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 Guide to Spacing & Layout for Recessed Lights
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Recessed lighting type guide: here we provide a guide to the proper spacing of overhead light fixtures and recessed lights. This article describes the recommended spacing of light fixtures as a function of ceiling height, beam spread, and the necessary footcandles of lighting for the area and task. We discuss the requirements for ambient lighting and accent lighting as well.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Spacing Guidelines for Light Fixtures
 This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Our photo at left (Taliesin West, Scottsdale, AZ, D Friedman) illustrates two of several indoor lighting methods used by Frank Lloyd Wright in "the bunker", originally a storage room, currrently used for meetings, and built with no windows.
Also see LIGHTING, INTERIOR GUIDE our home page for information about all lighting topics relating to building interior
The general rule for ambient or task lighting is to space recessed ceiling fixtures approximately the
same distance apart as the beam spread at the work
height, typically assumed to be 30 inches above the floor
(36 inches for kitchen counters).
The light beam spread is the
central cone of light, where the beam is at least 50% of
the brightness at the center of the beam.
Most manufacturers
publish beam spread data for their recessed lights
with different trim options. Beam spreads and lighting
levels for some common fixtures and lamps are shown in Table 5-26.
For ambient lighting, choose a compact fluorescent,
A lamp, or wide flood with a beam angle of at least 50 degrees.
Typical spacing for ambient lighting with recessed
lights is 6 to 7 1/2 feet for an 8-foot ceiling, or 7 to 8 1/2 feet
for a 9-foot ceiling. Spacing from the first row of lights to
the wall is half this distance.
For accent lighting, space recessed or track fixtures so
their light hits the wall at about 30 degrees. For lighting a
large wall area, the distance between fixtures should be
equal to or less than their distance from the wall (see Figure 5-23).
Watch out: Check with local code officials in your own jurisdiction for specific lighting and electrical safety requirements.
-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
Industry & Trade Associations for Lighting and Other Interior Components in buildings
American Lighting Association
www.americanlightingassoc.com
Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industries
www.awci.org
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI)
www.carpet-rug.org
Drywall Finishing Council
www.dwfc.org
Forest Stewardship Program
www.fscus.org
FloorFacts
www.floorfacts.com
The Gypsum Association
www.gypsum.org
National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association
(NOFMA)
www.nofma.com
National Wood Flooring Association
www.woodfloors.org
Painting and Decorating Contractors of America
www.pdca.org
Smartwood/Rainforest Alliance
www.smartwood.org
-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
- Steve Bliss's Building Advisor at buildingadvisor.com helps homeowners & contractors plan & complete successful building & remodeling projects: buying land, site work, building design, cost estimating, materials & components, & project management through complete construction. Email: info@buildingadvisor.com
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
- Recommended books on electrical inspection, electrical wiring, electrical problem diagnosis, and electrical repair can be found in the Electrical Books section of the InspectAPedia Bookstore. (courtesy of Amazon.com)
- "Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]
- "How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850.
- "Electrical System Inspection Basics," Richard C. Wolcott, ASHI 8th Annual Education Conference, Boston 1985.
- "Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]
- "How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850.
- "Home Wiring Inspection," Roswell W. Ard, Rodale's New Shelter, July/August, 1985 p. 35-40.
- "Evaluating Wiring in Older Minnesota Homes," Agricultural Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108.
- "Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. [DF NOTE: I do NOT recommend this obsolete publication, though it was cited in the original Journal article as it contains unsafe inaccuracies]
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