Bathroom Vanity Lights

Bathroom Vanity Lights

Bathrooms need more light than people expect and more protection than people check. Both of those get handled here.

Damp rated or wet rated?

  • Damp rated — fine for the vanity area, the ceiling, and anywhere outside the shower.
  • Wet rated — required directly over a shower or a tub, where water can actually land on the fixture.

An unrated fixture in a bathroom is a code violation and a real hazard. Check the label before you buy, not after.

Sizing the vanity bar

Mirror width Bar width Or use
24 in 18 – 22 in 2 sconces
36 in 24 – 30 in 2 sconces
48 in 30 – 36 in 2 sconces or a 3-light bar
60 in (double) 2 bars, or 2 – 3 sconces One over each basin

The bar should always be narrower than the mirror. Mount it 3 to 6 inches above the mirror's top edge, or around 78 inches from the floor.

How much light a bathroom needs

Aim for 4,000 to 8,000 lumens total in a full bathroom — considerably more than a bedroom. Split it between the vanity, a ceiling fixture, and a wet-rated light in the shower if there is one. Use 3000K to 4000K, and CRI 90 or above so colours read accurately.

Do not rely on one ceiling light

A single fixture overhead leaves the face in shadow. The vanity needs its own light source. That is the whole reason vanity bars and bathroom sconces exist.

Related

For the mirror itself, see mirror lights. For the ceiling, see residential ceiling lights.