The Height of a Vanity Light Fixture From the Floor

Height Standards

• Sources such as This Old House magazine and the "Black & Decker Complete Guide to Lighting" recommend installing light fixtures on either side of a vanity to avoid shadows cast by a light over the unit. Chris Peterson, author of the Black & Decker book, recommends placing side vanity light fixtures at a height of 66 inches from the floor. According to an article in This Old House, place a lighting fixture above a vanity at a height of 75 to 80 inches above the floor, but only if installing side lighting isn't feasible.

Placing Lights

• Experts generally base recommended standards for lighting height on considerations such as the average height of a person. In a home filled with people who are taller or shorter than average height, adjust the level of lights and vanity mirrors so they meet the needs of everyone. Install a vanity mirror in a wall so the middle of the mirror is more or less on eye level of the average height of people in the house. Install side lighting fixtures for these mirrors at the same height as the middle of the mirror. Peterson recommends installing side lighting fixtures 36 to 40 inches from one another on the wall.

Vanity Top Lights

• A vanity top constitutes a large unit that contains a mirror and frame. These units sit on countertops. The height of a vanity top light from the floor depends on the height of your vanity mirror, and its height from the floor. According to an article in This Old House magazine, traditional vanity tops are 30 inches tall, though newer vanity tops come as tall as 36 inches. If a 36-inch vanity comes with its own light fixture, placed at the top of the unit, and it sits on a counter 36 inches tall, that light fixture sits 72 inches from the ground. If you install new lighting fixtures for your vanity top, you should place them at a height comfortable for you and your family.

More Vanity Lighting Considerations

• Always avoid using a single recessed light source above a vanity mirror. Any light placed above a vanity top leads to shadows over the mirror. A recessed light dramatically increases the number and depth of these shadows, making it hard to use the mirror. Home design author Susan Arnold recommends always using 150-watt light bulbs for vanity light fixtures. According to the article in This Old House, the brightness of these lights provides optimal light levels for vanity use. Never try to wire lights unless you have experience with wiring or other electrical work.