How To Know What Size Lampshade To Buy

Don t slim down too much.

How to know what size lampshade to buy.

The best shade will mimic the base of the lamp and the shape of the table. 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. Choosing your lampshade s diameter width your lampshade should be at least 2x wider than the widest part of the base. 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.

Video by beau sam. Calculate this by measuring the widest part of your lamp base and multiplying it by two. Your shade should be about two thirds the height of your lamp base give or take an inch. 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. Be sure of the fitting you need. So now that you know your lamp base shape it s time to grab a tape measure. Measure lamp for shade size.

In most cases your lamp shade should be roughly 2 3 the height of the lamp body. 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 your lampshade is tapered the bottom of the shade follows this criteria.