Recessed Lighting Calculator
Determine the optimal number and spacing of recessed lights (pot lights) for any room to achieve balanced, professional-grade illumination.
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A Bright Guide to Recessed Lighting Layout
Properly planned recessed lighting (also known as can lights or pot lights) can transform a room, providing clean, even illumination. However, getting the spacing and quantity right is crucial to avoid dark spots or an "airport runway" effect. Our Recessed Lighting Calculator provides a starting point for planning your layout based on standard design principles.
The Spacing Formula
The calculation is based on a simple but effective rule of thumb used by many designers:
Spacing (in feet) = Ceiling Height (in feet) / 2
Once the ideal spacing is determined, the calculator lays out a virtual grid in your room to determine the number of lights needed for even coverage.
- Number of Lights: Calculated by dividing the room's length and width by the determined spacing.
- Placement: The first light in any row should be placed at half the spacing distance from the wall. For example, if your spacing is 4 feet, your first row of lights should be 2 feet away from the wall.
Practical Example
Let's consider a living room that is 15 feet long and 10 feet wide with a standard 8-foot ceiling.
- Calculate Spacing: 8 ft (Ceiling Height) / 2 = 4 ft spacing.
- Placement from Walls: The lights should be placed 4/2 = 2 feet from each wall.
- Layout: This typically results in a grid. For a 15'x10' room, you might have two rows of three lights, for a total of 6 lights, all spaced approximately 4 feet apart.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What about lumens and bulb type?
- This calculator focuses on layout, not brightness. For general ambient lighting, aim for about 20 lumens per square foot. For an 8-foot ceiling, a standard 65-watt equivalent LED (around 650-700 lumens) is often a good choice for 4-inch or 6-inch fixtures.
- Is this rule absolute?
- No, this is a general guideline for ambient lighting. If you are lighting a specific task area (like a kitchen counter) or highlighting artwork, you may need additional, more closely spaced fixtures. You might also adjust the layout to avoid ceiling joists.
- What about sloped ceilings?
- For sloped ceilings, use the average ceiling height in the calculation. You will also need to use special recessed fixtures designed for angled installations to ensure the light points straight down.
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