Mini pendant lights for kitchens are increasing in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. Practical and stylish, they are a beautiful source of lighting in your kitchen that can make a powerful design statement. This elegant lighting works best when hung with the appropriate spacing between each mini-pendant light.

In kitchens, mini-pendant light fixtures are most commonly hung over the kitchen island. Your main concern in this space is ensuring the entire surface will be illuminated when the lights are on. It is typical to use an odd number of mini-pendant lights to create a focal point and a sense of balance. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have an even number if you wish.

Hanging an Odd Number of Mini Pendants

Once you’ve used the formula above to figure out the distance – 24 inches per our example — to space your pendants evenly over your kitchen island, hang the middle light over the center of your kitchen island. Then mark 24 inches on each side of the center light. For instance, using the 8-foot kitchen island as our example, you would hang the first mini pendant at the 4-foot mark and then measure 24 inches on each side to find the spot to hang the remaining two pendants.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard Broomley 10 Inch Mini Pendant by Corbett Lighting

Inspired by the past but designed for today, the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Broomley 10 Inch Mini Pendant by Corbett Lighting delightfully blends 70’s style with mid-century flair. This trio of mini-pendants gives this space high style and versatility times three.

Hanging an Even Number of Pendants

For this example, we will use a 10-foot kitchen island and four mini-pendants to demonstrate how to space out your lights. This means our distance between lights would be 2 feet or 24 inches 10′ +5 (4 pendants +1) = 2. Find the center of the table and measure (the five-foot mark) and measure one foot on either side of it (the four and six-foot marks). From there, measure another 2 feet in each direction to determine where to hang your lights.

Ellis 7 Inch LED Mini Pendant by Mitzi

In this small space, a pair of Ellis 7 Inch LED Mini Pendants by Mitzi combine polished nickel framing with a black disk accent that highlights the wavy tone of the matt opal glass. These mini-pendants are a modern take on a vintage aesthetic that adds a geometric element to the kitchen decor.

Latham 9 Inch Mini Pendant by Hudson Valley Lighting

The perfect mix of form and function, a pair of Latham 9 Inch Mini Pendants by Hudson Valley Lighting bring standout style that is a marvel of elevated industrial design. They give the space a welcome look and feel.

How to Find the Right Spacing for Your Mini-Pendant Lights

Whether you are hanging an odd or even number of pendants, these steps will help you determine the proper spacing between each pendant so the light will be evenly distributed over the island. They will also help you determine clearance from the edge of the island.

1. Measure your table’s length.
2. Divide this number by the number of pendants, plus one.
3. The number you get is the estimated distance between each mini-pendant. When hanging the pendants, measure this distance from the center of one mini-pendant to the next one.
4. Next, find the center of the kitchen island by dividing its width in half and its length in half.
5. For an odd number of pendants, install the middle fixture at the center of the island. For an even number, hang the two middle pendants equidistant from either side of the island’s center.

For instance, if your kitchen island is eight feet long, and you want to place three mini-pendants over it, you would divide eight by four (3 mini-pendants plus 1) and the recommended space between each mini pendant would be 2 feet or 24 inches.

Skye Mini Pendant by Hinkley

A feature of art and elegance, this trio of Skye Mini Pendants by Hinkley lights up any space with style and grace. Featuring a mid-century modern attitude, this trio of pendants delivers a captivating mood as it illuminates the kitchen island.

How Many Pendants Should Be Hung over a Kitchen Island?

There is no cut and dry answer to this question about how many pendants should be hung over a kitchen island. As a general rule, the number and placement of mini-pendants depend on a combination of many factors, one of which is a personal preference. That being said, the main factors to consider when deciding how many mini-pendants to hang over your kitchen island are the island’s length and the amount of light you need. If you are using mini-pendants as the main light source, with no recessed lighting, you may need more light in your kitchen. So, while a general rule is two or three, depending on the size of the mini-pendants, practicality and preference take precedence.