How to Place Your Recessed Lights Evenly (9 Simple Steps)

Recessed lights (or pot lights) are a perfect complement to a minimalist interior as they are both functional and discreet. A part of the installation process involves figuring out how to arrange them evenly for optimal lighting while also maintaining aesthetics.

Apply an appropriate spacing formula to distribute your recessed lights evenly. Start by determining the purpose of the recessed lights and then measure the space to determine how many pot lights you will need. Sketch out the plan so you can visualize the end result and then install it as planned.

This article will guide you through the process of achieving even spacing of recessed lights, and it includes valuable tips that you can use to simplify the process. I will also provide relevant examples to help you better understand.

1. Identify Your Lighting Needs

Recessed lights can be used for general, accent, or task lighting. Each of these lighting requirements will impact the placement and spacing methods you will use.

For general lighting, you will use the recessed lights as the primary light source in the selected space. In this case, you will need a spacing strategy that allows for even distribution of light throughout the room while eliminating shadows and dark spots.

Accent lighting highlights ornaments and artworks such as paintings, photographs, fireplaces, and flower pots. Recessed lights can also be used for accentuation and wall washing, which aims to draw attention or create a focal point around a particular object of interest.

Task lighting, on the other hand, is intended to illuminate a work area such as a kitchen countertop or a shaving mirror, or a reading desk, making it easier to attend to detail-oriented tasks associated with it.

You can also install recessed lights to fulfill any combination of the above-mentioned lighting requirements.

2. Measure the Perimeter of Your Ceiling

Now you need to determine the total square footage of your ceiling by measuring its length and width (in feet). Measuring in feet will make your work easier as you perform the necessary calculations for even spacing. Additionally, most measuring tools have the ability to measure in feet.

Measure your ceiling height (distance from floor to ceiling) as you might need this measurement in a future step.

I suggest measuring along a corner for more accurate measurements as it can be difficult to maintain a perfectly straight line when measuring against a wall.

You can use a standard measuring tape to measure smaller spaces. Using a measuring wheel or a 100-foot measuring tape might be more convenient for larger spaces.

By doing so, you will also get more accurate measurements. I recommend taking each measurement at least twice to avoid reading errors.

Use the measurements to calculate the total area of your ceiling using the formula (length x width). For example, if the ceiling length is 20 feet and the width is 40 feet, multiplying 20 by 40 will give you a total area of 800 square feet.

3. Draw a Sketch of the Plan for Better Visualization

A sketch will help you visualize the final design during the planning phase. Sketch the ceiling on graph paper, using the larger squares to represent distance in feet.

This will give you a better representation as it is to scale. Another advantage of using graph paper is maintaining accuracy, which is crucial when aiming to distribute your recessed lights evenly.

Additionally, you can sketch different ideas for the placement of the recessed lights and compare them to find the most ideal for your space.

Indicate the measurements previously taken (ceiling length and width) on the sketch. Don’t worry about adding the remaining details as you will add those as you progress.

4. Calculate the Required Total Wattage (for general lighting)

Wattage is the level of brightness produced by a light bulb, which you can calculate by considering some standard measurements. When determining the required total wattage for a room, consider the following important factors:

• The size of your room.
• The level of brightness you want to achieve in that room.
• The type of light bulbs you want to use (wattage, size, etc.).
• The height of your ceiling.

For normal ceilings (9 to 12 feet high), calculate the required total wattage by multiplying the ceiling area by 1.5. For example, if your ceiling has an area of 200 square feet, the required total wattage using the formula (area * 1.5) would be 300 watts.

To ensure the room is adequately bright, for high ceilings (higher than 12 feet), you will need a higher wattage. So multiply the room’s area by 3. For example, for 200 square feet, you would need 600 watts.

After determining the total wattage required in the room, you can accurately determine how many light bulbs you will need. The number of light bulbs will depend on the wattage of each bulb or the ones you want to use.

Use the formula above (required total wattage divided by wattage per light bulb) to determine the exact number of bulbs you will need.

A valuable tip here is to choose more prominent and higher wattage bulbs for high ceilings as they will keep the room bright enough and accentuate the ceiling. For standard ceilings, you can opt for smaller bulbs that create the illusion of a higher ceiling.

5. Determine the Number of Lights for Each Row and Column

Once you have figured out how many recessed lights you need to meet the wattage requirements in your space, you need to create an appropriate layout plan for even spacing.

One way to do this is to sketch different designs to see which one best fits the style and number of recessed lights you will be installing.

This method is best suited if you do not want to adhere to the conventional parallel rows. You can also draw inspiration by looking at different designs.

The second method is to distribute the lights in even parallel rows. For smaller or narrow spaces, it works well to arrange the lights in two rows.

However, for larger spaces, consider three or four rows to evenly distribute the light throughout the room.

Depending on the number of rows you choose, you can determine the number of lights per row using the formula (total number of recessed lights divided by the number of rows).

Remember to indicate this on your sketch for future reference.

6. Calculate the Distance of Your Recessed Lights from the Walls

By placing your recessed lights at the right distance from the walls, you will avoid unpleasant shadows and dark corners caused by improper spacing. Additionally, it is important to maintain aesthetics as this conveys the illusion of higher ceilings.

The first method is to place the recessed lights between 1.5 and 3 feet (18 to 36 inches) away from the walls. This standard distance will likely provide you with the best lighting effects by eliminating shadows and illuminating the walls.

The other method is to first establish the distance between each row of recessed lights (which I will explain in the next step), and then divide this distance by 2.

For example, if the distance between recessed lights is 4 feet (48 inches), the distance from the wall would be 2 feet (24 inches).

However, the second method may leave shadows and dark spots or corners if the distance of your recessed lights from the walls is more than 3 feet (36 inches). Therefore, I suggest using the first method to eliminate this risk.

7. Use the Spacing Formula to Calculate the Distance Between Recessed Lights (for general lighting)

The spacing formula will help you evenly distribute your recessed lights by giving you the exact measurements to use between the pot lights. The procedure requires that you divide the total number of lights per row by the length of the row.

However, before applying this formula, you need to take into account the distance between the wall and your recessed lights.

If you want to maintain similar measurements between recessed lights as between the wall and the lights, divide the number of lights per row by the total length of the ceiling. Then divide this length by (2) to obtain the distance between your first recessed light and the wall.

For a better understanding, here’s an example: If the ceiling length is 20 feet and each row has four lights, the distance between each pot light would be (20 feet divided by four lights), giving you 5 feet.

Then divide this by 2 to get the distance from the wall to the first light (on both sides of the row), which will be 2.5 feet.

On the other hand, if you want to use other measurements (for example, if you want to maintain the standard distance of 1.5 to 3 feet between the wall and the lighting), start by subtracting the distance between the wall and the lighting. Then divide the remaining length by the total number of lights per row.

For example, if the wall is 20 feet long and the first light is 2 feet away from the wall, subtract 4 feet from the total length, leaving you with 16 feet.

Assuming that the row requires four lights, divide 16 feet (row size minus the distance between the first lights on both sides and the wall) by four bulbs to determine the distance between the bulbs, which is 4 feet.

Remember to constantly update your sketch and note down all measurements for a precise reference during installation. It will also help you visualize the final appearance during planning.

8. Choose a Focal Point (for task and accent lighting)

The focal point is the work area or ornament you want to highlight through the recessed lights. Once you have identified a focal point, measure the distance from that point to the ceiling. That marks where the first pot light should go.

To evenly distribute the remaining recessed lights, divide the measured distance (from ceiling to focal point) by 4. The result will indicate the spacing between the central and remaining pot lights.

For example, if the distance between the focal point and the ceiling is 8 feet (96 inches), the remaining pot lights should have a distance of 2 feet (24 inches) from the central light.

You can also combine task and accent lighting with general lighting. In this case, the focal point marks the first light; you will need to apply the spacing formula as explained above.

9. Install Your Recessed Lights (preferably hire an expert)

Thoroughly go through your sketch, looking for any inconsistencies that you may need to address before installation. This will save you valuable time, energy, and resources that you would otherwise have to spend rectifying avoidable mistakes after the installation has already begun.

If you have no experience with installing recessed lights, it is best to hire a professional to do the job for you.

The installation process is quite technical as it requires expertise in sensitive tasks such as wiring and troubleshooting potential electrical hazards that you should not take risks with.

When choosing an expert, rely on verifiable recommendations from individuals who have previously used similar services. You can also search online for qualified professionals in your area.

However, it is best to exercise caution as some online reviews may not be legitimate (some service providers are susceptible to posting fake reviews to attract more customers).

An excellent way to filter out charlatans is to only approach registered and certified individuals.

Final Thoughts

Recessed lights are a great lighting alternative because they are elegant, subtle, and functional.

You don’t have to be an expert to distribute your recessed lights evenly. Following the recommended procedure will help you achieve the desired results.

As I mentioned, using a detailed sketch is important to help you visualize everything as you proceed. Additionally, it serves as a helpful reference point during installation as you may forget some details.

Lastly, there are multiple designs you can use, so you don’t have to adhere to the conventional parallel rows.