How High to Hang Wall Sconces: Bedroom, Living Room, Hallway and Stairs

Wall sconces are the easiest way to make a room feel finished. They add soft light at eye level, free up space on nightstands and side tables, and make a hallway or staircase feel welcoming instead of dark. The only tricky part is placement: too high and they glare, too low and they look like an accident. Here are the heights and spacings that work, room by room, in inches.

The general rule: about 60 to 66 inches from the floor

For most sconces, mount the center of the fixture 60 to 66 inches above the finished floor. That puts the light roughly at eye level for an adult standing up, so the glow lands on the wall without shining into anyone's eyes. In rooms with ceilings over 9 ft, you can go a little higher, up to about 70 inches.

Two exceptions: sconces beside a bed and sconces you read by. They follow the seated or lying-down eye line, not the standing one.

Bedroom: beside the bed

• Height: about 30 inches above the top of the mattress, or 48 to 60 inches from the floor for most beds. If you read in bed, the bottom of the shade should sit just above your shoulder when you are sitting up.
• Side to side: center each sconce over the nightstand, or 4 to 8 inches out from the edge of the headboard.
• Light: warm white (2700 to 3000K), ideally with a switch or remote you can reach from the bed.

Living room: beside the sofa, a chair or the TV

• Over or beside a sofa: 60 to 66 inches from the floor, and at least 6 inches out from the ends of the sofa so nobody hits them with their head.
• Reading chair: the bottom of the sconce about 12 inches above your shoulder when you are seated, usually 48 to 54 inches from the floor.
• Either side of a TV, mirror or artwork: keep the pair at the same height, and leave 6 to 12 inches between each sconce and the edge of the frame or screen.

Hallways: height and spacing

• Height: 60 to 66 inches from the floor, like the general rule.
• Spacing: about 8 to 10 feet between sconces, or roughly 1.5 times the mounting height. Start and finish about half that distance from each end of the hall.
• Depth: in hallways narrower than 42 inches, choose sconces that stick out no more than about 4 inches from the wall, so nobody brushes against them.

Staircases

• Height: about 60 to 66 inches above the nose of the step directly below each sconce, so they follow the slope of the stairs.
• Spacing: about every 8 to 10 feet along the stair, and always one at the top and one at the bottom for safety.
• Light: pick fixtures that light the wall and the steps without shining down into people's eyes as they walk up.

Bathroom vanity

Sconces on each side of a mirror give the most flattering light for your face. Mount them with the center about 60 to 66 inches from the floor, roughly at eye level, and about 28 to 36 inches apart, with at least 3 to 4 inches between each sconce and the mirror. Check that any fixture used near a shower is rated for damp locations.

No electrician? Plug-in and rechargeable sconces

If there is no wiring where you want the light, or you rent, you don't have to give up on sconces:

• Plug-in sconces come with a cord and plug. Mount them near an outlet and run the cord down the wall, or hide it in a paintable cord cover. The Gea swing arm plug-in sconce is a good example for a bedside or reading corner.
• Rechargeable sconces have a built-in battery and no cord at all. The Linea rechargeable LED sconce attaches magnetically, so you can lift it off to charge it, and it comes with a remote.

The heights above still apply. Only the wiring changes.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Mounting too high. Sconces placed near the ceiling light the ceiling and leave the room dim at eye level.
• Uneven pairs. Measure from the floor, not from the furniture, and use a level. A half-inch difference between two sconces is easy to see.
• Glare at bedtime. Choose shades or diffusers that hide the bulb when you are lying down.
• Forgetting the switch. Plan where you will turn them on: wall switch, built-in switch or remote.

Frequently asked questions

How high should bedroom sconces be?

About 30 inches above the top of the mattress, usually 48 to 60 inches from the floor.

How far apart should hallway sconces be?

About 8 to 10 feet apart, starting 4 to 5 feet from each end.

Do wall sconces need to be hardwired?

No. Hardwired sconces need a junction box and usually an electrician, but plug-in and rechargeable sconces can be installed in minutes with no wiring.

Should sconces point up or down?

Uplight makes a room feel taller and softer, downlight is better for reading. Up-and-down sconces give you both.

Browse our wall sconces, including plug-in and rechargeable models, with every size in inches.