Sizing & hanging guide
Pendant size and hanging height guide
The short answer
Hang the lowest shade 60–75 cm above a dining table (65 cm is a good default) and 75–90 cm above a kitchen worktop. Choose a linear frame of ½ to ⅔ of your table length, with at least 15–30 cm free at each end, or a round cluster of ⅓ to ½ of the table width.
- 65 cmabove a dining table, within 60–75 cm
- 75–90 cmabove a kitchen worktop
- ½–⅔of the table length, for a linear frame
- ⅓–½of the table width, for a round cluster
These are the rules we use when we help you choose a Studio Monton Switch: a modular pendant assembled by hand to order in the Netherlands, with 12 frames for 1 to 10 lights, 15 metal shades (12 in 11 matte colours, 3 Cylinders in Black, Cacao, Beige or White) and Lazise glass globes, from €87. Use the calculator for your own table, or read on for the numbers behind it.
Calculator
Your table. Your sizes.
Three questions, each optional. We match a frame to your table and work out the hanging height and the cord you need.
Your result · a guideline
Frames that fit
For your 220 × 90 cm dining table and a 260 cm ceiling.
Wide 130 130 × 25 cm · 6 lights · our first choice
- Wide 130 = 59% of your 220 cm table
- 35 cm free at each end
- Wide suits tables 90 cm or wider
From €487
Slim 130 130 × 8 cm · 5 lights
- Slim 130 = 59% of your 220 cm table
- 35 cm free at each end
From €399
A guideline, not a standard: test the height first. You can shorten the cord yourself by adjusting the strain relief.
Common tables at a glance
| Your table | First choice | Also fits | Why | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160 × 80 cm | Slim 100 100 × 8 cm | Wide 100 | Slim 100 = 63% of your 160 cm table · 20 cm free at each end | €263 |
| 180 × 90 cm | Wide 100 100 × 25 cm | Slim 100 | Wide 100 = 56% of your 180 cm table · 30 cm free at each end | €351 |
| 200 × 90 cm | Wide 130 130 × 25 cm | Wide 100 | Wide 130 = 65% of your 200 cm table · 25 cm free at each end | €487 |
| 220 × 80 cm | Slim 130 130 × 8 cm | Wide 130 | Slim 130 = 59% of your 220 cm table · 35 cm free at each end | €399 |
| 220 × 90 cm | Wide 130 130 × 25 cm | Slim 130 | Wide 130 = 59% of your 220 cm table · 35 cm free at each end | €487 |
| 240 × 100 cm | Wide 130 130 × 25 cm | Wide 160 | Wide 130 = 54% of your 240 cm table · 45 cm free at each end | €487 |
| 280 × 100 cm | Wide 160 160 × 25 cm | Oval 160 New | Wide 160 = 57% of your 280 cm table · 50 cm free at each end | €633 |
| 280 × 110 cm | Wide 160 160 × 25 cm | Oval 160 New | Wide 160 = 57% of your 280 cm table · 50 cm free at each end | €633 |
| Ø 80 cm | Single Ø 11 cm | – | Single with an L shade (Ø 30 cm) suits your Ø 80 cm table | €87 |
| Ø 120 cm | Round 35 Ø 35 cm | – | Round 35 spans about 55 cm, 46% of your Ø 120 cm table | €253 |
| Ø 150 cm | Round 50 Ø 50 cm | – | Round 50 spans about 70 cm, 47% of your Ø 150 cm table | €419 |
| Ø 200 cm | Round 70 Ø 70 cm | – | Round 70 spans about 90 cm, 45% of your Ø 200 cm table | €869 |
Hanging height
How high to hang a pendant.
Measure from the table top to the bottom of the lowest shade. Over a dining table, 60–75 cm lights the table without shining into anyone’s eyes, and you can still see each other across it.
Our default is 65 cm. It suits most tables and most mixes of shades. With a wave or a cascade, measure to the lowest shade.
| Situation | Lowest shade | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dining table, small shades (S sizes, Cup M) | 60–65 cm above the table | A small shade lights a small pool, so it can hang a little lower. |
| Dining table, large shades (L sizes, Bowl M, Cone M) | 65–75 cm above the table | A wider shade needs a little more room to keep the view across the table open. |
| Lowest over any table | 60 cm | Below 60 cm the lamp can block the view across the table. |
| Kitchen island or worktop | 75–90 cm above the worktop | You stand while you cook, so the shades hang higher to stay out of your line of sight. |
| Walkway, hall or stairwell | At least 210 cm above the floor | Nobody walks into it. A drop of more than 150 cm needs a Round frame or a custom length: see voids and stairwells. |
| High ceilings (over 250 cm) | Add about 7.5 cm per extra 30 cm | Keeps the lamp in proportion with the room. Over a table, stay at or below 80 cm. |
Frame size
Which frame for your table.
A Switch frame carries 1 to 10 shades. Match its length to your table, then choose Slim or Wide by the table’s width.
- ½–⅔
A linear frame should be half to two thirds of the table length. A Slim 130 (130 × 8 cm) over a 220 cm table is 59%.
- 15–30 cm
Leave at least 15 cm, ideally 30 cm, between the outer shade and the end of the table. The shades reach about 10 cm past each end of the frame, so count the frame plus 20 cm.
- ⅓–½
Over a round table, the cluster should span a third to half of the diameter. A Round 35 (Ø 35 cm) spans about 55 cm, right for a table of Ø 90–140 cm; a Round 70 spans about 90 cm, for Ø 160–220 cm.
- Slim, Wide or Oval
Wide frames (25 cm deep) hang their shades in two staggered rows that spread light across the table. Choose them for tables 90 cm or wider, and Slim frames (8 cm deep) for narrower tables and islands. The new Oval 130 and Oval 160 (50 cm deep) spread 8 or 10 shades over an oval plate, for tables 100 cm or wider.
Slim 160 over a 260 cm table 
Oval 160 over a 280 × 105 cm table 
Round 50 over a round table of Ø 150 cm 
A Single on each side of the bed
| Frame | Size | Lights | Suits | Cord up to | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | Ø 11 cm | 1 light | Bedside or side table; round table Ø 60–90 with an L shade; 2–3 in a row over an island | 150 cm | From €87 |
| Round 35 | Ø 35 cm | 3 lights | Round or square table Ø 90–140, coffee table, stairwell | 350 cm | From €253 |
| Round 50 | Ø 50 cm | 5 lights | Round table Ø 130–180, voids, high ceilings | 350 cm | From €419 |
| Round 70 | Ø 70 cm | 10 lights | Round table Ø 160–220, large voids and stairwells, high ceilings | 350 cm | From €869 |
| Slim 100 | 100 × 8 cm | 3 lights | Table 150–200 cm, island up to 220 cm | 150 cm | From €263 |
| Slim 130 | 130 × 8 cm | 5 lights | Table 200–260 cm | 150 cm | From €399 |
| Slim 160 | 160 × 8 cm | 6 lights | Table 240–300+ cm | 150 cm | From €497 |
| Wide 100 | 100 × 25 cm | 4 lights | Table 150–200 cm, 90 cm or wider | 150 cm | From €351 |
| Wide 130 | 130 × 25 cm | 6 lights | Table 200–260 cm, 90 cm or wider Option: Danish oval plate, +€87 (140 × 45 cm) | 150 cm | From €487 |
| Wide 160 | 160 × 25 cm | 8 lights | Table 240–300+ cm, 90–100 cm or wider Option: Danish oval plate, +€126 (170 × 45 cm) | 150 cm | From €633 |
| Oval 130 New | 130 × 50 cm | 8 lights | Table 200–260 cm, 100 cm or wider; large rooms and voids | 150 cm | From €1.043 |
| Oval 160 New | 160 × 50 cm | 10 lights | Table 240–300+ cm, 100 cm or wider; large rooms and voids | 150 cm | From €1.359 |
Drop styles
Level, wave or cascade.
Each Switch shade hangs on its own cord, so you choose how the shades step. Whatever the style, the lowest shade stays at least 60 cm above the table.
Level
All shades on the same cord length. Calm and architectural, and the easiest to hang.
Wave
The shades vary by 10–20 cm. Lively over a long table, and still easy to see past.
Cascade
30 cm or more between the shortest and the longest cord. Made for round tables, stairwells and high ceilings.
Cord length
How much cord you need.
Work back from the table. The cord drop is what is left of the ceiling height once the frame, the table, the hanging height and the shade are taken off.
Test the height first. Hold the lamp up, or tape a cardboard circle at the planned height, and sit at the table. You can shorten the cord yourself by adjusting the strain relief.
Pendant cords hang up to 150 cm, or up to 350 cm on the Round 35, Round 50 and Round 70. All cords are PVC. Need it longer? We make custom lengths on request.
Voids, stairwells and high ceilings
Keep the lowest shade at least 210 cm above the floor. Under a 450 cm ceiling that takes about 216 cm of cord with a Bowl L, more than the 150 cm of a Single, Slim, Wide or Oval frame. For drops over 150 cm, choose a Round 35, Round 50 or Round 70: their cords hang up to 350 cm. Need it longer? We make custom lengths on request.
Work it out for your stairwell
Cord drop = ceiling − frame − (table + hanging height + socket cap + shade)
Example: 260 cm ceiling, frame 3.5 cm, 75 cm table, 65 cm hanging height, socket cap 5.4 cm, Bowl L (15 cm tall)
260 − 3.5 − (75 + 65 + 5.4 + 15) = 96.1 cm
About 96 cm of cord.
| Shape | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 7.5 cm | 7.5 cm | 7.5 cm |
| Bowl | 8 cm | 10 cm | 15 cm |
| Sphere | 10.5 cm | 13 cm | 16.5 cm |
| Cone | 13 cm | 12 cm | 12 cm |
| Cylinder | 8 cm | 15 cm | 30 cm |
Light
Warm, dimmable light for long dinners.
Every light takes its own bulb: a metal shade our 2700 K LED E27 Tube of 500 lm, a Cylinder our LED GU10 of 540 lm, and a Lazise globe an amber deco bulb of 210 lm (Ø 15) or 380 lm (Ø 20, 25 and 30). So the light grows with the number of shades.
| Lights | Frames | Total light | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 light | Single | 500 lm | Cosy |
| 3 lights | Round 35, Slim 100 | 1,500 lm | Cosy |
| 4 lights | Wide 100 | 2,000 lm | Balanced |
| 5 lights | Round 50, Slim 130 | 2,500 lm | Balanced |
| 6 lights | Slim 160, Wide 130 | 3,000 lm | Bright |
| 8 lights | Wide 160, Oval 130 | 4,000 lm | Bright |
| 10 lights | Round 70, Oval 160 | 5,000 lm | Bright |
- 2700 K, warm white
Close to the colour of a classic bulb. It suits dining and living spaces and makes the matte colours look their warmest.
- Fit a dimmer
One frame then does both: bright for homework, low for a long dinner. Use a dimmer made for LED bulbs, and ask us if you are unsure which one. Every bulb we sell dims: the LED E27 Tube, the LED GU10 and the LED deco bulbs S and L.
- Bulb output, not lux
Shade shape, colour, height and your walls all change how bright a room feels, so we give the bulb output and make no promise about lux on the table.
LED E27 Tube · 5 W, 2700 K, 500 lm, dimmable, for every metal shade
€12,95 per bulb · Bulbs not included with a lamp · LED E27 Tube
LED deco bulb S · 4 W, 2000 K, 210 lm, dimmable, for a Lazise Ø 15 and the magnetic lamps
€12,95 per bulb · Bulbs not included with a lamp · LED deco bulb S
LED deco bulb L · 5 W, 2000 K, 380 lm, dimmable, for a Lazise Ø 20, 25 or 30
€16,95 per bulb · Bulbs not included with a lamp · LED deco bulb L
LED GU10 · 6 W, 2700 K, 540 lm, dimmable, for the Cylinders
€8,95 per bulb · Bulbs not included with a lamp · LED GU10
Islands and rows
Kitchen islands and rows of pendants.
At an island you stand, so hang the shades higher: 75–90 cm above the worktop. Then choose one Slim frame or a row of Singles.
- Space Singles 60–80 cm apart, centre to centre.
- Keep at least 15 cm between the outer shade and the end of the island.
- Use 2–3 Singles, or one Slim frame: Slim 100 (100 × 8 cm) for islands up to 220 cm, Slim 130 or Slim 160 for longer ones.
- For a narrow downlight, hang a row of Cylinders: over a kitchen island or a bar. A Cylinder L is 30 cm tall, so allow for it in the cord drop.
Slim 100 over a 200 cm island 
Slim 130 over a 240 cm island 
Three Singles in a row over a 240 cm island
FAQ
Sizing questions.
Still unsure? Send us a photo of your room and our studio makes you a free design proposal.
How high should a pendant hang above a dining table?
Hang the lowest shade 60–75 cm above the table top; 65 cm is a good default. Small shades can hang at 60–65 cm and wide shades at 65–75 cm. Below 60 cm the lamp can block the view across the table.
How high should a pendant hang above a kitchen island?
Hang it 75–90 cm above the worktop. You stand at an island, so the shades hang higher than over a dining table to stay out of your line of sight while you cook.
Which Switch frame fits a 220 cm dining table?
A 130 cm frame. Choose Wide 130 (130 × 25 cm, 6 lights) for a table 90 cm or wider, or Slim 130 (130 × 8 cm, 5 lights) for a narrower one. The frame is 59% of the table length and leaves about 35 cm free at each end.
Which frame suits a round table?
Choose a cluster of a third to half of the table diameter. A Single with an L shade suits Ø 60–90 cm, Round 35 suits Ø 90–140 cm, Round 50 suits Ø 130–180 cm and Round 70 suits Ø 160–220 cm. For a larger table, ask us about a custom frame.
How long should the cord be?
Take the frame, the table height, the hanging height, the socket cap and the shade height off your ceiling height. Under a 260 cm ceiling, a Bowl L hanging 65 cm above a 75 cm table needs about 96 cm of cord. Pendant cords hang up to 150 cm, or up to 350 cm on the Round 35, Round 50 and Round 70.
What if I need a cord longer than 150 cm?
Choose a Round 35, Round 50 or Round 70: their cords hang up to 350 cm, while Single, Slim, Wide and Oval frames take up to 150 cm. Need it longer? We make custom lengths on request.
Can I shorten the cord?
Yes. You can shorten the cord yourself by adjusting the strain relief.
How far apart should single pendants hang?
Hang them 60–80 cm apart, centre to centre, with at least 15 cm between the outer shade and the end of the table or island. Over an island, 2–3 Singles or one Slim frame work well.
Ready when you are
Put your numbers to work.
Start from your frame in the 3D configurator, or see the real colours and shade sizes at home first.