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What Do These Chandeliers Weigh? It's for a Theater Lobby.
Dear Lyfairs,
l'm looking to purchase chandelier for an upcoming theater lobby that is scheduled to open fall 2026 in Arizona USA. Could you tell me the weights of two of your pieces, so I can plan for the ceiling?
a designer on a US theater project
Dear friend,
Of course, and thank you for asking about the weight this early. On a project like a theater lobby, that's exactly the right question to ask first. Here are the exact figures.
The larger staircase chandelier (D59.1" × H96.5", 80 lights)
Net weight: 190 kg / about 419 lbs
The extra-large foyer chandelier (D59.1" × H86.6", 75 lights)
Net weight: 180 kg / about 397 lbs
Net weight: 190 kg / about 419 lbs
Net weight: 180 kg / about 397 lbs
Both figures are the net weight of the fixture itself, which is what your structural engineer will need for the ceiling. Ask us anytime for the specifications of any piece you're considering, and we'll send you the real numbers, in writing.
Since these are substantial pieces, a good general rule is that the ceiling structure should be rated for at least 1.5 times the fixture's weight, with a safe margin. This guide walks through ceiling weight and reinforcement in more detail, which may help you and your engineer:
There's one more thing I want to raise now, before you go further, because it matters a great deal for a project like yours.
A theater lobby is a commercial, public space. In the US, light fixtures in commercial and public spaces almost always need to be certified, usually UL or ETL Listed, in order to pass local inspection and receive occupancy approval. It's the kind of thing that's easy to overlook early on, and painful to discover late.
So I want to tell you clearly, up front: both of these chandeliers can be UL or ETL certified for your project. We can arrange for an accredited body to carry out the certification, so the fixtures arrive ready to pass inspection, with documentation your engineer and inspector can verify. UL and ETL are recognized as equivalent, so either will satisfy your local requirements. We'll confirm the timeline and the certification fee with you in advance, before anything is agreed.
I mention it now, rather than waiting for you to ask, because on a public project with an opening date, the certification and the lead time are things worth planning around from the very beginning. Tell us your installation timeline for fall 2026, and we'll make sure the certification and delivery are planned to meet it.
Send me the piece, or pieces, you're considering, and the details of your space, and we'll take good care of this project with you, from the weight on the ceiling to the certificate on the fixture.
Yours,
Marie
Founder, Lyfairs
P.S. — Sourcing a large chandelier for a commercial or public space (a lobby, a hotel, a theater)? Two things to plan for early. First, weight: ask for the fixture's net weight, and make sure the ceiling structure is rated for at least 1.5 times it. Second, certification: commercial and public spaces in the US almost always require UL or ETL Listed fixtures to pass inspection, so confirm this before you commit. Our pieces can be UL or ETL certified for your project; ask us about timeline and fee. This is Letters to Lyfairs.
