Bathroom Recessed Lighting Layout — Fixture Count, Placement, and Safety Guide
Room details
Reflected ceiling plan
80 ft² at a 40 fc target needs 3,200 total lumens, which is 4 fixtures at 1000 lm each. That already fills a complete, evenly spaced grid.
The calculator above defaults to the bathroom target of 40 fc — adjust dimensions to match your own room.
A typical 8×10 bathroom needs about 3 recessed lights at 40 foot-candles. The bathroom is the one room where fixture rating matters as much as layout — everything inside the shower or directly above the tub needs a wet-location rating, and the rest of the room needs at least damp-location.
Ratings by zone
Wet- and Damp-Location Ratings by Zone
| Zone | Required Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inside shower enclosure | Wet-location | Sealed lens required |
| Directly above tub | Wet-location | Within direct spray path |
| General bathroom ceiling | Damp-location | Minimum for humid rooms |
| Vanity / mirror area | Damp-location | 90+ CRI recommended |
Vanity placement
Placing Vanity and General Bathroom Light
Avoiding the single-downlight mistake
A single downlight centered above the mirror is the most common bathroom lighting mistake — it lights the top of the head and puts the face in shadow. Two fixtures 24–30 inches apart flanking the mirror, or a ceiling grid paired with eye-level sconces, gives even, flattering light for both grooming and makeup.
Specify a CRI of 90 or higher here specifically — more than almost any other room, color accuracy is what makes the difference between how things look under this light and how they look under daylight outside.
Frequently asked questions
Bathroom Lighting FAQ
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How many recessed lights does a bathroom need?
Most bathrooms need 2–5 recessed lights at a 30–50 foot-candle target — a small bathroom may need only 2–3, while a larger bathroom with a separate shower and vanity area needs 4–5.
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Do bathroom recessed lights need to be IC-rated?
Yes, if the fixture sits in an insulated ceiling — the top floor of a home or a ceiling under an attic. IC-rated fixtures are safe against direct contact with attic insulation; non-IC fixtures need an 8-inch clearance.
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What rating do shower and tub lights need?
Anything inside a shower stall or directly above a bathtub must be wet-location rated with a sealed lens. The rest of the bathroom needs at least a damp-location rating, since humidity alone will degrade a standard housing over time.
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Where should vanity lighting go?
Don't rely on a single downlight centered in front of the mirror — it lights the top of the head and casts a shadow on the face. Place two fixtures 24–30 inches apart on either side of the mirror, or pair the ceiling grid with eye-level wall sconces.
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What color temperature and CRI are best for a bathroom?
3000K–4000K is standard, and a CRI of 90 or higher is worth specifying — color accuracy is the difference between makeup or shaving looking right at home and wrong in daylight outside.
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How close can a recessed light be to a shower?
A fixture inside the shower enclosure itself must be wet-location rated. Fixtures just outside the enclosure, in the general bathroom ceiling, only need a damp-location rating as long as they are outside the direct spray path.