Lampshade Size Calculator
Measure your lamp's base and get the shade size to look for. The calculator uses the rules of thumb in our lampshade size guide: a shade about twice as wide as the base and about two-thirds as tall.
How the calculator sizes it
- Shade bottom: about twice the width of the widest part of the lamp base.
- Shade height: about two-thirds of the base height, measured from the bottom of the lamp to the socket.
- Coverage: the shade should hide the socket and harp from a normal standing or sitting position.
- On a table: the shade should be no wider than the table it sits on.
- Shade sizes are listed top × bottom × height (some makers give the slant instead of the height), and the fitter — spider, UNO or clip-on — has to match your lamp.
Quick reference
| Base width | Base height (to the socket) | Shade bottom | Shade height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 in. | 15 in. | about 10 in. | about 10 in. |
| 6 in. | 18 in. | about 12 in. | about 12 in. |
| 7 in. | 20 in. | about 14 in. | about 13 in. |
| 8 in. | 22 in. | about 16 in. | about 15 in. |
| 9 in. | 24 in. | about 18 in. | about 16 in. |
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what size lampshade to buy?
Measure the widest part of the lamp base and its height from the bottom to the socket. Look for a shade about twice the base width at the bottom and about two-thirds of the base height.
How do you measure a lampshade?
Measure the top diameter, the bottom diameter and the height straight up the side. Listings give them as top × bottom × height — or slant, so check which.
What if the new shade sits too high or too low?
On a lamp with a spider fitter, the harp sets the height. A taller or shorter harp — they come in 1-inch steps — fixes a shade that shows the socket or the base's neck.