Bedside lamp sizer
Eye-level glare check
End table lamp sizer
Console table lamp sizer
Desk lamp sizer
Shade proportion sizer
Pair matching & clearance checker
Quick unit converter
How it works
Each mode applies the industry-standard proportion rules gathered from lighting retailers and interior guides. Bedside: total lamp height ≈ nightstand height to 1.125× (a 24″ nightstand → 24″–27″). End table: 1.25–1.40× table height, because upright sofa seating sits higher. Console: 0.75–0.95× console height. Hard cap everywhere: no table lamp should exceed 1.5× the height of the surface it sits on. Shades: height ≈ two-thirds of base height, bottom diameter ≈ twice the base width. Footprint: base ≤ one-third of table width, shade ideally ≤ two-thirds and never wider than the table. The eye-level check enforces the golden rule: the bottom of the shade at or below your seated eye level, so you never see the bare bulb.
Worked examples
24-inch nightstand
Bedside mode: lamp 24″ – 27″ (60.96–68.58 cm) overall. Pair two lamps whose heights differ by at most 1″.
Replacing a shade on a 15-inch base
Shade mode with a 15″ tall, 7″ wide base: shade 10″ tall × 14″ diameter, total lamp about 25″.
Desk setup
Desk mode with a 17″ eye-level target on a 48″ desk: total lamp about 28.3″ with an 11.3″ shade, and the shade diameter capped at 32″ (two-thirds of desk width).
Clearance on a 20-inch table
Clearance mode: base must be ≤ 6.7″ (one-third of 20″), shade ideally ≤ 13.3″ (two-thirds), and the lamp under the 36″ cap on a 24″-tall table.
Related tools (different jobs)
- Chandelier Size Calculator — ceiling-mounted fixtures (diameter from room size, hanging height above tables/floors). Disjoint from this tool: chandeliers hang, table lamps sit.
This tool covers only portable lamps that sit on a table surface (bedside, end table, console, desk). Floor lamps stand on the floor and follow different sizing rules, so they are intentionally a separate future tool.
FAQ
How tall should a table lamp be for a nightstand?
For a standard 24-inch nightstand, choose a lamp 24″ – 27″ tall overall (60.96–68.58 cm). The rule this calculator uses: total lamp height ≈ nightstand height up to 1.125× that height, so the bottom of the shade lands near your eye level when you sit up in bed.
What size shade should I put on my table lamp?
Two classic proportion rules: shade height ≈ two-thirds of the base height, and shade bottom diameter ≈ twice the base width. A 27-inch base takes an 18-inch-tall shade (45.72 cm); an 8-inch-wide base takes a 16-inch-diameter shade (40.64 cm). Some guides use three-quarters instead of two-thirds — anywhere in the ⅔–¾ band looks balanced.
Should you be able to see the bulb in a table lamp?
No. The bottom edge of the shade should sit at or just below your seated eye level, so the shade — not your eyes — takes the direct glare. Within 2 inches of eye level is the textbook ideal; if the shade bottom is above eye level, you will see the bare bulb and get harsh glare.
How tall should a lamp be on an end table next to a sofa?
Taller than a bedside lamp, because you sit upright on a sofa: about 1.25–1.40× the table height. A 24-inch end table pairs with a 30″–33.6″ lamp (roughly 30–34 inches), and no lamp should exceed 1.5× the table height — 36 inches on a 24-inch table.
What size lamp works on a console table?
Console tables are tall, so the lamp stays proportionally shorter: about 0.75–0.95× the console height. On a 29-inch console that is 21.8″–27.6″ overall. The 1.5× hard cap still applies.
How tall should a desk lamp be?
Set it by eye level, not by a fixed height: the bottom of the shade should sit 16″–18″ above the desk surface, which puts the light at a seated reader’s eye level. Keep the shade diameter at or under two-thirds of the desk width (32 inches max on a 48-inch desk). A typical result is about 28.3″ total with an 11.3″ shade.
Do two matching bedside lamps have to be exactly the same height?
They should match within 1 inch. A pair flanking one bed or sofa reads as intentional when the heights differ by no more than an inch — use the pair-matching tab to check two lamps before you buy.
How wide can a lamp base be on my table?
Keep the base at or under one-third of the table width, and the shade ideally at or under two-thirds — never wider than the table itself. On a 20-inch-wide table: base ≤ 6.7 inches, shade ≤ 13.3 inches ideally and 20 inches absolute maximum.
What are standard table lamp shade sizes?
Off-the-shelf table lamp shades typically run 10″–14″ tall with a 14″–18″ bottom diameter. That band matches the proportion rules for ordinary bases: a 15-inch base wants a 10-inch-tall shade, and a 7-inch-wide base wants a 14-inch-diameter shade.
Does this calculator cover floor lamps?
No — deliberately. Floor lamps stand on the floor and follow different rules (overall height, arc reach, shade height above the floor), so they get their own dedicated tool. This calculator covers only portable lamps that sit on a table surface: bedside, end table, console, and desk lamps. For ceiling fixtures, see the chandelier size calculator.