How To Know What Size Lampshade To Buy

If your lampshade is tapered the bottom of the shade follows this criteria.

How to know what size lampshade to buy.

You don t want the socket or the switch to be visible. Measure lamp for shade size. Similarly many design experts suggest that shade s width be roughly equivalent to the visible height of the lamp base. Video by beau sam.

Choosing your lampshade s diameter width your lampshade should be at least 2x wider than the widest part of the base. In most cases your lamp shade should be roughly 2 3 the height of the lamp body. The bottom edge of the lampshade should fall midway on the neck of the lamp. Lampshade size is usually expressed in terms of its diameter 16 shade has a diameter of 16.

Here are our guidelines for how to measure a lamp for a shade. If you ever come home from the antique market with a new lamp base sans lampshade take heed of this golden rule before rushing out to grab any old covering. When shade shopping the shade size refers to the width across the bottom of the shade. Make sure the lamp shade is wider than the widest part of your lamp body.

Calculate this by measuring the widest part of your lamp base and multiplying it by two. So now that you know your lamp base shape it s time to grab a tape measure. Don t slim down too much. Floor lamp shades should clear the widest part of the bulb by at least 3 5 on each side of the bulb unless using compact fluorescent bulb.