See the light with this recessed lighting calculator
Use the square footage of a room to determine how many recessed lights you need.
Install one recessed light for every 25 square feet of space.
Leave between 4 and 6 feet of space between lights, depending on the ceiling height.
Taller ceilings require more lights and extra spacing between them.
Ready to revamp your lighting? Recessed lights let you illuminate your space in a discreet, minimalist way—but installing them requires a little bit of planning. And if you decide to map out your lighting layout yourself, one of your first questions will probably be: How many recessed lights do I need? Here’s how to figure it out.
There are several factors to consider when deciding how many recessed lights you’ll need in a room, including the purpose of the lighting, the wattage of the bulbs, and the height and color of your ceiling.
However, a good rule of thumb is to install lights 4 to 6 feet apart, with all lights positioned at least 2 feet from the walls. Based on that, here’s how many recessed lights you’d need for rooms of different sizes:
| Room Dimensions (in Feet) | Room Size (in Square Feet) | Number of Recessed Lights Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 10x10 | 100 | 4-6 |
| 12x12 | 144 | 4-6 |
| 12x18 | 216 | 6-8 |
| 14x20 | 280 | 8-10 |
| 20x20 | 400 | 12-14 |
Drawing a layout of your room is the best way to figure out how many recessed lights you need. But first, you’ll have to figure out the right amount of spacing between lights, which you can do with this formula:
Spacing Between Recessed Lights (in feet) = Ceiling height (in feet) / 2
Whether you’re installing recessed lighting in your kitchen, living room, or another part of your home, your first step is to get the dimensions of the space. You’ll need three measurements:
Length of the room
Width of the room
Height of the ceiling
Next, sketch out the layout of your room with a pencil and paper. It should include these dimensions, as well as the locations of any existing light fixtures or ceiling fans, furniture, and appliances.
Then, use the formula above to calculate the appropriate distance between lights. For example, if you have 10-foot ceilings, your lights should be 5 feet apart. Each light should also be 2 or 3 feet from the walls.
Finally, decide how you’d like to arrange the lights (for example, around the perimeter of the room or in parallel lines). Then, use the spacing guidelines to mark the locations of the lights on the map you drew of the room.
These guidelines can help you map out a design for your lighting. But when it’s time for installation, it’s safest to hand your plans over to a professional who can install recessed lighting. That’s because this job involves working with electricity, running new wiring, and cutting holes in your ceiling—all tasks that are better left to a local light fixture installation pro.
We had a 20+ year old landscape lighting system that needed replacement. Midwest Lightscapes worked with us to design a much improved lighting system, lighting the exterior of the house and the back yard. Installation of the 45 light system took one and one-half days, and went very smoothly....
Midwest LightscapesJeff was a consummate professional. Responsive, courteous, and focused on meeting our needs. I had a small project of installing and replacing two ceiling light fixtures. He responded to my Home Advisory inquiry within 24 hours and in a span of two weeks our light fixtures were installed. ...
The initial quoted price from a walk-through seemed high, but we discussed that the quote represented worst case scenario (re-wiring to two floors) and we were excited about the opportunity to have the work done in a timely manner with closing for fire safety reasons, etc. When the job was...
Jay's offered a great price and the job started off so well. I wanted to remodel the master bath and it was a big makeover to remove the existing tile floor, roman tub, and enclosed shower. I wanted the shower moved to where the tub was and the shower area to be converted to storage. I have...
Jay's Floors & More IncScott Metz worked with us at Northern Lighting. He very helpful. He explained all the options to us. We would recommend him. We went with some fixtures that had LED lights that the bulbs could easily be replace instead of ones that were self-contained and the whole unit would need to be...
Responded quickly,ordered parts, and repaired promptly. Followed up next day when we experienced lights flickering and tightened circuit breaker at no charge even though it was not in their scope of work.
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Light fixtures are important elements in any home. Find out how much it costs to install a light fixture based on factors like type, location, and labor.
Discover the cost to install recessed lighting. Discover how price factors, labor, and other considerations can help you save on your lighting project.
Discover how much under-cabinet lighting costs. Discover installation prices, key cost factors, and expert tips to save on your kitchen or workspace lighting project.
Lighting aisle feeling overwhelming? This article explains the different types of light bulbs, watts, lumens, shapes, sizes, colors, and more.
Ceiling lights come in a wide array of styles and functions. Use this guide to learn about the types of ceiling lights to find one that suits your space.
If your ceiling fan light flickers, something may be wrong with the equipment, circuit, or electrical system. Use this guide to find the cause and the solution.
