A globe pendant light is a round shade, usually glass, that hangs from the ceiling on a flex, cable or chain and sends light out in every direction. Compared with a flush globe fitted tight to the ceiling, the pendant version lets you set the drop, and the drop decides whether the light washes the whole room or pools on the table beneath it.
That choice matters more in British homes than the photos suggest. With a standard 2.4 m ceiling there is not much height to play with, so the size of the globe, the type of glass and the length of the flex all need thinking about before anything goes up.
A sphere throws light upwards and sideways as well as down. Hang the globe high and much of that light bounces off a pale ceiling, giving a soft, even glow. Lowered over a table, it concentrates light on the surface and leaves the ceiling darker. Most globe pendants have their flex cut to length when fitted at the ceiling rose, while some use a cable grip or adjustable suspension so the height can be changed later.
You will see three set-ups. A single globe works over a round table or in the middle of a room. A cluster of several globes on different drops from one round ceiling plate suits stairwells, double-height spaces and Victorian rooms with tall ceilings. A linear bar with globes in a row is the natural fit over a rectangular dining table or a kitchen island.
Aim for the bottom of the globe to sit roughly 135–155 cm from the floor over a dining table, which puts it about 60–80 cm above a standard table top. The cable drop you need depends on the ceiling:
| Ceiling height | Typical home | Bottom of globe from floor (over a table) | Elsewhere in the room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2–2.3 m | loft conversion, low new-build room | 135–145 cm | consider a semi-flush globe instead |
| 2.4 m | most modern houses and flats | 135–155 cm | keep at least 2 m clear underneath |
| 2.7 m | Victorian or Edwardian terrace | 140–155 cm | room for a 50 cm globe or a cluster |
| 3 m and above | period conversion, stairwell | 145–155 cm | cascade of globes on staggered drops |
Over a kitchen island, hang a little higher than over a dining table, usually 75–90 cm above the worktop, because people stand and move around it. In an open-plan kitchen-diner, check the pendant is not in a walkway.
Opal glass diffuses light evenly and hides the bulb, so it copes with being hung low. Clear glass shows the bulb and sparkles, but at eye level it can dazzle, which is why it is usually paired with a decorative filament LED. Smoked and amber glass give a moody, vintage look and cut light output noticeably, so treat them as accent pieces and add another source. Ribbed or fluted glass sits in between: it softens the bulb and throws interesting patterns. Hand-blown glass often has tiny bubbles and slight variations, a sign of the technique rather than a fault.
A large glass globe can weigh several kilograms, so make sure the ceiling fixing is up to it, and in plasterboard ceilings fix into a joist or batten rather than the board alone. Wiring a new pendant to the mains is a job for a qualified electrician working to BS 7671. Always switch off at the consumer unit before touching a fitting.
Most globes take an E27 screw or B22 bayonet lamp, smaller ones E14 or G9. A closed globe gives the most even light but collects dust and insects and has to come off for a bulb change. A globe with an open base sends more light down and is easier to live with. To clean, let it cool, remove the shade, wash in warm water with a little washing-up liquid and dry thoroughly. Painted or metallised glass should not go in the dishwasher.
A good rule is a third to half of the table's width. A 90 cm wide table suits a single globe of roughly 30–45 cm. If you are torn between two sizes, the larger one usually looks better.
Usually 60–80 cm from the table top to the bottom of the globe. Sit down and check you can see the people opposite under it, then stand and make sure it is not glaring at eye level.
One for a round table or a rectangle up to about 120 cm, two or three for 120–160 cm, three for 160–200 cm and three or four beyond that. Space them evenly, with the outer globes set in from the ends.
A 50–60 cm globe can look striking in a 2.4 m room if it sits high and you keep 2 m of headroom beneath it. Opal glass at that size gives plenty of general light on its own.
Over a long table or island, several smaller balls spread light more evenly. Over a round table or in the centre of a room, one larger globe is simpler and calmer.
Warm white LED at 2700 K, roughly 6–8 W or about 800 lm per globe, dimmable if you have a dimmer switch. Use a filament style in clear glass.
If the glass itself is what draws you, read more on opal, clear and smoked shades: glass globe lights. For the spherical shape on floor, table and wall fittings, see globe lights.
