An outdoor pendant light hangs from a porch roof, a covered patio or a pergola beam and lights the spot where people actually gather – the table, the sofa, the step down to the garden. What sets a patio pendant apart from an indoor one is simple: it has to cope with British weather, which means rain blown in sideways, damp mornings, frost and gusts that set anything on a long flex swinging.
Start with how exposed the spot really is, because that decides the IP rating, the material and the way the light should hang. The first digit of an IP code covers dust and solid objects, the second covers water.
| Where it hangs | Sensible IP rating | Materials that last | Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porch or veranda with a solid roof | IP44 | powder-coated aluminium, glass, galvanised steel | chain or rod, often a classic lantern |
| Covered patio, garden room overhang | IP44–IP54 | aluminium, glass, synthetic rattan | adjustable flex over a table |
| Open pergola or slatted roof | IP54–IP65 | marine-grade stainless steel, brass, polycarbonate | short chain or rigid rod |
| Coastal garden, salty air | IP65 | 316 stainless steel, solid brass, copper | as short as practical |
Natural woven shades – rattan, seagrass, bamboo, cotton – look lovely under a deep roof but will sag and mildew if rain reaches them. Some are rated only IP20, which makes them indoor lights; keep those for a sealed garden room.
Over a garden table, the bottom of the shade usually sits 70–80 cm above the tabletop: low enough to light plates, high enough not to dazzle anyone. Where people walk underneath, keep at least about 2.1 m of headroom. A good rule of thumb for width is a shade roughly half to two-thirds the width of the table; a long table often looks better with two or three smaller pendants in a row.
Choose warm white, 2700–3000 K. It flatters timber, stone and faces, and it draws fewer insects than cool white. Around 300–800 lm per fitting is plenty for dining. An E27 lampholder lets you swap in a dimmable LED bulb later, provided the dimmer is compatible with it.
Mains outdoor lighting should be installed by a registered electrician working to BS 7671; outdoor circuits need RCD protection. Check whether the fitting is Class I, which needs an earth, or Class II, which is double insulated. Fix the hook or ceiling plate into solid timber or masonry, not thin soffit boarding – cast lanterns can weigh several kilos, and wind adds load. On an exposed pergola, a long dangling flex will swing and knock against the beams, so shorten it or use a rod.
Plug-in pendants need a weatherproof outdoor socket nearby and a cable routed along the structure, not across the floor. Solar pendants need a panel in daylight, which is hard to arrange under a solid roof.
Wipe the fitting with a soft cloth and mild soapy water; never use a pressure washer, which drives water past the seals. Once a year, empty insects and cobwebs out of the shade and check that the gasket and cable gland are still tight. Shades open at the top catch rain and leaves when exposed, so in an open spot choose one closed at the top. Bring rechargeable and woven pendants indoors for winter.
They are built for outdoor use, but to different degrees. IP44 copes with splashes under a roof; for an open pergola or a windy, rainy site, look for IP54 or IP65.
Yes, if the beam is solid and the light is rated for exposure. Keep the drop short so wind cannot swing it, and run any cable neatly along the timber.
Some mains-wired models have a built-in PIR sensor, and any wired pendant can be switched by a separate sensor. Rechargeable pendants rarely offer one.
Let the space decide: a big chandelier needs a high roof and room around it. Under a low porch, a compact lantern or a flush ceiling light is usually the better choice.
Yes, as long as it is made for outdoor use. An indoor chandelier has no seals, and damp will reach the lampholders even under cover.
Often they do. A black lantern with clear glass sits well against brick, render and timber cladding alike.
Yes, provided it hangs from a sound beam and suits the exposure: a gazebo open on all sides catches driving rain, so IP54 or above is the safer choice. Without power in the gazebo, a rechargeable pendant is the simplest option.
For the walls either side of the patio doors, see outdoor wall lights for patios, and for the bigger picture on hanging fittings outside, read more under outdoor pendant lights.
