The Best Pendant Lights

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Pendant Lights and hope the blog can help you.

Brighten your space and create a visual impact with one of these stylish and functional pendant lights.

Pendant lights come in many shapes and styles and add either ambient or task lighting in any room of a home. A lighting fixture that hangs from the ceiling using a rod, chain, or cord is considered a pendant light, with the style encompassing simple dome lighting, traditional chandeliers, and modern geometric lighting installations.

Read on to learn more about these decorative—and functional—home accessories and how to choose the best pendant light for a space.

1. BEST OVERALL: Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse Neuhaus 4 Pendant
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Hampton Bay 1-Light Brushed Nickel Warehouse Pendant
3. BEST MODERN: AllModern Jeanelle 1-Light Single Drum Pendant
4. BEST FOR KITCHEN ISLAND: Globe Electric Nate 4-Light Pendant
5. BEST FOR ENTRYWAY: Joss & Main Ellis 4-Light Square/Rectangle Chandelier 
6. BEST FOR BEDROOM: Andover Mills Paquette Shaded Drum Chandelier
7. BEST FOR BATHROOM: Linea di Liara Primo Large Glass Globe Pendant Light
8. BEST FOR LIVING ROOM: Mercer41 Dycus 6-Light Sputnik Modern Chandelier
9. BEST FOR DINING ROOM: Birch Lane Glenhaven Kitchen Island Linear Pendant
10. BEST FOR HALLWAY: Birch Lane Dormody Lantern Geometric Chandelier

How We Chose the Best Pendant Lights 

The right pendant fixture can add a touch of class to a space and provides a unique ambience during dinner parties, late nights, or working days. Selections for the best pendant lighting depended upon ease of installation, adjustability, and the number of bulb sockets.

Each of the above pendant lighting fixtures comes with easy-to-moderate installation with some picks requiring hardwiring. In these cases, professional help may be necessary during installation. Adjustability is also prioritized in these picks as many are compatible with sloped ceilings and multiple types of light bulbs; others are dimmable and height adjustable.

Though some of these pendant lights come with only one bulb socket, others are made with up to eight for ample light coverage. With that in mind, these light fixtures come with unique design styles and/or multiple colorways to match a home’s current fixtures.

Our Top Picks

Armed with this information about pendant lights, it’s time to start shopping. Our top picks consider the features above, including size, style, finish, and brightness. This list offers a variety of top-notch pendant lights to suit every space of a home.

Best Overall

Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse Neuhaus 4 Pendant

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This rubbed-oil bronze pendant from Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse is a versatile pick that would complement most spaces in any home. It works well as a single fixture in a bathroom, an entryway, or a hallway, though shoppers who are looking for kitchen lightingideas can use this model for a dramatic pop of unique style. The geometric steel frame comes in multiple finishes to complement a space including rubbed-oil bronze, antique silver leaf, polished chrome, and black polished chrome.

It has an adjustable chain height with a maximum hanging height of 114.5 inches as well as dimmable capabilities. This single pendant light can hold up to four bulbs and is 12 inches wide. It is compatible with E12 bulbs of up to 60 watts.

Product Specs

• Type: Lantern pendant
• Style: Metallic finishes
• Ease of installation: Easy

Pros

• Can work as bathroom, bedroom, hallway, landing, or kitchen pendant lighting
• Comes in multiple finishes: rubbed-oil bronze, antique silver leaf, polished chrome, and black polished chrome
• The durable geometric steel frame holds 4 light bulbs for ample brightness
• Adjustable design; maximum chain length of 114.5 inches; dimmable feature

Cons

• No bulbs are included with purchase; they need to be purchased separately
• Bulb holders may be damaged, bent, or warped upon arrival

Get the Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse pendant light at Wayfair.

Best Bang for the Buck

Hampton Bay 1-Light Brushed Nickel Warehouse Pendant

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This affordable warehouse-style pendant light from Hampton Bay has a brushed-nickel finish, lending to a vintage or industrial look. Because of the dark opaque canopy, it’s better suited for spaces that don’t require bright light output like dining rooms, bedrooms, and living rooms. The shade’s interior is painted white for improved light distribution.

It has an adjustable hanging length of up to 78 inches, meaning it can be adjusted to an appropriate height for almost any space. The canopy has a width of 16 inches. It uses a 100-watt E-26 light bulb, which is not included, but buyers can also use a light-emitting diode (LED) or compact fluorescent light (CFL)-equivalent bulb. Hardware is included to aid in easy installation.

Product Specs

• Type: Bowl pendant lamp
• Style: Brushed-nickel finish
• Ease of installation: Easy

Pros

• Wide canopy width provides ample light where it is needed; compatible with up to 100-watt bulbs
• Compatible with multiple bulb types; can be used with standard, LED, or CFL-equivalent bulbs
• Adjustable height options; up to 78 inches long
• Comes in multiple colorways: black, bright red, brushed nickel, blue, white, and more

Cons

• Not suitable for outdoor use; may not withstand moisture or dampness well
• Bulb not included with purchase; needs to be bought separately

Get the Hampton Bay pendant light at The Home Depotor Amazon (black).

Best Modern

AllModern Jeanelle 1-Light Single Drum Pendant

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This clear-glass drum pendant is a versatile pick that would complement most spaces in any home. It would work well as a single fixture in a bathroom, an entryway, or a hallway, though buyers could also install them in a group of three or more to display over dining tables or kitchen islands. The base has a brass finish, while the translucent glass shade provides optimal light distribution.

It has an adjustable height, with a minimum total height of 12 inches and a maximum total height of 108 inches. This single pendant light has a diameter of 10 inches. An LED Edison-style bulb is included with the light, and it’s compatible with standard E26 bulbs of up to 60 watts. Finally, this fixture is dimmable, so buyers can set the mood for different occasions.

Product Specs

• Type: Drum pendant lamp
• Style:Clear glass
• Ease of installation:Moderate

Pros

• Compatible with slanted ceilings; suitable for landings, stairways, and high sloped ceilings
• The dimmable feature can create ambience or ample brightness depending on the mood
• Adjustable height options; minimum height of 12 inches and maximum height of 108 inches
• Light bulb included with purchase for added convenience and user-friendliness

Cons

• Requires full assembly before installation; may be tricky for some users

Get the AllModern pendant light at AllModern.

Best for Kitchen Island

Globe Electric Nate 4-Light Pendant

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While many people opt to hang multiple individual pendant lights over their kitchen islands, this linear light by Globe Electric achieves a similar effect in a single fixture. It features four lights with glass shades and an oil-rubbed bronze frame and canopy. The look is inspired by turn-of-the-century factory lighting, which gives this pendant a vintage aesthetic.

Because the shades are made from translucent glass and the bulbs are exposed, this fixture provides ideal task lighting to aid in kitchen jobs while creating an ambient effect. Like mostkitchen light fixtures, this model has an adjustable height with a minimum hanging height of 25 inches and a maximum hanging height of 45 inches.

The total width of the fixture is 43.25 inches. It requires four E-26 60-watt bulbs, and like most kitchen lights, it is fully dimmable with a compatible dimmer switch and can be installed on sloped or vaulted ceilings. For easy installation, mounting hardware is included.

Product Specs

• Type: Exposed bulb pendants
• Style: Bronze finish
• Ease of installation: Moderate

Pros

• Adjustable height options; minimum of 25 inches and maximum of 45 inches
• The dimmable feature can accommodate any mood, from dark and romantic ambience to very bright
• Compatible with slanted ceilings for added convenience and user-friendliness
• All installation hardware included; may be able to be installed with only 1 person

Cons

• Only compatible with E-26 60-watt bulbs; may not be ideal for some users’ preferences

Get the Globe Electric pendant light at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

Best for Entryway

Joss & Main Ellis 4-Light Square/Rectangle Chandelier

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Entryways need a lot of light to see shoes, keys, bags, and more. For the best pendant light for entryways, we elect the Joss & Main Ellis four-light square/rectangle chandelier. Designed for sloped ceilings, this lantern-shaped light is height adjustable with a maximum height of 65 inches; the dimmable capability for the four bulbs provides added convenience.

This pendant light is large enough to provide enough light on its own, or it can be paired with multiple pendant lights for larger entry spaces. It features canopy lighting and six finish options. Though there are no bulbs included with purchase, this option can accommodate E12 LED bulbs of 60 watts.

Product Specs

• Type: Lantern pendant
• Style: Metallic finish
• Ease of installation: Moderate

Pros

• Can accommodate sloped ceilings; perfect for landings and uniquely designed rooms
• Adjustable design; maximum height of 65 inches and dimmable feature
• 4 bulb sockets built into the frame; provides ample light where it is needed
• 6 finish options are provided: bronze, chrome, midnight black, satin bronze, blacksmith, and heirloom bronze

Cons

• No bulbs included with purchase; need to be purchased separately
• May be difficult for some buyers to install; instructions may be difficult to understand

Get the Joss & Main pendant light at Wayfair.

Best for Bedroom

Andover Mills Paquette Shaded Drum Chandelier

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Bedrooms are one space in a home where dimmer lighting is often desirable. This drum-shade pendant light from Andover Mills has a light shade that directs the light downward, making it a perfect choice for suspending over a bedside table for ambient evening lighting. It would also work well over a dining table or in a den.

It has a minimum height of 17 inches and a maximum hanging height of 53 inches. It takes standard E26 bulbs with a wattage of 60. Plus, it comes with a downrod.

Product Specs

• Type: Drum pendant
• Style: Shaded drum and metal downrod
• Ease of installation: Easy

Pros

• The dimmable feature can provide ample brightness or a dark, romantic atmosphere
• Sloped ceiling compatible for added user-friendliness and convenience
• Adjustable height; minimum of 17 inches and maximum of 53 inches
• 4 light sockets built-in for ample brightness when it is needed

Cons

• Only works with 60-watt E26 bulbs; no bulbs included with purchase

Get the Andover Mills pendant light at