How to Light a Hallway with Wall Lights: Spacing, Height and Brightness
Spacing and quantity
| Hall length | Wall lights |
|---|---|
| Up to 2.5m | 1 or 2 |
| 2.5 to 4m | 2 or 3 |
| 4 to 6m | 3 or 4 |
| Longer | Space about every 2 to 2.5m |
Stagger lights on opposite walls in a wide hall, or keep a single line in a narrow one. The counts and spacings here are our rules of thumb rather than a standard. Fixed hall lights are an old idea: in larger Georgian houses they were candles in glass cases, on the wall or hung from the ceiling,[1] and some Victorian staircases were lit by newel lights.[2]
Height
Place the centre of the light at about 150 to 165cm so the glow sits at eye level without dazzling. Check the position against doors, radiators and frames. Keep the source out of direct sight lines to limit glare,[3] and on stairs site lights clear of the line of travel so they are not an impact risk.[4] If you hardwire, remember that the switch sits lower than the light: Approved Document M expects switches in new homes at 450 to 1200mm above the floor.[5]
Depth in narrow halls
Choose a shallow sconce where the hall is under about 1m wide. Look at the depth figure on each listing before ordering. Approved Document M expects a clear passage of 900mm in a hall approached head-on in new homes, and no less than 750mm at a local obstruction such as a radiator,[5] so every centimetre of depth counts in a narrow hall.
Pairing with other plaster details
Lights between door cases pair well with a pediment above the door. See styling a hallway with architectural details. Read wall light heights and spacing and how to power wall lights. Hardwired hall lights should be fitted or checked by a qualified electrician,[6][7] who works to BS 7671,[8] and you should check for hidden cables before drilling.[9]
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Frequently asked questions
How many wall lights do I need in a hallway?
About one every 1.5 to 2.5m along the length.
What height for hallway wall lights?
About 150 to 165cm to the centre.
Are battery wall lights suitable for a hall?
Yes, for soft ambient light. Hardwire if you want a switch.
Should wall lights be on both sides?
In a wide hall, staggering on both sides helps. In a narrow one, one side is enough.
Sources
References and further reading
Harvard style. Web pages were checked on the access date shown.
- Taylor, J. (1998) Light fittings in Georgian and early Victorian interiors. The Building Conservation Directory, Cathedral Communications. Available at: buildingconservation.com/articles/light98/georgian-lighti... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Taylor, J. (2000) Lighting in the Victorian home. The Building Conservation Directory, Cathedral Communications. Available at: buildingconservation.com/articles/lighting/lighting.htm (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Society of Light and Lighting (2022) SLL Code for Lighting. CIBSE. Available at: www.cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-portal/sll-cod... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (2017) LG16: Lighting for stairs. CIBSE. Available at: cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-portal/lighting-gu... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2015) Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M, Volume 1: Dwellings (2015 edition incorporating 2016 amendments). HM Government. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-and-use-of-b... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Electrical Safety First (n.d.) Part P of the Building Regulations. Electrical Safety First. Available at: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-a-registered-electr... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Electrical Safety First (n.d.) Choosing a registered electrician. Electrical Safety First. Available at: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-a-registered-electr... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Institution of Engineering and Technology (n.d.) BS 7671 - 18th Edition: the IET Wiring Regulations. IET. Available at: electrical.theiet.org/bs-7671/ (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Electrical Safety First (n.d.) Electrical safety advice for DIY-ers. Electrical Safety First. Available at: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/home-and-p... (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
How to cite this article
Tire, G. (2026) ‘How to Light a Hallway with Wall Lights: Spacing, Height and Brightness’, The Flare Journal. Flare Studio UK. Available at: https://flarestudio.uk/blogs/journal/how-to-light-a-hallway-with-wall-lights (Accessed: 12 November 2026).
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