Linear Pendant Lights: Sizing, Height and Where to Use Them
One long fitting instead of a row of pendants: how to size a linear pendant for your table or island, how high to hang it, and whether to choose integrated LED or globes.
A linear pendant is a single long fitting suspended from two or more points. It spreads light evenly along a dining table, kitchen island or desk, and gives a clean, architectural line that a row of separate pendants cannot.
Sizing for a table or island
| Surface length | Linear pendant length (rough guide) |
|---|---|
| 1.5 m | About 90 cm–1 m |
| 1.8 m | About 1–1.2 m |
| 2.4 m | About 1.4–1.6 m |
| 3 m | About 1.8–2 m |
A common rule is about two-thirds of the table or bench length, leaving at least 30 cm clear at each end so people do not bump their heads getting up.
Height
- Over a dining table: the bottom about 75–85 cm above the tabletop.
- Over a kitchen island: about 75–90 cm above the benchtop.
- Slimmer profiles can hang a little lower; deep or wide fittings a little higher to keep sightlines clear.
More detail in how high to hang a pendant light.
Integrated LED or globes?
| Integrated LED | Globes | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Slim, continuous line of light | Visible shades or globes along a bar |
| Light | Very even | Pools of light under each globe |
| Replacement | Whole module or driver if it fails | Change a globe |
| Dimming | Needs a compatible driver and dimmer | Needs dimmable globes |
Up, down or both
Down-only fittings concentrate light on the surface. Up-and-down linear pendants also wash the ceiling, which lifts the whole room and reduces contrast, useful in open-plan living areas.
Things to check before buying
- Adjustable suspension cables so you can set the height on site.
- Where the power enters: one canopy or several, and whether the ceiling position works.
- Colour temperature: warm white (2700–3000 K) for dining, warm to neutral for kitchens.
- Colour rendering (CRI 90+) if food and finishes matter to you.
- Glare: a diffuser or louvre hides bright LEDs when seated.
Ideas
- A slim black bar over a timber dining table.
- Brass linear pendant with glass shades over a marble island.
- Up-and-down LED profile over a long home-office desk.
- Linear fitting centred over a sofa-back console in an open-plan room.
Prefer separate pendants? See kitchen island lighting.
In Australia, installing or replacing a hard-wired light fitting must be done by a licensed electrician.
Questions
How long should a linear pendant be?
About two-thirds of the table or island length, with at least 30 cm clear at each end.
How high should a linear pendant hang over a dining table?
About 75–85 cm from the tabletop to the bottom of the fitting.
Are linear pendants good for kitchen islands?
Yes. They give even task light along the whole bench and a clean look.
