Front-Door Lighting Size GuideUpdated 2 hours ago

Front-door lighting has two jobs: light the entry properly, and give the front of the house the right scale.

For a standard entrance, a matching pair of sconces on either side of the door reads balanced and symmetrical.

Fixture size

Fixture height = approximately ¼–⅓ of the door height

For a standard 80" door: ¼ = 20", ⅓ = 27". A fixture around 20–27" tall is a reasonable starting range. (For a 210 cm door, that's roughly 53–70 cm.)

The front door is the one place where sizing up almost always looks better. The fixture is seen from the street, from a car, and from further away than anything inside the house, with the whole facade behind it. What looks large on the wall beside you reads as correct from the curb.

For double doors, larger entrances, or a tall facade, size up again.

Placement

• Matching sconces on either side of the door where the wall allows
• Position them to frame the doorway, not crowd it
• Center the fixture around 66" from the ground, adjusting for the door height and the surround
• With room for only one sconce, mount it on the handle side

Weather rating

Check the rating before you order.

• Damp rated: covered porches and other sheltered spots
• Wet rated, or IP65: direct exposure to rain, snow, and sun

An uncovered front door needs a wet-rated or IP65 fixture. The rating is on the product page under Dimensions & Specs.

Covered porches

A covered porch can take an overhead pendant or ceiling fixture alongside the wall sconces, which gives you layered light rather than one bright source.