How to Measure a Lamp Shade and Find the Perfect Lamp for Your Room

While lamps are a necessity for almost every room of your home, it can be difficult to figure out what kind of lamp or what size lamp shade will fit your needs. The wrong height or diameter can make a room look awkward, unsettled, or haphazardly put together. At Bel Furniture, we carry lamps of all shapes and sizes, and want to help you learn how to measure a lamp shade and find the perfect lamp for every room of your house.

Step 1: Figure Out What Kind of Lamp You Need

The measurements for your lamp and lamp shade will depend on what kind of lamp you will be purchasing. In order to find the correct one, take a look around your room and decide what your needs are. If the room has an abundance of natural light pouring in, then you will probably only need a small floor lamp or a table lamp. If your room doesn’t have many windows, you may consider purchasing a floor lamp for more lighting. It’s also wise to take note of the amount of light fixtures you already have in your room. If you use overhead lighting most of the time, you probably don’t have to worry about purchasing a lamp that emanates a lot of light.

Step 2: Determine How Your Lamp Will Fit Into Your Decor

While they are certainly a functional item, lamps also give you the opportunity to play with design and make a room your own. This is why one crucial step in choosing a shade is determining how your lamp will fit into the decor of your room. Take note of the color scheme and other decorative choices that have been made prior to your decision to invest in a new lamp shade, as the style that has already been established in the room will help you make the final decision on which lamp shade to purchase.

Step 3: Finding the Correct Lamp Shade Height

Now that you have scoped out your room, you must measure the lamp shade to find the correct height. Take a tape measure and determine the height of the lamp base from the bottom of the base to the top, where the electrical socket attaches to the base. Then, find the height of the shade by measuring to the lamp harp from the top of the bottom of the socket.


If you are buying a table lamp, you want the height of the shade to be approximately 60% to 80% the height of the lamp’s base, as to not overwhelm the other objects that are placed on the same surface. The height of floor lamp shades should be between 30% to 50% of the height of the lamp base. This will ensure that you have an even distribution and balance across the entirety of your room.

Step 4: Determining the Correct Diameter for Your Lamp Shade

To measure the diameter, or width, of your lampshade, you must measure both the top diameter and the bottom diameters. While it may seem gratuitous, the lampshade should be at least two times wider than the widest part of the base. Even if this sounds like a very large lamp shade size, this will give your room a beautiful, balanced look. It is also important that the width of the lamp shade should not be as long as the height of the lamp. If the shade is tapered, then you should measure the diameter as the widest part of the shade.

Step 5: Which of the Shade Shapes and Fitters Works Best?

There are several different types of lamp shades that you should consider for your room:

1. Spider lamp shade fitter with a lamp harp: The default shape for most lamps, a spider fitter consists of a wire frame and washer in the center of the lamp shade that sits just inside the top. Another wire frame is then attached to the lamp’s base and they are secured together with a lamp finial that screws on top 
2. Clip-on lamp shade fitter: This wire frame sits inside the lamp shade and attaches directly to the lamp bulb. It doesn’t involve any extra hardware as it fits together with the correct size and shape of light bulb.
3. UNO Lamp Shade Fitter: This option slips onto the light bulb socket to hold up the lamp shade. In certain shapes, the frame has a threaded washer that screws onto the socket. Because they are more size-specific than other fitters, they require extra effort into finding a replacement when the time comes.

At Bel Furniture, we work hard to give you a home to love. Check us out online or stop into your nearest store to day and learn how we can help you build the home of your dreams. Don’t forget to check our weekly specials page to learn how you can save up to 80% on living room sets, dining room decor, bedroom furniture, and more.