Best kitchen ceiling lights


The 8 Best Kitchen Lights of 2022

The Pottery Barn Glass Globe Cord Pendant is our top pick

By

Lindsey Lanquist

Lindsey Lanquist

Lindsey Lanquist is a Nashville-based writer and product reviewer for The Spruce who covers health, fitness, food, and lifestyle. She has written for MyDomaine since August 2019. And her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, SELF, Byrdie, Verywell, StyleCaster, SheKnows, and NYLON.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/20/22

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The Spruce / Sabrina Jiang

Good lighting design is particularly important in the kitchen, which is often a family's hub for cooking, eating, homework, and more. "Kitchens are the most critical space in home for lighting because a kitchen is so multi-functional, with both task and ambient lighting needs," says Bryan Johnson, CEO of Shades of Light. "Your space needs to be well lit, and you need task lighting to support the preparation of food, often in multiple spots through the room. Accordingly, you need your kitchen lights to look good and throw off a lot of light."

We researched dozens of kitchen lights from top home and decor brands, evaluating ease of installation and use, brightness, durability, and functionality. Our best overall pick, the Pottery Barn Glass Globe Cord Pendant, is elegant, adjustable, and compatible with flat and sloped ceilings.

Here are the best kitchen lights. 

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Pottery Barn Glass Globe Cord Pendant at Pottery Barn

Best Budget:

Westinghouse Adjustable Mini Pendant at Amazon

Best Flush Mount:

Joss & Main Carreno 1-Light Flush Mount at Jossandmain.com

Best Recessed:

BBOUNDER Ultra-Thin LED Recessed Lights at Amazon

Best Track:

Hampton Bay Large-Step Linear Track Lighting at Home Depot

Best Under Cabinet:

MCGOR LED Under Cabinet Light at Amazon

Best for Over Sink:

Rejuvenation Carson Wall Sconce at Rejuvenation

Best Pendant:

Huxe Lanz Mini Pendant Light at Ylighting. com

In This Article

View On Pottery Barn

What We Like

What We Don't Like

Pottery Barn's Glass Globe Cord Pendant is our favorite kitchen light since its elegant silhouette and customizable design allow it to meld well with all types of interiors. 

You can opt to buy this fixture with a larger 12.5-inch shade or a smaller 8.5-inch shade to match your space. Both sizes have a 6-foot-long cord, though the maximum hanging length for the 12.5-inch option is 91 inches, while the maximum hanging length for the 8.5-inch option is 86.75 inches. To further personalize the look, you can choose between three different hardware finishes: bronze, brass, and nickel.  

While this globe pendant is an expensive option, it's still less costly than most custom light fixtures. It's dry UL-listed, so you want to make sure you hang it in an area free of dampness. Otherwise, maintenance is simple with the help of a dry, non-abrasive cloth. For added versatility, it's also compatible with a dimmer switch and is mountable on a slanted or sloped ceiling. 

Dimensions: 8.5 x 86.75 inches | Material: Glass, iron, zinc | Watts: 75W | Bulb: Not included | Recommended Ceiling Height: 86.75 inches

View On Amazon View On Home Depot

What We Like

What We Don't Like

Even if you’re shopping on a budget, basic kitchen lights aren’t your only option. With its striking silhouette and textured shade, the Westinghouse Adjustable Mini Pendant is sure to make a statement in any space. And since the light is available at a reasonable price point, you can stock up on several without giving it a second thought.

Keep in mind that pendant lights work best over islands or in kitchens with high ceilings, so they may not be the best fit for every household. "If your kitchen doesn’t have an island or has a lower ceiling, opt instead for a flush or semi-flush mount fixture," says Johnson. "Ideally, select one with multiple heads to help get light where you need it."

The fixture boasts a diameter of 7 inches, so it shouldn’t demand too much space in your kitchen. But despite its small size, it promises to put off plenty of light. (Its shade is crafted from clear glass, after all.) When fully extended, the fixture can reach lengths up to 5 feet. But since it’s height-adjustable, you can easily shorten it to perfectly suit your space. And since color plays a key role in any kitchen design scheme, the fixture is available in two versatile neutrals: oil-rubbed bronze and brushed nickel.

Dimensions: ‎7.5 x 7.5 x 60.25 inches | Material: Glass | Watts: 60W | Bulb: Not included | Maximum Hanging Height/Length: 61 inches

View On Jossandmain. com

What We Like

What We Don't Like

If you’re looking for a flush mount light with a little flair, Joss & Main has you covered. The brand’s Carreno 1-Light Flush Mount offers the low-profile silhouette you’d expect from a flush mount light. But it’s still striking enough to make a statement in your space.

At 8.5 inches tall and 9 inches wide, the fixture is pretty small. But since it’s crafted entirely from hand-blown glass, it should still fill your space with plenty of light. The fixture is currently available in two different hardware styles, so you can decide whether you want to see sleek black or vintage bronze in your kitchen. (That said, no matter which option you choose, the lamp’s canopy will remain a crisp, versatile black.) And since it’s damp location-friendly, you can snag matching options for your bathroom and covered porch, if you feel like it.

Dimensions: ‎9 x 9 x 8. 5 inches | Material: Glass, stainless steel | Watts: 60W | Bulb: Not included | Maximum Hanging Height/Length: N/A

View On Amazon

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It’s pretty hard to go wrong with recessed lighting. The sleek fixtures will brighten up your space without demanding much attention—giving you the versatile backdrop you need to craft the kitchen of your dreams. Given this, it’s worth it to focus on convenience and functionality when shopping for recessed lights. And BBounder’s Ultra-Thin LED Recessed Lights promise to deliver on both counts.

“Recessed lighting is a clean look that is commonly used over countertops, islands, and other points of visual interest,” says Preston Gilmore, Lumens Expert at GoodBulb. In order to make sure you have enough recessed lighting in your space, he recommends installing one recessed light per every 36 square feet of space in your kitchen.

This budget-friendly multi-pack comes with six recessed lights. And since the lights promise to be incredibly easy to install, you can save money on the lights and on the install fees. The lights are available in four different colors—cool white, daylight, soft white, and warm white—so you can choose the ambiance that best suits your space. And since they’re also dimmable, you can flexibly adjust the lighting in your kitchen any time you need to.

Dimensions: ‎11.65 x 8.27 x 7.83 inches | Material: Metal | Watts: 12.5W | Bulb: Built-in light | Maximum Hanging Height/Length: N/A

View On Home Depot

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If you’re looking for a more adjustable alternative to recessed lighting, adding track lighting to your kitchen is a particularly striking option. And Home Depot’s Hampton Bay Large-Step Linear Track Lighting is a great place to start. The traditional track light comes with three multidirectional heads, which you can adjust to illuminate those hard-to-reach spots in your space. And since the track light is designed to be compatible with other (matching) track lights, you can stock up on as many as you need to fill your space with light.

“Track lighting can be used to replace or collaborate with recessed lighting,” says Gilmore. “If you are replacing recessed lighting with track lighting, then you’ll want to [install] one light fixture for every four to six square feet of ceiling space.” If you’re using recessed lighting and track lighting together, you’ll want to consider other factors—like the angle of your track lighting or how close your track lighting is to the wall—when determining how many to install.

This track light promises to be easy to install, so if you're an experienced DIYer, you can tackle the process yourself with some research. And since the light is designed to be ceiling or wall compatible, you can get creative with where you add light to your space. What’s more? The track light comes in two versatile neutrals—white and black—either of which is sure to look great in your kitchen.

Dimensions: ‎5.7 x 44 x 10 inches | Material: Metal | Watts: 60W | Bulb: Not included | Maximum Hanging Height/Length: N/A

The 6 Best Track Lighting Kits for Your Home of 2022

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When you’re outfitting your kitchen with lighting, remember that ceiling-mount lights aren’t the only options on offer. You may want light in other, more underrated places—like under your cabinets, along your shelves, or even inside your pantry. And when your goal is to bring light to these tucked-away spots, your best bet is to invest in some under-cabinet light strips—like McGor’s LED Under Cabinet Lights.

Snag McGor’s Under Cabinet Lights set, and you’ll score three low-profile light strips. Each of these strips is lined with 46 LED lights, so the full set will provide plenty of light while you chop veggies or mix up a cookie batter. And since the lights are rechargeable, you shouldn’t have to replace them with much frequency. Each light strip comes with a dual-sided install strip, which is magnetic on one side and adhesive on the other. This dual-sided design should give you the versatility you need to mount your light strips, well, anywhere and you won’t have to worry about a complicated install.

Dimensions: ‎5.7 x 44 x 10 inches | Material: Aluminum, ABS | Watts: 9W | Bulb: 46 built-in LED lights | Maximum Hanging Height/Length: N/A

The 12 Best Plug-In Lighting Options of 2022

View On Rejuvenation

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What We Don't Like

Pendant lights are a popular choice over sinks, but sconces can look just as pretty. And Rejuvenation’s Carson Wall Sconce is one of the most striking options around. The sconce is crafted from lightweight aluminum from top to bottom, so it should be durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of your kitchen—but not so heavy that you’ll worry about it falling off your wall. And thanks to its 12-inch opening, it should give you all the light you need for a thoroughly illuminated kitchen.

The sconce boasts a relatively simple silhouette—one sure to suit many different decor schemes. And if you want yours to look a little more industrial, you can snag the version that comes with a removable cage. Even better: The sconce is available in a whopping 26 colors and finishes. So you’ll have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to selecting the right fixture for your space.

Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 13 inches | Material: Aluminum | Watts: 100W | Bulb: Not included | Maximum Hanging Height/Length: N/A

YLighting

View On Ylighting. com

What We Like

What We Don't Like

Searching for a striking pendant light worth hanging in your kitchen? Look no further—the Huxe Lanz Mini Pendant Light is a great option for adding soft lighting to your kitchen. This geometric pendant is made of ridged glass that draws attention away from the lightbulb within, which can be an issue with some pendant lights.

“Pendant lighting fixtures work in conjunction with other lighting fixtures in the kitchen, such as recessed and track lighting,” says Gilmore. He recommends placing your pendant lights about 4 to 6 feet apart—and paying attention to the mounting height. “The correct mounting height for pendant fixtures is 30 to 36 inches from the base of the fixture to the surface of the countertop,” he says.

You can adjust this light from 14.5 inches to 56.25 inches, so while it's not a great option for ceilings much over 10 feet, it is customizable. It's also adaptable to sloped ceilings, so if you need to hang the base on an angle, the pendant will still hang straight down. The fixture is also dimmable, so you can adjust how much lighting you need depending on what's happening in your kitchen.

Dimensions: ‎8 x 8 x 11.5 inches | Material: Glass, brass, steel | Watts: 43W | Bulb: Not included | Maximum Hanging Height/Length: 56.25 inches

Final Verdict

Kitchen lighting is available in so many shapes and styles that it can be tough to pick an overall favorite. But since Pottery Barn’s Glass Globe Cord Pendant is customizable, it earned our top spot. The globe pendant light comes in two different sizes and three different colors. And since it’s also height-adjustable, it should make a seamless addition to your space.


If you’d prefer a budget-friendlier option, the Westinghouse Adjustable Mini Pendant is an excellent pick. The pendant light is sleek and versatile. And since it’s height-adjustable, you shouldn’t have any trouble hanging it in your space.

Functionality

Your kitchen lighting setup needs to accommodate many different activities. And you may need to buy several different lights to get the job done. “Each light should be chosen to fulfill a function,” says Leslie Saul, owner and principal designer at Leslie Saul & Associates. Think about what you need your lighting setup to do. Then, stock up on different lights that can effectively deliver those things. 

Adjustability

Many kitchen lights come with built-in dimmers, which you can use to adjust the ambiance of your space. And many also boast adjustable heights, which can help you navigate low ceilings, extra-high ceilings, or even slanted ceilings. These features will only increase your options, making your lighting set-up even more flexible.

LED Lights

“[LED technology] is cost-effective and offers the best light,” says Preston Gilmore, Lumens Expert at GoodBulb. LED lights are also an energy-efficient option. So in addition to being bright and budget-friendly, they’re environmentally friendly, too.

FAQ

For this shopping guide, The Spruce contributor Lindsey Lanquist focused on including a range of different lights, which are designed to serve different functions. Lindsey prioritized lights that were well-reviewed by those who’d tried them. Since flexibility is important, she favored adjustable options wherever possible. She also favored options that were available in a variety of colors and/or finishes and tried to include options that were versatile enough to suit many different decor schemes.

For this story, we interviewed several experts, Leslie Saul, owner and principal designer at Leslie Saul & Associates and Preston Gilmore, Lumens Expert at GoodBulb. We also reached out to Bryan Johnson, CEO of Shades of Light. Each expert offered expertise from their field on choosing the right lighting for your kitchen, including the kinds of lighting you may need and how to install them.

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