How To Know What Size Lampshade To Buy

Be sure of the fitting you need.

How to know what size lampshade to buy.

If your lampshade is tapered the bottom of the shade follows this criteria. Don t slim down too much. 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. Measure lamp for shade size.

When shade shopping the shade size refers to the width across the bottom of the shade. You don t want the socket or the switch to be visible. Calculate this by measuring the widest part of your lamp base and multiplying it by two. 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.

Here are our guidelines for how to measure a lamp for a shade. Make sure the lamp shade is wider than the widest part of your lamp body. Video by beau sam. The bottom edge of the lampshade should fall midway on the neck of the lamp.

Similarly many design experts suggest that shade s width be roughly equivalent to the visible height of the lamp base. In most cases your lamp shade should be roughly 2 3 the height of the lamp body. Choosing your lampshade s diameter width your lampshade should be at least 2x wider than the widest part of the base. So now that you know your lamp base shape it s time to grab a tape measure.