Plug In Pendant Lights

A plug in pendant light gives you a hanging light anywhere in a room, with no ceiling box and no electrician. The cord runs from the shade up to a hook in the ceiling, across to the wall and down to an ordinary outlet. That makes it the easiest way to light a bedside, a reading corner, a dining table in a rental or any spot where the wiring is in the wrong place.

How a plug in pendant works

Instead of being wired into a junction box, the pendant has a long cord with a plug and an in-line switch. You screw a hook into the ceiling where you want the light, hang the cord over it, and drape or clip the rest of the cord to the wall down to the outlet. More hooks let you route the cord along the ceiling to reach a light far from the outlet.

Our plug in pendants

Alise is a glass pendant that comes in a plug-in version with 2 hooks and a 4 m cord or 4 hooks and a 6 m cord. Maibrit comes in three designs, each in a 2-hook or 4-hook plug-in version. Avila comes as a single pendant or as a cluster of 3, 6 or 9 pendants, on a 4 m or 6 m cord. Alise and Maibrit also come in hardwired versions if you later get a ceiling box installed.

How high to hang it

Beside a bed, hang the bottom of the shade 20 to 24 inches above the nightstand, so the light falls on the table and the bulb stays out of your eyes when you lie down. Over a dining table, 30 to 36 inches above the tabletop. Anywhere people walk underneath, keep the bottom of the shade at least 7 feet above the floor.

Making the cord look intentional

Plan the route before you drill: the shortest straight line from the hook to the corner of the ceiling, then straight down to the outlet. Straight runs and right angles look deliberate; long loose loops look accidental. A swag, where the cord hangs in a soft curve between two hooks, is the other classic look. See our swag pendant lights.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an electrician?

No. You need a drill for the ceiling hooks and an outlet within reach of the cord.

Can I hang one in a rental?

Yes. Ceiling hooks leave small holes that are easy to fill when you move out.

How do I turn it on and off?

With the switch on the cord. If you want to use a wall switch instead, plug the pendant into an outlet controlled by that switch.

What if I would rather have a wall light?

See our plug-in wall sconces, which work the same way on a wall.

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