Bathroom recessed lighting: bright, and rated for the wet
Bathrooms mix a general 20–40 foot-candle layer with the one place downlights genuinely fail: lighting a face in a mirror.
Quick answer
A typical 8′ × 10′ bathroom with an 8′ ceiling needs 4 six-inch LED downlights (2 × 2 grid, 4–5 ft spacing) for general lighting, with any fixture over a tub or shower carrying a wet-location rating. Light the mirror separately, from the sides.
Calculate your bathroom exactly →- Target level
- 20–40 fc general · 70–80 fc at the vanity
- Fixture spacing
- 3–5 ft between fixtures
- Beam angle
- 60° general; a lensed wet-rated trim over the shower
How many recessed lights for a bathroom?
| Room size | Ceiling | Fixtures | Layout | Light level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ × 8′ | 8′ | 3 fixtures | single row, ~2′-8″ spacing | ≈ 30 fc |
| 8′ × 10′ | 8′ | 4 fixtures | 2 × 2 grid, 4–5′ spacing | ≈ 22 fc |
| 10′ × 12′ | 9′ | 6 fixtures | 2 × 3 grid, 4–5′ spacing | ≈ 23 fc |
Reaching the full 70–80 fc vanity level from ceiling cans alone takes a dense cluster (about 10 fixtures over an 8′ × 10′ room) and still shadows the face — which is why vanity light belongs beside the mirror instead.
Computed with a 1,200-lumen six-inch LED (60° beam) using the IES lumen method — the same engine as the calculator.
Ratings first: damp everywhere, wet over the water
Bathrooms are damp locations — every recessed fixture in one should carry at least a damp rating. Directly over a shower or tub, code requires a wet-location rating, which in practice means a sealed, lensed trim. Check the fixture spec sheet; the IC-rated, airtight models in the catalog handle insulation contact and moisture migration into the ceiling.
One wet-rated fixture centered over the shower is one of the highest-value lights in the house. Nobody has ever complained that the shower was too well lit.
Downlights cannot light a face
A can over the mirror throws light straight down: bright forehead, shadowed eyes, dramatic chin — excellent for a horror film, useless for shaving. The professional rule is vertical light at the face: sconces or bars beside the mirror at roughly eye height, 65–80 fc.
Use the recessed grid for the room itself — the floor, the tub zone, the WC — and let dedicated vanity fixtures do the mirror. The calculator’s bathroom mode targets the general layer; treat vanity light as its own small project.
Can I put a recessed light in a shower?
Yes, if the fixture is wet-location rated (sealed, lensed trim) — that rating is required by code above tubs and showers. Standard open-baffle trims are for dry and damp areas only.
Are recessed lights good over a bathroom vanity?
As the only source, no — overhead light shadows eyes and chin in the mirror. Put vertical light beside the mirror (sconces or a lit mirror) and use recessed fixtures for the room’s general layer.
How many recessed lights does a small 5×8 bathroom need?
Three six-inch fixtures in a single centered row reaches about 30 fc — right in the recommended band. Make one of them a wet-rated trim if it sits over the tub.
Your bathroom, measured — not guessed
The calculator applies these rules to your exact dimensions and draws the plan. Free, no account needed.
Open the bathroom calculator →