This table lamp size guide gives the height and width of each of our 13 lamps, in inches and centimeters, with the surfaces each one suits. The lamps run from 8.3 to 19.7 inches tall. Read the table first, then the notes on nightstands, console tables and sideboards, to match a lamp to your furniture.
How are our lamps measured?
Height runs from the surface the lamp stands on to its highest point. Width is the widest point of the lamp: usually the shade or the dome, and for Strates, the marble discs.
Before you choose, measure two things on your furniture: the depth of the top, and the space above it, up to a shelf, a mirror or a painting. Width tells you whether the lamp fits the surface. Height tells you whether it sits well in the space above.
All 13 lamps by size
From the tallest to the smallest. Every lamp in this table is one of our designer table lamps.
| Lamp | Height | Width | Power | Suggested place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zenith | 19.7 in (50 cm) | 14.6 in (37 cm) | Plug-in | Sideboard, large side table, console table at least 16 in deep |
| Sillon | 18.9 in (48 cm) | 13.8 in (35 cm) | Plug-in | Sideboard, desk, large nightstand |
| Cline Vesper | 15.4 in (39 cm) | 12.6 in (32 cm) | Plug-in | Bedside table, desk, sideboard; works as a pair |
| New Works | 13.8 in (35 cm) | 9.8 in (25 cm) | Plug-in | Side table, nightstand, narrow console table |
| Strates | 12.6 in (32 cm) | 11.8 in (30 cm) | Plug-in | Console table, side table, low shelf; allow about 12 in of clear surface |
| Tellur | 12.6 in (32 cm) | 9.1 in (23 cm) | Plug-in | Nightstand, side table, console table |
| Silex | 11.8 in (30 cm) | 9.4 in (24 cm) | Rechargeable | Console table, side table, bedside table, dining table |
| Macara | 11.2 in (28.5 cm) | 7.5 in (19 cm) | Plug-in | Shelf, side table, narrow nightstand |
| Lysa | 11 in (28 cm) | 9.1 in (23 cm) | Plug-in | Nightstand, console table, dresser |
| Iris | 9.8 in (25 cm) | 11.8 in (30 cm) | Plug-in | Bedside table, low console table, shelf |
| Colonne | 9.6 in (24.5 cm) | 5.1 in (13 cm) | Plug-in | Crowded bedside table, narrow shelf; a pair on a console table |
| Auren | 9.4 in (24 cm) | 7.1 in (18 cm) | Rechargeable | Shelf, dining table, bedside table |
| Rubra | 8.3 in (21 cm) | 5.9 in (15 cm) | Plug-in | Shelf, desk, nightstand |
One lamp is wider than it is tall: Iris, 9.8 inches high and 11.8 inches wide. Strates comes close, with discs 11.8 inches across on a 12.6-inch height. For both, plan the surface around the width.
Which size for a nightstand, a console table or a sideboard?
There is no standard here, only common rules of thumb. Use them as a starting point, then trust the room.
Nightstand
A common rule of thumb is to keep the lamp narrower than the nightstand, with room left beside it for a book and a glass. On a narrow nightstand, the slimmest lamps help: Colonne is 5.1 inches wide, Rubra 5.9, Macara 7.5. Iris, Lysa and Cline Vesper suit a wider top. All of them are among our bedside table lamps. For height and proportion beside a bed, read what size lamp for a nightstand.
Console table
On a console table, depth is the limit. Zenith, at 14.6 inches wide, needs a console at least 16 inches deep. Strates needs about 12 inches of clear surface. On a narrow console, New Works, with its 9.8-inch shade, or a pair of Colonne lamps, keep the walkway free. A common rule of thumb is to set the lamp off-center, balanced by a stack of books or a bowl.
Sideboard
A sideboard is long and usually deep, so it takes the taller lamps: Zenith at 19.7 inches, Sillon at 18.9, Cline Vesper at 15.4. A common rule of thumb is to place the lamp toward one end, with art or objects on the other side. Two Cline Vesper lamps also make a classic pair.
Plug-in or rechargeable: does it change the size?
Not the size, but the place. Eleven of the 13 lamps are corded and plug in. They are meant for a fixed place in the room, near an outlet. Only Silex and Auren are rechargeable: about 12 hours of light per charge, about 6 hours to recharge. They can stand on a dining table or a shelf far from any outlet.
Whatever the size, every lamp gives ambient light. It sets the mood of a room; it is not meant to light a desk or a kitchen. If you need to read, plan a second light.
Once you have your measurements, explore the designer table lamps and compare them in real rooms.