Choosing the Correct Size for your Lampshade: From 5" to 24"

  • Lampshade sizes from 5' to 24' A good eye is the best thing to help determine the size and shape...

    Lampshade sizes from 5" to 24"

    A good eye is the best thing to help determine the size and shape of a lampshade required to suit your lamp base, floor lamp, ceiling pendant or reading light. The team at Floren are on hand to help and you may also find the guidelines below useful. 


    Proportion is certainly the key to choosing a lampshade that works in harmony with the lamp base or standing floor lamp. Generally, the taller the lamp, the larger the lampshade. However, one must also consider the width of the lamp base. Most importantly, the shade should be long enough to cover the socket of the lamp, so that the hardware is not visible. With shades that have a duplex fitting the height can be adjusted with a shade carrier and for US spider fittings, the harp can be changed or a riser added.

    Below are some good rules of thumb for table lamps (excluding tall, thin lamps):

    •  Choose a lampshade with the ratio 40% shade and 60% lamp base.

    •  Or, the height of the lampshade should be about three-quarters the height of the base.

    •  The width of the lampshade should be roughly double the width of the lamp base.

    •  The diameter of the bottom of the shade should be roughly equal to the height of the lamp base (from the base to the lamp fitting).

    •  It is usually better to go for oversize, rather than undersize lampshades.

    •  When viewed horizontally, the bottom of the shade should be level with the bottom of the bulb socket. This will keep the shade from appearing as though it is draped over the lamp.

    Please contact us to discuss lampshade sizes.

  • Lampshade Sizing & Anatomy of a Lamp Base