Lampshade Size Guide: How to Choose the Right Shade

A table lamp with a fabric shade on a bedside table

A lampshade that is the wrong size can make even a beautiful lamp look awkward. Too small and the base looks top-heavy and the bulb glares out underneath; too large and the shade swamps the lamp and looks like a hat pulled down over the eyes. Fortunately, a few simple rules of thumb make it easy to get right.

This guide explains how to measure a table lamp and choose a shade that fits, how to size a ceiling shade for a room, the difference between drum and cylinder shapes, and what to know about fittings, fabric and bulbs.

The three proportions that matter

For a table lamp, three measurements decide whether a shade looks right: the height of the shade compared to the base, the width of the shade compared to the base, and how much of the fitting the shade hides.

1. Shade height

Measure the base from the bottom to the top of the bulb fitting. As a rule, the shade should be roughly two-thirds the height of the base. So a base measuring 45cm suits a shade around 30cm tall.

2. Shade width

Measure the base at its widest point. The bottom diameter of the shade should be roughly twice that width. A base 15cm wide suits a shade around 30cm in diameter. For slim, column-style bases, you can go a little wider than this; for very bulbous bases, a little narrower.

3. Coverage

When you look at the lamp from the side at eye level, the bottom of the shade should just hide the bulb fitting and the top of the neck of the base. If you can see the hardware, the shade is too short or sitting too high.

These are guides rather than rules. Lamps come in all sorts of shapes, and your eye is the final judge. But if you are unsure between two sizes, the larger usually looks better. A shade that is slightly too small looks mean; one that is slightly too large tends to look generous.

Matching the shade to the lamp's shape

Round, ginger-jar or gourd bases suit drum shades or slightly tapered shades, which echo their curves.
Tall, slim column bases suit taller cylinders, which keep the vertical line.
Square or angular bases can take square or rectangular shades, though a drum often softens them nicely.
Candlestick-style bases look best with smaller, tapered or empire shades.

Drum or cylinder?

The two most useful shapes in a country house are the drum and the tall cylinder.

Drum shades

A drum is wider than it is tall, with straight sides. It throws a generous spread of light down and out, which makes it ideal for lighting a room rather than just a corner. Drums suit table lamps with a broad base, floor lamps and most ceiling pendants. Our Natural Linen Drum and Off White Linen Drum come in sizes from 20cm to 60cm, as either a lampshade or a ceiling light shade, and are handmade to order in Redditch.

Tall cylinder shades

A tall cylinder is narrower and taller. It directs more light up and down and gives a more focused pool of light, which suits slim, upright bases and lamps on narrow consoles or bedside tables. The Natural Linen Tall Cylinder comes in mini, medium and large, and is handmade to order in Worcestershire.

How to size a ceiling shade

For a pendant shade, the size of the room matters more than anything else.

A simple formula: add the length and the width of the room in metres. The total, in centimetres, is a good starting diameter for the shade. A room 4m by 5m adds up to 9, so a shade of around 45cm is a good start.
Head height: leave at least 2m between the bottom of the shade and the floor wherever people walk underneath. Over a dining table, the shade can hang lower, roughly 75 to 90cm above the table top.
Over a table: choose a shade about half to two-thirds the width of the table.

In rooms with low ceilings, a wide, shallow drum works far better than a deep or tall shade.

Fittings: make sure it will fit

Lampshades attach to lamps and ceiling roses in a few different ways. Most UK table lamps and pendants use a standard fitting that holds the shade's ring between the bulb holder and a threaded ring. Some shades are made specifically for table lamps; others are made for ceiling pendants, and some can be used either way with a reversible fitting.

Before ordering, check whether the shade is listed for a lamp or a ceiling, as our linen drums are. If your lamp uses a different fitting, such as a clip-on or a harp, check the description carefully or ask the maker.

Choosing the fabric

The fabric changes the colour and feel of the light.

Natural linen gives a warm, slightly golden light and has a soft, textured look. It suits country rooms, oak furniture and anything with warm colours.
Off white linen lets more light through and looks lighter in the daytime. It is a good choice for a room that needs brightening.
Dark or patterned fabrics let less light through the sides and throw more light up and down, which creates a moodier effect.
A white lining inside a shade reflects light out of the top and bottom, so you get more usable light from the same bulb.

Choosing the right bulb

The bulb affects both the look of the shade and safety.

Colour temperature. For sitting rooms and bedrooms, choose a warm white bulb, around 2700K or lower. Cooler bulbs look clinical through linen.
Brightness. A table lamp for general light needs around 400 to 800 lumens; a reading lamp a little more.
Heat. LED bulbs run much cooler than old incandescent bulbs, which makes them the safest choice for fabric shades. Always check the maximum wattage for the lamp and shade.
Position. The bulb should sit roughly in the middle of the shade's height, not touching the fabric.

Common mistakes to avoid

Choosing a shade too small because it looks right in the box. Measure the base first.
Leaving the bulb visible below the shade at eye level.
Mismatched pairs. If two lamps sit either side of a sofa or bed, use matching shades even if the bases differ.
Forgetting the room. A shade that suits a lamp in a large sitting room may look heavy in a small bedroom.

Using shades to light a whole room

A well-lit room uses several lamps at different heights, not one bright overhead light. A pair of drums on table lamps either side of a sofa, a cylinder on a slim lamp on a side table and a soft pendant above gives layers of light that you can adjust through the evening. Brass candle holders add a final warm layer: see our guide to caring for brass candle holders.

Frequently asked questions

Should the lampshade be wider than the base?

Yes, almost always. A good starting point is roughly twice the width of the base at its widest point.

How do I measure an existing lampshade?

Measure the diameter across the top, the diameter across the bottom and the slant height, the length of the side from top edge to bottom edge.

Can I use a lampshade on a ceiling light?

Only if it has the right fitting. Many shades are made for one or the other, and some, like our linen drums, are offered in both versions.

What size lampshade for a bedside lamp?

Bedside lamps are usually smaller, so shades of 20 to 30cm in diameter are common. Make sure the bottom of the shade sits roughly at eye level when you are sitting up in bed, so the bulb doesn't glare.