Recessed lights for a 16 × 20 ft kitchen with a 11 ft ceiling
| Layoutacross the 16 ft dimension × along the 20 ft dimension | 3 × 4 |
|---|---|
| Spacing (rule of thumb)half of the 11 ft ceiling | 5.5ft |
| Actual spacing to mark outafter rounding to whole fixtures | 5.3 × 5ft |
| First light from the wallhalf a spacing — closer washes the wall, further leaves dark corners | 2.7 × 2.5ft |
| Room area | 320ft² |
| Target light levelgeneral light — counters need task lighting on top | 35fc |
| Total lumens needed | 11,200lm |
| Lumens per fixtureabout 12 W each in LED | 933lm |
- Room width
- 16 ft
- Room length
- 20 ft
- Ceiling height
- 11 ft
- Room
- kitchen
The grid
Spacing for recessed cans is ceiling height divided by two. A 11 ft ceiling gives 5.5 ft, which across a 16 × 20 ft room works out to a 3 × 4 grid — 12 lights.
Rounding to whole fixtures moves the real spacing to 5.3 × 5 ft. Mark the ceiling off those numbers, not off the rule of thumb. The first row sits 2.7 ft from the wall — half a spacing. Closer and you get a bright band down the wall; further and the corners go dark.
What to buy, not just how many
320 ft² at 35 footcandles needs 11,200 lumens in the room, which is 933 lumens per fixture — around 12 W in LED.
That is the number to shop by, and it is the one most layout calculators leave out. A 4″ LED downlight typically runs 600–800 lm; a 6″ runs 800–1,200 lm.
Before you cut
Find the joists first. A 3 × 4 grid rarely lands clear of framing on the first attempt, and shifting a can six inches to miss a joist is invisible once the trim is on. Put the whole layout on a dimmer while the wiring is open — it costs almost nothing then and cannot be added cheaply later.
Notes
- The spacing rule is ceiling height ÷ 2, which gives 5.5 ft here. Rounding to whole fixtures moves it to 5.3 × 5 ft — mark the ceiling off the real numbers, not the rule.
- 933 lumens per can is the figure to shop by. A 4″ LED downlight typically runs 600–800 lm and a 6″ runs 800–1,200 lm, so either size covers it.
- Kitchen is a task space. 35 fc is the general level — countertops, desks and mirrors still need their own light. Ceiling cans alone put the light behind you and your own shadow onto the work.
- Put them on a dimmer. It costs almost nothing at install, and it is the difference between a ceiling that works at dinner and one that works at 11pm.
- Check the joists before marking. A 3 × 4 grid rarely lands clear of framing on the first try, and moving a can 6 inches to miss a joist is invisible once the trim is on.
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Read more
- 2700K vs 3000K: A Difference You Only See Side by SideShown separately, almost nobody can tell 2700K from 3000K. Shown together, everybody can. That single fact decides how you should buy them.
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