How Tall Should Bedside Table Lamps Be?

Choose whether a bed lamp is for reading or strictly for mood.

Choose 20 Inches for Task Lighting

Choose a task lamp for reading.

Ample task lighting enhances bedtime reading and journal writing. The distance from the mattress to the bottom edge of the lamp shade should be approximately 20 inches. Retro-fit a taller lamp by changing or adjusting the shade.

Not Everyone Reads in Bed

Be creative with mood lighting.

If mood lighting is desired, choose lamps for looks over function. Choose a lamp with a 22-inch or taller shade clearance, if nightly grooming tasks are performed with the aid of its diffused light. If illumination is strictly decorative, an accent lamp of any height that looks harmonious in scale to the nightstand or bed suffices.

Bottom Line

Make your eyes comfortable with proper task lighting.

According to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, dim lighting does not damage the eyes, "but most people are more comfortable reading with proper lighting which is bright enough to provide good illumination but not so bright as to cause glare." Choose a task lamp over a strictly decorative model to create a restful and comfortable bedroom.