Best pendant light

Pendant lights are like spotlights you can add all over your home. We’ve gathered a collection of our favorites.

Best pendant light
(Image credit: @Kenny Eliason on Unsplash)

Do you want to bring more light to the room without adding another table lamp? Would you prefer dedicated lighting at your breakfast bar or stair landing? Pendant lights are an excellent choice in these situations and can illuminate entire rooms or just a specific area. We've gathered up our favorites so you can choose something to accent or match your home décor.  

Staff pick

pendant light

(Image credit: Amazon)

Westinghouse Lighting one-light mini pendant

Bubbles in the glass add extra charm to the room

This pendant is a vintage-inspired piece that adds a touch of industrial chic to any space with its brushed nickel finish and clear-seeded glass shade.

Pros:

  • Beautiful glass shades amplify the light
  • Easy to install
  • Affordable mood lighting
  • Dimmable

Cons:

  • Finish on cord varies by product
  • Glass shades are inconsistent
  • Cords are sometimes kinked

Get extra sparkle when your lightbulbs refract on the seeded glass of this mini pendant light. Ideal for the breakfast bar, this light would look best in sets and comes in four finishes to match your decor. It’s 60 inches long and supports 60-watt bulbs, which can be any style of your choosing thanks to the wide-open base. 

Pull it up

pendant light

(Image credit: Amazon)

Westinghouse Lighting three-light pulley pendant

Adjust the height of this light anytime

A timeless classic that adds warmth and coziness to any room with its vintage Edison bulbs, decorative industrial pulleys, and matte black finish.

Pros:

  • Statement piece for any room
  • Made of high-quality materials
  • Great value for the price

Cons:

  • Wire is really stiff & kinks easily
  • Fixture is heavy and takes two to install
  • Installation can be difficult

Make a statement with this three-light pendant with a pulley design. Add three of your favorite style 60-watt bulbs, and you'll have enough light for your kitchen island, dining room table, or game room. Unlike most pendant lighting, the pulley system on this one is actually functional, allowing you to adjust the height as necessary.

Clearly there

pendant light

(Image credit: Amazon)

Claxy ecopower pendant lighting

Fill an area with light, not visual clutter

Adds a touch of sophistication to any space with its brushed metal finish and clear glass shade.

Pros:

  • Bright lighting
  • Affordable
  • Well-made

Cons:

  • Might need to buy additional hardware for mounting
  • Inconsistency in glass shades
  • Shades sometimes crooked

This clear glass pendant light will allow you to show off fancy Edison-style bulbs in your kitchen seating area. The metal caps at the top are offered in three finish options to match your cabinet hardware. You could also use this pendant light solo over a breakfast nook table, providing plenty of brightness to enjoy small meals. 

Geometric style

Metal pendant light.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Femony pendant light

Industrial lighting for any room

Features a unique geometric design with an antique brass finish for an industrial chic look.

Pros:

  • Great value
  • Stylish and durable
  • Adjustable height and easy installation

Cons:

  • Hardware is a different finish that the fixture
  • Cords take a long time to straighten out
  • Metal cover is smaller than standard electrical box

This pendant light is a classic and timeless piece that can be used in any room. The vintage Edison bulb adds a warm and cozy feel, while the antique brass finish and cage design add a touch of industrial chic. The cage design provides a perfect balance of light and shadow.

Moody hue

Metal pendant light.

(Image credit: Amazon)

MgLoyht pendant lighting

Matte black and metallics

This light features a matte black finish and a vintage-inspired design, perfect for adding a touch of industrial style to any space.

Pros:

  • Easy to install
  • Adjustable length
  • Black matte shades don't show dust as quickly

Cons:

  • Darker than expected
  • Uses 25-watt bulb; dim lighting
  • Some may arrive scratched and dented

These matte black pendant lights are also black on the inside, adding a touch of personality to any space. They can hang a little over 47 inches long, making them a good match for kitchens and dining areas. Choosing this two-pack of lights is an easy way to make a space look retro-chic without breaking the bank. 

Industrial chic

pendant light

(Image credit: Amazon)

Q&S Farmhouse black globe cage industrial rustic metal pendant hanging light

Warm reflections on cold material

This pendant light provides a simple and elegant look with its wood or metal finish and cage design, and its adjustable cord allows for customization to fit any space.

Pros:

  • Easy to hang
  • Elicit many compliments
  • Well-made out of quality materials

Cons:

  • Smaller than expected
  • Cord is black regardless of fixture color

A good choice for hanging a solo pendant light, or even a small set, this option will definitely attract the eye upward. Your light bulb of choice will be encircled with dark metal bands, which will reflect a warmer light into the room. The length of the cord is 51 inches at its maximum and can be adjusted to hang higher above your desired spot. 

Light the space

Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

It’s easy to keep your kitchen, living, and dining room spaces fully illuminated with the right pendant light. Our favorite is the Westinghouse Lighting one-light mini pendant because of the seeded glass. The tiny air bubbles help refract light, so bulbs will seem brighter than they really are, and it’s a cool effect to look at. We also found the different metal cap finishes to be a nice touch, helping to incorporate the light into your pre-existing decor.

For a really big statement, consider the Westinghouse Lighting three-light pulley pendant. It’s completely functional when installed properly and can be height adjusted at a moment’s notice. This feature is especially useful in the dining room when a leaf is added to a table, and your guests may need to walk around without fear of bumping their heads. 

Why trust us?

 At Real Homes, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Freelance Writer

Nicole Cozma is a freelance writer for Future. She's known for being inquisitive and finding the tiny details that may otherwise go unnoticed. When she's not writing about products, she can be found playing Blizzard game titles, doing copy editing work, cooking, or expanding her photography skills.