Love the look of a pendant light, but there's no ceiling outlet where you want it? Renting, and not allowed to touch the wiring? A plug-in pendant light solves both. It hangs just like a ceiling pendant, but the cord runs to an ordinary wall socket, so you can put the light almost anywhere.
Here's how plug-in pendants work, where they look best, and how to hang one neatly.
What is a plug-in pendant light?
A plug-in pendant light (also called a swag light or plug-in hanging light) is a pendant with a long cord and a plug at the end instead of bare wires. The light hangs from a hook in the ceiling, the cord is guided across the ceiling and down the wall, and you plug it into a socket. You turn it on and off with a switch on the cord.
Plug-in or ceiling wiring?
| Plug-in | Ceiling wiring | |
|---|---|---|
| How it connects | Wall socket | Your home's electrical wiring, at a ceiling outlet |
| Electrician needed? | No | Usually yes |
| Where it can hang | Almost anywhere within reach of the cord | Only where there is a ceiling outlet |
| Switch | On the cord | Your wall switch |
| Look | Visible cord across the ceiling and wall | Clean, with only a ceiling cup |
| Moving house | Take it with you and plug it in again | Needs to be disconnected |
Choose ceiling wiring if you already have an outlet in the right place and want the cleanest look. Choose plug-in if you don't, if you rent, or if you'd like to move the light later.
Where a plug-in pendant works best
- Over a dining table that isn't under the ceiling outlet. Very often the outlet is in the middle of the room and the table is somewhere else. A plug-in pendant hangs exactly above the table.
- In a rented home. No rewiring, and you can take the light with you when you move.
- Beside or above the bed. A pendant instead of a bedside table light frees up the table, and the switch on the cord stays within reach.
- In a reading corner or home office. Hang it over an armchair or desk where there's no ceiling light.
- Over a kitchen island or counter when the outlet is in the wrong place.
Above an armchair, with the cord running along the ceiling and down the wall. Customer photo.
How to hang a plug-in pendant neatly
- Choose the spot. Decide where the light should hang, then check that the cord reaches from there to a socket, following the path it will take across the ceiling and down the wall.
- Fix a ceiling hook above the spot. Use a hook and plug suited to your ceiling (wood, concrete or plasterboard). Your local hardware store can help you choose.
- Set the height. A common rule of thumb over a dining table is about 75–90 cm (30–36") between the tabletop and the bottom of the light. Over a bed or in a walkway, hang it high enough that nobody bumps their head.
- Guide the cord. Loop the cord over a second hook near the wall (this gentle loop is where the name "swag light" comes from), or run it straight along the ceiling with small cord clips.
- Tidy the wall. Run the cord down the corner of the wall or along a door frame and hold it with clips, so it reads as part of the design.
- Plug in and switch on.
A textile cord looks good on show, so many people choose a black or white cord that matches the wall instead of hiding it.
Hung from a ceiling hook over a daybed, with the cord looped down the wall. Customer photo.
The cord runs down the wall to the switch and the socket. Customer photo.
Which bulb to use
Our pendants take a standard E26/E27 bulb and work with 110–240V, so they suit homes in the USA, Canada, the UK, the EU and Australia. Use an LED bulb of up to 25W. A 13W LED gives about 1,600 lumens, roughly as bright as an old 100W bulb, which is plenty for a dining table. Our lights work with a dimmer if you use a dimmable bulb. If you'd like the warm glow you see in our photos, choose a warm white bulb.
A Teardrop pendant in walnut, lit in the evening. Customer photo.
Our plug-in wooden pendants
Almost every pendant in our shop can be ordered as a plug-in. When you choose your options, pick "Plug-in" and a black or white cord. You'll get:
- a 380 cm (149.6") textile-covered cord, long enough to reach across the ceiling and down to a socket
- an on/off switch on the cord
- a plug fitted for your country
- a longer cord if you need one: just send us a message
Martin with a reel of the textile cord we use, in our workshop in Klaipėda.
Each pendant is laser-cut in our workshop in Klaipėda, Lithuania, from engineered wood (HDF) with an oak or walnut finish, and handmade to order. It arrives flat-packed and the pieces click together without glue. Clear instructions are included.
Free worldwide shipping by FedEx. For the USA and the EU, import duties are already included in the price.
See all our wooden pendant lights or start with the Medusa, Crown, Ellipse or Teardrop.
Quick answers
Do I need an electrician for a plug-in pendant?
No. You only need a ceiling hook and a wall socket within reach of the cord.
How long is the cord?
380 cm (149.6"). If you need it longer, message us before or after you order.
Can I turn it on and off without unplugging it?
Yes, there's an on/off switch on the cord.
Is the bulb included?
No. Use any E26/E27 LED bulb up to 25W.
Will it work in my country?
Yes. The light works with 110–240V and comes with the plug used in your country.
Questions about where to hang your pendant? Write to us at sales@mastercraft-shop.com. We're happy to help.