How to Choose the Right Lampshade Size: 10-Inch, 13-Inch and 21-Inch Compared
Neepun·May 23, 2026
One of the most common questions we get at Paperlampshade is: which size should I buy? Whether you are lighting a cosy bedside table, a dining room corner, or making a bold floor lamp statement, the size of your lokta paper lampshade changes everything — the quality of light, the mood of the room, and how the shade looks on its own. Here is a straightforward guide to our three main sizes so you can choose with confidence.
The 10-Inch Shade — Intimate and Compact
Our 10-inch Handmade Lokta Paper Lampshade in plain design ($26) is our smallest and most understated shade. It is ideal for bedside table lamps, desk lamps, or anywhere you need a soft, focused pool of light rather than room-wide illumination. The plain beige lokta paper diffuses the bulb warmly without overpowering a small space.
Best for: Bedrooms, reading corners, nightstands, home offices.
The 13-Inch Shade — The Everyday Favourite
Our 13-inch shades are the most versatile in the range and come in the widest variety of designs. The Fern & Marigold 6-Sided Bamboo Lantern ($35) brings a botanical, structured look perfect for dining rooms and entryways. The Marigold Petal Mixed shade ($58) and the Full Butta circular shades ($35) — available in orange, green, yellow, pink, red, blue, purple, white, and light blue — give you almost unlimited colour options for living rooms and kitchens.
The 13-inch is wide enough to fill a mid-size room with warm, diffused light while staying proportionate on a standard lamp base or ceiling pendant.
Best for: Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, hallways, pendants.
The 21-Inch Shade — The Statement Piece
At 21 inches (53cm) wide, our large lokta paper lampshades are designed to anchor a room. The 21-inch Botanical Fern & Marigold Hanging Light Shade ($58) is our most popular large shade — the botanical pattern becomes even more detailed and dramatic at this scale, and the warm glow through the lokta paper creates an atmosphere no overhead light can match.
The 21-inch Multicolor Sustainable Hanging Shade ($58) offers a softer, layered look for spaces that need warmth without a strong pattern. At this size, the lampshade becomes a focal point of the room — part light source, part art object.
Best for: Open-plan living spaces, over dining tables, floor lamps, statement pendants.
A Quick Size Reference
10 inches → compact, focused light, small spaces
13 inches → versatile, wide colour and design choice, most rooms
21 inches → statement lighting, large rooms, high ceilings
As a general rule: the shade diameter should be roughly two-thirds the height of the lamp base for table lamps. For pendants, aim for the shade diameter to be at least one-third the width of the surface below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find your perfect size. Shop our full range of handmade lokta paper lampshades — from compact 10-inch table shades to 21-inch statement pendants, all handcrafted in Nepal and shipped worldwide.
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