Bedside wall light height: the measurement that matters for good reading

Allow 60 to 75 cm between the top of the mattress and the centre of an adjustable reading wall light. Measure from the mattress, never from the floor: this distance decides whether the light falls on the pages or straight into your eyes. A fixed wall light goes higher, around 90 to 110 cm.

What height for a bedside wall light?

Aim for 60 to 75 cm above the mattress for an adjustable reading light, and rather 90 to 110 cm for a fixed wall light that spreads light widely. The range narrows according to the thickness of your mattress and your sitting position. A measurement taken from the floor shifts as soon as the bed base or mattress changes.

Depending on the depth of your headboard, a compact wall light, a standard version or a large format does not project the same distance from the wall. The bedside wall light collection has 952 references as of 28 September 2026: enough to find the right projection without compromising on style. For a bedroom to renovate as a whole, our bedroom renovation guide sets out the measurements before the work.

Headboard wall light height: the measurement is taken from the mattress

Lay the tape measure flat on the mattress, not against the wall: the tape follows the surface you sit on.

• Actual sitting position: sit with your back to the wall, shoulders relaxed, as if reading.
• Zero point: the top of the mattress, directly below your shoulder.
• Centre of the wall light: 60 to 75 cm above this zero point.
• Reading reach: an adjustable arm extends 15 to 25 cm, a flush model lights more widely.

This method avoids the classic high bed mistake: a measurement from the floor gives a wall light that is too low as soon as the bed base is raised. Our article on the headboard wall light details this case.

Standard bedside wall light height: the references that hold

Two measurements come up from one bedroom to the next: 60 to 75 cm for a reading light, 90 to 110 cm for a fixed wall light. Across a survey of 58 references in our catalogue as of 28 September 2026, 91% declare wall mounting and 98% an IP20 protection rating, the indoor protection.

• High bed: +5 cm on the range, the sitting position rises.
• Thick headboard: measure from the front face of the upholstery.
• Shared bedroom: identical measurement on both sides, to the centimetre.
• Stud partition: suitable plug, the weight of a wall light remains moderate.

General references, outside the bedroom, are gathered in our guide on wall light height.

How do you install wall lights above a bed?

First mark the axis of the bed, not the wall: it is what governs symmetry. Then transfer the same measurement from the mattress for each wall light, check with a spirit level, then check the spacing with a tape measure between the two points. An installation is decided by the preparation, not by the drill.

One side or two: symmetry and spacing

A single wall light suits a solo bedroom; two wall lights are justified as soon as two people read.

• Spacing: 100 to 140 cm between the two centres, depending on the width of the bed.
• Alignment: align both fixtures horizontally, visible at first glance.
• Double bed: one wall light per sleeper, never a single one in the centre.
• Small bedroom: prefer flat shapes that do not encroach on circulation.

For an adult, a matching pair in adult bedroom wall light settles the question of visual balance. A more decorative look comes from wall lights with a more distinctive design. Our advice and inspiration show both approaches in situation.

Where should the switch be placed so it falls under your hand?

Allow 60 to 70 cm above the mattress, on the outer edge of the bed, at hand height when the elbow is slightly bent. A switch that is too high forces you to sit up, too low and you search for it blindly.

• Dominant hand: the side where you put the book down.
• Cord or pull cord: workable without an electrician, length adjusted.
• Bedside control: practical if the wall light stays fixed.
• Two-way switching: useful with a ceiling light controlled from the door.

Models with an integrated control can be found in our selection of wall lights with switch.

Which lamp for reading in bed?

An adjustable reading light for reading alone, a diffusing wall light if you also want ambient light. The choice depends less on style than on the direction of the beam: it is what decides whether the pages are readable and the sleeper spared.

Adjustable reading wall light or fixed diffusing wall light

The adjustable wall reading light concentrates the beam on the page and adjusts to the millimetre. A fixed wall light, on the other hand, lights the area and sets an ambience. A low-consumption LED wall lamp suits both uses, especially if the intensity is adjustable.

• Adjustable beam: reading alone without waking the other person.
• Wide diffusion: ambience and movement around the room.
• Dimmability: declared on 43% of the 41 listings surveyed as of 28 September 2026.
• Bulb holder: E27 on 53% of the 53 listings that declare it, practical for changing the bulb.

Warm white or neutral white: the temperature that does not prevent sleep

Stay between 2700 K and 3000 K for reading in the evening: this warm white tires the eye less and slows falling asleep less. A neutral white around 4000 K is reserved for tasks, not for bedtime. The light of the bedroom light fixture is chosen like a dosage.

• 2700 K: long reading, warm tint, cosy ambience.
• 3000 K: compromise between comfort and text sharpness.
• 4000 K: avoid just before sleeping.
• Power: 6 to 8 W is enough for a page, no need to light the room.

A bedroom light fixture set consistent with the reading light avoids mixing tints in the same room, and a well-thought-out bedside wall light extends the bed into a reading corner.

If the measurement still hesitates between two values, send us a photo of the wall with the height measured from the mattress: we validate your choice before the first drill hole. Simply describe your wall to us in a few lines.

How do you wire a wall light with a switch?

The wiring follows the existing power point, not the other way round. Switch off at the circuit breaker, identify the wires, connect on a connector block or terminal block, then switch back on to test. A wall light with a cable and plug avoids any connection, which solves many rented bedrooms.

Existing supply, DCL box or socket: the three cases

What to check before drilling

Three minutes of checking avoids drilling again next to it. Locate the conduits, check the nature of the substrate and prepare the equipment before climbing on the stepladder.

• Electrical conduits: detector or installation plan, never blindly.
• Nature of the substrate: plasterboard, concrete or brick require a different plug.
• Weight of the fixture: a fixed wall light requires a solid fixing, not a hook.
• Drilling point: mark in pencil after checking with a spirit level.

When drilling is not an option, a wall light without drilling solves the problem without a hole in the partition.