Bathroom Sconce Height Calculator
Enter your mirror and the fixture you like, and get the mounting height, the spacing for a pair and a check against the tub and shower zone. Every number comes from the published placement rules listed under the calculator.
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How the calculator works
It applies the placement rules published by lighting makers and the US electrical code, and nothing else. Heights are measured from the finished floor to the center of the fixture, and spacing from the center of one fixture to the center of the other.
For a pair beside the mirror, the spacing is the mirror width, plus the clear gap on each side, plus the width of one fixture. The sources say to leave 2 to 6 inches "from the mirror edge" without saying whether that runs to the fixture's edge or its middle; this calculator reads it as clear space to the edge of the fixture, which is how the pieces sit on the wall. A 30 in mirror with a 6 in gap and a 5 in fixture gives 47 in from the middle of one fixture to the middle of the other.
It is placement guidance, not electrical advice. Wiring, boxes, damp ratings and the tub zone are for a licensed electrician and your local code to confirm.
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Beside a mirror, center height | 60 to 65 in | Schoolhouse, Visual Comfort |
| Taller household or high ceiling | Up to 68 in | Edward Martin |
| Low ceiling or compact vanity | 60 to 62 in | Edward Martin |
| Vanity used sitting down | 52 to 66 in | Golden Lighting |
| Above a mirror | 75 to 84 in | Schoolhouse, Golden Lighting |
| Gap to the mirror edge | 2 to 3 in under 24 in wide, otherwise 4 to 6 in | Edward Martin |
| Pair spacing, center to center | 28 to 34 in | Edward Martin, Golden Lighting |
| Linear light above a mirror | At least 3/4 of the mirror width, not past its edges | Visual Comfort |
| Tub and shower zone | 3 ft across, 8 ft up from the rim or threshold | NEC 410.10(D), via EC&M |
- Schoolhouse, wall sconce placement
- Visual Comfort, wall light tips
- Edward Martin, sconces beside a bathroom mirror
- Golden Lighting, bathroom sconce placement
- EC&M, luminaires in bath and shower areas
The full explanation, with what to ask before buying a handmade sconce, is in our bathroom sconce height guide. Copper and brass wall lights with checked discount codes are on the lighting page.