TL;DR: Getting the chandelier size for a two-storey entryway in Australia right comes down to two numbers. For diameter, add the foyer's width and length in metres and read that total as centimetres, so a 3m x 4m entry points to a fixture around 70cm wide. For drop, choose an elongated spiral, ringed or rectangular chandelier tall enough to fill a 5-6m void while leaving at least 2.1m of clearance above the lowest walked floor. A licensed electrician installs it at height under AS/NZS 3000.
What Size Chandelier Do You Need for a Two-Storey Entryway or Void?
A double-height void is the one spot in an Australian home where a small fixture disappears and a generous one still looks intentional. The trick is matching both the width and the vertical drop to the space, then centring the piece so it reads well from the ground floor and the upper landing at once. This guide gives you the diameter maths, the drop maths and the clearance rules for standard 2.4-2.7m rooms, 3m-plus new builds and true 5-6m voids, plus the elongated fixtures that suit a stairwell. Wiring and the physical mount are always an electrician's job, so we focus on what to specify and what to confirm before install day.
How do you calculate chandelier diameter for a foyer?
Add the room's width and length in metres, then read the total as centimetres.
The standard sizing rule works anywhere: measure the entry's width and length in metres, add them, and treat the sum as a diameter in centimetres. A 3m x 3.5m foyer gives 6.5, pointing to a fixture near 65cm across; a wider 4m x 4m entry gives 8, or roughly 80cm. Because a void has so much air around it, you can size up to the higher end of the range without the piece feeling heavy. If a console table or round rug anchors the space, aim the fixture diameter to sit comfortably inside that footprint rather than overhang it. Browse the full chandeliers collection to compare diameters against your measured span.
How long should a chandelier hang in a two-storey void?
Fill roughly the middle third of the void and keep 2.1m of clearance above any walked floor.
Vertical drop is what separates a void chandelier from an ordinary ceiling light. In a 5-6m void, a proportional fixture or cascade often runs 1.5-2.5m from the ceiling so it visually occupies the space between the two storeys. Keep the lowest point at least 2.1m above the entry floor if people walk directly beneath it, and above head height over any stair tread. Where an upper window frames the void, centre the bottom of the fixture around the middle of that glazing so it greets you from the street and from the landing. An elongated piece like the 15-Light Spiral Strip LED Chandelier is built for exactly this: its staggered strands read as a single vertical column from every angle, which is why it suits tall foyers where a compact fixture would look stranded.
Which chandelier shape suits a stairwell versus an open void?
Match the fixture's silhouette to how the void is walked and viewed.
Over a staircase, a chandelier that cascades on a diagonal, hung so each tier steps down alongside the treads, keeps the light close to the stairs without blocking the sightline. The 10-Ring Spiral LED Chandelier does this well: its stacked rings can be set to spiral down the stairwell so the lowest ring sits near the mid-landing while the top anchors to the ceiling. For a narrow or rectangular void, a linear form follows the shape better than a round one; the 6-Frame Rectangular LED Chandelier stacks open frames vertically to fill height without widening into the walls. If you want traditional sparkle, a K9 crystal cascade such as the Elegant Spiral Crystal Chandelier throws refracted light across both storeys.
What size and light spec should you confirm before buying?
Check diameter, total drop, lamp base and colour temperature against your void.
Confirm the fixture's maximum drop can be shortened, because most spiral and strip fixtures ship with adjustable suspension so an electrician can set the final height on site. Note the lamp base: E27 and E14 screw fittings suit larger decorative globes, while integrated LED strips and G9 capsules give a cleaner, low-maintenance look at height where changing globes is awkward. For an entryway you greet guests in, warm 2700-3000K light flatters timber and stone, while a neutral 4000K reads crisper in a contemporary white void. Aim for a high CRI so colours stay true. Confirm the total assembled weight too, because the ceiling fixing has to be rated for it.
Chandelier size and shape by void type
| Void situation | Approx. height | Recommended fixture | Lume match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact two-storey foyer open to a landing | 4.5-5m | Elongated spiral strip drop | 15-Light Spiral Strip LED Chandelier |
| Stairwell void alongside the treads | 5-6m | Cascading ringed spiral | 10-Ring Spiral LED Chandelier |
| Narrow or rectangular void | 5m+ | Vertical rectangular frame | 6-Frame Rectangular LED Chandelier |
| Formal foyer wanting refracted sparkle | 5-6m+ | K9 crystal raindrop spiral | Elegant Spiral Crystal Chandelier |
Who installs a void chandelier, and what do you confirm?
A licensed electrician mounts and wires it at height under AS/NZS 3000.
Installing a chandelier in a double-height void means working at height on scaffold or a tower and making a mains connection, so it is a licensed electrician's job under AS/NZS 3000 (the Wiring Rules), never a DIY task. Your part is to confirm the fixing point before they arrive: the mounting bracket must attach to a ceiling joist or a properly rated brace, not just plasterboard, and that fixing must be rated for the fixture's full assembled weight. If there is no existing ceiling point in the void, our guide on installing a chandelier with no existing ceiling point explains what the electrician will assess. Ask them to confirm the brace rating and the final hanging height while access equipment is in place, since returning later is costly.
Ready to choose? Start by measuring your void's width, length and full height, then shortlist a drop that fills the middle third of that space. Compare silhouettes and diameters across the Lume chandeliers collection, and if you are also sizing a fixture over a nearby dining setting, our chandelier size guide for a round dining table uses the same width-plus-length method. Then book a licensed electrician to confirm the mount and set the final height.
Frequently asked questions
What size chandelier suits a two-storey entryway?
Add the foyer's width and length in metres and read the total as centimetres for diameter, so a 3m x 4m entry suggests around 70cm. In a tall void, size to the upper end and choose an elongated or spiral fixture so the drop fills the vertical space.
How low should a chandelier hang in a void or stairwell?
In a 5-6m void the fixture often drops 1.5-2.5m to occupy the middle third. Keep the lowest point at least 2.1m above the entry floor where people walk, and above head height over any stair tread. Centre it in an upper window if one frames the void.
Can I install a void chandelier myself?
No. Working at height in a double-height void plus a mains connection makes it a licensed electrician's job under AS/NZS 3000. Confirm the bracket mounts to a joist or rated brace sized for the full weight, and leave all wiring and the physical fixing to the electrician.
What colour temperature works best in an entryway?
Warm 2700-3000K light suits timber, stone and a welcoming first impression, while neutral 4000K reads crisper in a white contemporary void. Choose a high-CRI fixture so finishes stay true, and add dimming if the foyer doubles as evening circulation space.
Does a taller void mean a wider chandelier?
Not automatically. Width still follows the room's width-plus-length figure, but height gives you room to add drop. In a void, prioritise a fixture with a long vertical cascade over a wide flat one so it fills the air between the two storeys.
Written by William Walker.