchen Island Pendant Lights — common questions
How many pendant lights over a kitchen island?
Divide the island length in inches by 24 to 30 and round down. A 48-inch island takes two, a 72-inch island three, a 96-inch island three or four. Keep the end pendants about 12 inches in from each edge.
How high should kitchen pendants hang?
Thirty to thirty-six inches from the countertop to the bottom of the shade. If the pendants sit in a sightline across the room, hang at the upper end so they do not block it.