The typical rule-of-thumb is 24′′ from each wall, and then 3-5 feet between cans. So in a 12′ room you’d probably want
two rows of lights
. Considering it is a bedroom and you don’t need it as bright as a kitchen, you can probably get away with 2 rows of 4 lights for a total of 8.
How far apart do you space 4 recessed lights?
The common rule is that 4-inch fixtures should generally be placed
at least 4 feet apart
and 6-inch fixtures about 6 feet apart.
How far apart do you place recessed lights?
A good general rule for placement is
to divide the height of the ceiling by two
. The result is the amount of space to leave between each light. For example, recessed lighting spacing for an 8-foot-high ceiling would be 4 feet between each light. This will provide good spacing for general room lighting.
How do you calculate recessed lighting spacing?
To determine how far apart to space your recessed lights,
divide the height of the ceiling by two
. If a room has an 8 foot ceiling, you should space your recessed lights approximately 4 feet apart. If the ceiling is 10 feet, you’ll want to put about 5 feet of space in between each fixture.
How far apart do you space 6-inch recessed lights?
If a 6-inch light has a spacing criteria of 1.5 and the ceiling height is 8 feet, the maximum space between each light should be
12 feet
. This formula is critical for lighting a space because if the lights are too far apart, they will look like spotlights with big shadows between each other.
Can you have too many recessed lights?
It often seems that installing recessed lights is a cure all, but they cannot properly wash light upon walls and all dark corners, which would bounce reflective light into the room. In fact, using too many recessed light
may leave areas of your room dark
and may even cost you more on your electric bill.
Should recessed lighting be symmetrical?
If you use recessed lighting as task lighting, the general rule for symmetry is
if you have more than one light, they must be aligned evenly
. Small puck lights give you the choice of mounting recessed or surface. Their small size makes them perfect for specific tasks rather than general lighting.
What size recessed light for 8ft ceiling?
When spacing recessed lights, use this general rule of thumb: divide the height of the ceiling by two to get the distance the lights should be from one another. For example, an 8-foot tall ceiling should have recessed lights
spaced 4-feet apart
.
How many recessed lights do I need in my basement?
The number of recessed lights in your basement will depend on the overall size and shape. Our designers use a general rule that
one recessed light will cover about 70 square feet
. When determining how many lights will be needed it is also good to think about where the lights will be placed.
How many lumens do I need per square foot?
As a handy rule of thumb, a sitting room or bedroom will generally require around
10-20 lumens per square foot
, while a bathroom or kitchen will need a stronger level of lighting, at around 70-80 lumens per square foot. To work out the lumens you need, simply multiply the square footage of the room by this figure.
How many recessed LED lights do I need?
Total wattage divided by 60 watts
(or whichever wattage you need) = total amount of recessed can lights. Example: 240 square foot room x 1.5 = 360 divided by 60 (the bulb wattage I’d like to use) = 6 recessed lights needed.
Is recessed lighting outdated?
The one reason why recessed lighting is timeless because they offer the flexibility to change the finishes later. You have a can in your ceiling that stays forever. However,
the finish may become outdated
and can be purchased in different colors and styles to suit your needs. You can change them as often as you like.
What is the most common size for recessed lighting?
Recessed lights are categorized by their size. The most common residential sizes are
4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch
.
What is the difference between can lights and recessed lights?
Recessed lights, also known as can lights, are described as metal light housings installed in the ceiling for a sleek look that gives you back your ceiling.
Where should recessed lights be placed?
If you plan to illuminate an entire wall or accent particular architectural features or pieces of art, the rule of thumb is to place your recessed light fixtures
between 1.5 feet and 3 feet from the wall
. If your fixtures are fixed, they should be placed a bit closer to the wall.
Why is recessed lighting bad?
Used properly, recessed lights are sleek, unobtrusive fixtures that can be good problem-solvers. Used improperly, they
can waste electricity
, provide poor lighting and cause your heating and cooling bills to go up. Kitchens are common places where recessed lighting fixtures are used.
