The best way to measure recessed lighting
Measurements are the essence of any decorating project, whether you plan to purchase new house interiors or create a unique design for your office. By knowing how to measure recessed lighting size, you can avoid making mistakes when installing your modern led lights fixture and being visible when ordering the wrong parts. Measuring your lighting size might sound complex, but it’s not that complicated.
How Do I Know What Size Recessed Lights I Have?
The easiest way to determine your lighting size is to measure the diameter across the center from edge to edge. Next you measure the height. You’ll need a tape measure, calculator, or pencil and paper. Using the tape measure, measure from the center of the outlet box to the center hole in each housing. Your compact fluorescent lights will all have similar measurements and take common light bulb sizes if you’re lucky. If not, though, you may need to convert between different sizes. There are several ways to measure it, and they are namely:
1. Housing Height/Depth
The housing height is the distance from the ceiling to the bottom of the diffuser. The housing depth is the distance from one side of the housing to the other, measuring at right angles to the front face. Using simple formula, the general rule of thumb, the higher the housing height is positioned in relation to the ceiling, the larger the number of lumens will be reflected downward. The housing depth has more effect on lighting distribution than just thickness because it also affects the amount of light that can escape up through the edges/surrounding surfaces. Most residential light housings have a depth of 4 inches.
2. Maximum Wattage
The maximum wattage of a lighting system is essential when determining how both your energy costs and the amount of light you need to illuminate your space. For example, the Energy Star rated GE Lighting Multi-Link MR16 led bulbs and led retrofit uses 30 watts compared to standard incandescent bulbs that uses 40 watts. Currently running two of these high-wattage bulbs, you can replace them with this lighting product to achieve the same brightness with less energy used. The maximum wattage of a lighting system is the total wattage of all the bulbs you can use. A 100-watt maximum means you can use up to 25 100-watt bulbs before exceeding the limit controlled by circuit breaker, which would be 2,500 watts. The maximum wattage of this product can be calculated by multiplying the length and width of your room to find its square footage. Then, divide that number by 12 to get the maximum wattage needed.
3. Efficiency
Efficiency refers to the “quality” of the light output, which measures lumens per watt. It is calculated in two ways: lumens per watt and watts per foot-candle. Lumens per watt measure how much larger lights you get from your combination of the low voltage bulbs; watts per foot-candles tell you how much energy a specific area bulb needs to produce much light. The higher the lumen-to-watt ratio, the more efficient the light will be. This way, you can choose a bulb with the correct brightness while giving off minimal heat and energy consumption.
The Wrong Way to Measure Recessed Lights
When purchasing there are many factors to consider, including size and location. People’s most common mistake when installing is measuring the lightbox size. This can lead to many extra costs because you will have to buy a more prominent fixture than you need, and there is no reason. When measuring, make sure to measure the inside diameter of the trim or housing. A common mistake is to measure the outside of the trim options, giving you a more extensive (inaccurate) measurement. Another mistake is to measure the diameter of the cut-out opening in the dry wall wash. Again, this will be larger than the housing inside those fits in the hole.
What Is the Most Common Size for Recessed Lighting?
Recessed lighting has become a more common feature in modern homes. These lights can be either flush mount or semi-flush mounted, but the size is an important distinction to make when choosing lighting needs system for your home. The lens diameter can further categorize recessed light sizes, often included in a light’s name. There are many different sizes including lighting cans and cabinet lights, dutch lights, track lighting, and more. There are a variety of residential recessed light sizes, namely:
1. 4-Inch Recessed Lights
They are commonly used in closets, hallways, and bathrooms. This size is great for residential uses. In residential construction. They are sized as per general guidelines to fit standard ceiling height, generally 8 feet high. A common rule of thumb is to choose a lighting kit that’s at least as large as the 4-inch square space it’ll be installed in. In other words, 4-inch lights body would go into a 4-inch square recessed ceiling opening.
2. 5-Inch Recessed Lights
They are the most popular size for a residential downlights project. The 5-inch lights size offers a good balance of brightness and space. They can also be used to highlight areas of the room and can serve as task lights because it’s narrow and can fit into existing fixtures without modification. Because they are relatively small, 5-inch they are best used to light up small or medium-sized rooms. This size light is used as task lighting or accent lighting in most cases. They are an excellent choice if you need for ceiling lights or have a lot of wraparound surface area.
3. 6-Inch Recessed Lights
They are most commonly used in residential sizes and other living spaces. They have a diameter of 6 inches and can be used as either downlight or up lights. The light that you can install inside the height of your ceiling of your home is known as recessed lighting fixtures. There are common sizes and styles, but the most common size is 6 inches. The casing and backplate on the light are typically 1 inch thick, allowing little space for the wiring. Commonly used for general lighting in kitchen sink, bathrooms to illuminate the shower or even closets for extra light source. The average size of 6-inch is 15 x 25 inches. The measurement of an opening in the low ceiling where a 6-inch recessed light can be installed should be at least 15 inches wide and 25 inches high.
However, there are fewer smaller standard size. They are:
1. 2-Inch And 3-Inch Recessed Lights
The 2-inch size is most commonly used for downlights and smaller fixtures, while the larger 3-inch size works well in large rooms with higher ceilings. Installation diameter: 2-inch and 3-inch smaller lights have the same basic shape. However, the smaller light has a smaller mounting flange on top of focal point, which means it is not as easy to install as the larger size. The larger light is also easier to modify (adjustable trim ring) if changes are needed.
2. 8-Inch Recessed Lights
This 8-Inch Recessed Light uses a polycarbonate lens and comes in both white and bronze. These lights are Energy Star rated and look great and provide great option in several different settings. 8-Inch recessed lights are ideal for any room in your home. They’re common in bathrooms and closets but can also be used in bedrooms and garages. 8-inch lights are usually found in lower ceilings 9 to 24 feet high hats and can be installed almost anywhere there’s a place for a drop ceiling.
3. Canless LED Recessed Light Sizes
Lighter than many other types of lighting, Canless LED fixtures are available in common sizes for use in custom-built homes. These lights’ energy savings and longer life make them great for replacing existing light fixtures. Residential can lights LED lighting has a few different sizes. The most common residential Canless LED recessed light sizes are 5″ x 5″, 6″ x 6″ and 7″ x 7″ but you can also find an 8″ x 8″, 9″ x 9″, 10″ x 10″, 11″ x 11″. The difference in the size of the fixture depends on how much power it uses, not on its brightness.
Is There a Standard Size for Recessed Lighting?
There is a standard size for recessed lighting, but most of the time, you can customize the size depending on how your home or business needs. majority of these fixtures utilize one of three standard measurements: 4″x4″, 6″x6″, and 8″x8″. Fixtures can be mounted with small or large bulbs. Recessed lighting is one of the newest innovations in interior design. It offers lighting for various rooms within the home and can be used for anything from basic pot lights to sophisticated fixtures that control light levels and color temperature. While it isn’t standard, it does come in specific standard sizes suited for different room types.
How Much Area Does a 6 Inch Recessed Light Cover?
This quick calculator will help you know how much area a 6-inch recessed light will cover in your kitchen countertop lighting, dining room, or living room. Enter the length, width, and height of the ceiling dimensions of the room you plan to add lighting layout and choose from 3 different ceiling joists thicknesses. The cost of installing can vary greatly depending on the size of your wall wash and the location of the recessed fixture in a room. A 6-inch light typically covers an area measuring about 12 square feet of ceiling space. However, the physical dimensions of 6-inch lights may vary. The number represents a standard size for the lighting fixtures. This means that whether it is 6 inches or 9 inches, you can expect one wick to take up approximately 25% of the work area. This may change based on the shape of your room and how high you position the light power source itself. It is available in both incandescent lights and CFL options.
Final Thoughts
Finding the best-recessed lighting sizes for your home is just as important as compared to new construction as choosing the right type of lighting plan for your ceiling with the right starting point plan. It adds a lot to a room, but if its size is too big or too small for your ceiling, it may not look as appealing. You can quickly determine which sizes are appropriate for your home and ambient lighting needs by measuring your ceiling space. There are three main factors that you have to consider when you are measuring the size of your lighting.
