Our best overall pick is the Hunter Fan 99143 Four Light Fitter, an attractive model that complements a variety of styles and is sized to fit many different types of indoor and outdoor fans. Here are the best ceiling fan light kits to add to your fan for additional light. We love that this light kit can work in damp spaces, such as bathrooms or covered porches, so you can install it on an indoor or outdoor light. Keep in mind that it is designed to work specifically with Hunter fans, so you need to make sure it fits with your fan’s brand and model. You also need to purchase your own shades, as they are sold separately. The kit includes three LED bulbs, although they are not dimmable. This light kit works with a variety of fans of different sizes, ranging from 42 to 52 inches. Keep in mind that this light fixture extends down more than many other options. You need an additional 9 inches or more of clearance to make sure no one hits their head on this larger fixture. The light kit works for indoor or outdoor ceiling fans, although it may be less ideal for small rooms or those with low ceilings. The integrated LEDs have been built into the fixture; this means you don’t need to worry about replacing them while they save you money on your energy bill each month. One thing to note is that installing the kit requires a quick-connect, and may be a bit tricky. You can’t dim that included LED light, however, so if you want to use that feature (if your ceiling fan has it), you need to purchase and install a separate bulb. You can also opt for a smart-home-compatible bulb, but this also must be purchased separately. Some may find that the four bulbs on this fixture are too bright, even for a kitchen. And since this kit is not dimmable, if you find the lighting too bright, you would need to purchase separate dimmable bulbs (if your ceiling fan itself is dimmable). This may add to the overall cost, especially if you have to upgrade your fan. Stemmed or branched ceiling fan light kits have multiple stems or branches that extend from the central fixture. Each branch or stem has a globe, shade, or exposed lightbulb that can point up or down. These light kits are one of the most popular options available, and they typically work with most ceiling fans, though you should always verify that a light kit is compatible with your fan. Uplight ceiling fan light kits require a certain amount of space above the ceiling fan, as these kits are designed to sit on top of the fan, with the light bulbs pointing up. Before investing in an upright ceiling fan light kit, make sure to measure the distance from the ceiling to the fan, and check the manufacturer’s direction to determine whether the uplight kit is compatible with the ceiling fan. Bowl or shade ceiling fan light kits are some of the most common options. These kits connect to the bottom of the fan housing and may have one or two bulbs, made to sit inside an enclosed bowl. (Some light kits may use light shades instead of a bowl.) Bowl or shade light kits are good options for traditional or minimalist aesthetics because they do not draw a lot of attention.
Aesthetic
“I can’t emphasize too much how important light fixtures are to the overall look of your room,” says interior designer Rachel Miller. “You want the fixture to match your style and the lighting that it provides to give off the right ambiance.” She recommends seeking light kits that come in an attractive finish such as brass, chrome, or bronze colors. Consider the size, shape, and number of lights when choosing a design aesthetic. Ceiling fan light kits come in several styles, so the number of lights on a single light kit can commonly range from one to five. Additionally, these lights may be exposed, or hidden under a bowl or shade. Choose the ceiling fan light kit that adequately lights the room and is most appealing to your personal tastes. Note that the light kit finish should match the finish on the ceiling fan, unless you want this color contrast to stand out.
Efficiency
While most ceiling fan light kits are designed for use with incandescent bulbs, these are the least efficient option. To improve the efficiency of your new lighting fixture, consider using CFL lightbulbs or even halogen lightbulbs. Alternatively, you can greatly improve the fixture’s efficiency if you look for an LED ceiling fan light kit. Since these products are not as popular as standard ceiling fan light kits, they may be difficult to find and could cost more. Pairing a high-efficiency ceiling fan with a high-efficiency light kit is the best way to enjoy your new lighting fixture without worrying about the impact on your energy usage. Keep an eye out for Energy Star certified products; you can rely on these ceiling fan light kits to operate at up to 60 percent greater efficiency than standard light kits.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by Katie Begley, a freelance writer specializing in home and family products, who has written for The Spruce since 2019. For this roundup, she considered dozens of ceiling fan light kits, evaluating each on design aesthetic, ease of installation, and compatibility with different types of indoor and outdoor fans. She sourced dozens of third-party reviews and customer reports. Additional input was provided by interior designer Rachel Miller.
