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Lantern Sizing Guide

How to size lanterns for your front door. 

Simple rules, real examples, and expert tips to get the perfect fit.

Choosing the right size gas or electric lantern is one of the most important decisions when designing your home’s exterior lighting. A lantern that’s too small will look out of place, while one that’s too large can overwhelm the space.

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This guide will walk you through simple, proven rules to help you select the perfect size lantern for your front door, garage, and outdoor spaces.

STANDARD SIZING RULE (FRONT DOOR)

How Big Should a Gas Lantern Be? 

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A good rule of thumb:​

Your lantern height should be about 1/3 to 1/4 the height of your door

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Example:

  • 8 ft door (96”) → lantern should be 24”–30” tall

  • 10 ft door (120”) → lantern should be 30”–36” tall​

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This keeps the proportions balanced and visually appealing.

Magnolia Lanterns by Front Door

SINGLE VS DOUBLE LANTERNS

When to Use One Lantern

Use a single lantern when:

  • The door is centered with limited wall space

  • The entry is narrow

  • You want a more traditional look​​​

Oxford Gas Lantern.jpg

When to Use Two Lanterns

Use two lanterns when:

  • You have enough space on both sides of the door

  • The home has a larger or more symmetrical entry

  • You want a more upscale, balanced appearance

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* Most homes look best with two properly sized lanterns

Aspen Gas Lanterns

MOUNTING HEIGHT

Where Should Gas Lanterns Be Mounted?

  • ​​Mount the bottom of the lantern 66”–72” from the ground

  • Center the lantern vertically near the middle of the door

    This ensures:

  • Proper light distribution

  • Correct visual proportion

GARAGE LANTERN SIZING

How to Size Lanterns for Garage Doors

Follow this rule:

Lantern height = 1/3 the height of the garage door

Example:

  • Standard 7 ft garage (84”) → lantern = 20”–28”

Placement Tips:

  • Mount on each side of the garage door

  • Keep spacing consistent across multiple doors

Quebec copper lantern next to garage
Madison by Garage_edited_edited_edited.j
Chesapeake Lanterns by Garage
Trinity Electric Lanterns by garage

SPACING BETWEEN LANTERNS

How Far Apart Should Lanterns Be?

For double lantern setups:

* Keep lanterns 6”–12” away from the door frame

For larger entries:

  • You can go wider, but keep symmetry

* The goal is balance, not too tight, not too spread out

ARCHITECTURE MATTERS

Not all homes follow the same rules.

Traditional / French / New Orleans Style:

  • Slightly larger lanterns look better

  • More presence = more character

Magolia Traditional Lantern
Sarasota and Biloxi Traditional Lantern

Modern Homes:

  • Slightly smaller, cleaner proportions

  • Simpler designs

* When in doubt, go slightly larger. Undersized lanterns are the most common mistake.

Trinity Modern Lantern
Oxford Modern Lanterns

COMMON MISTAKES

  • Choosing lanterns that are too small

  • Mounting lanterns too high

  • Placing lanterns too far from the door

  • Not matching scale to the home

NEED HELP SIZING YOUR LANTERNS?

Choosing the right size doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’re unsure, we’re happy to help.​

Email us a photo of your plans and we will recommend the right size.

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