The traditional carriage lantern beside the front door is quietly disappearing from new-build and renovated British homes. In its place: the linear outdoor wall light, often called a linear sconce, a slim, mains-wired bar of light that reads as part of the architecture rather than an ornament fixed to it. Where a lantern throws a single hotspot and plenty of glare, a linear fixture spreads its output along its full length, grazing the render, brick or cladding behind it and defining the entrance with clean geometry. The catch is that length matters far more than it does with a lantern. A bar that is too short looks timid; one that is too long overwhelms a modest doorway. This guide sets out how to choose the right length, from 30cm to 150cm, for the most common UK façades.
Quick answer
For a standard UK front door of around 200cm, choose a pair of 40cm to 60cm lights, one either side, centred at around 170cm to 180cm from the ground. For double garages and tall entrances, go up to 120cm to 150cm. For side doors, pillars and gate posts, 20cm to 30cm. Warm white (around 3000K) suits most UK homes.
Sizing for Single Front Doors
The starting point is the 1/4 rule: an exterior wall light should measure roughly one quarter of the height of the door it frames. A standard UK front door stands around 198cm to 203cm, which puts the ideal fixture length at approximately 50cm. In practice, anything from 40cm to 60cm sits comfortably within the rule, and because linear sconces are almost always fitted as a flanking pair, one either side of the frame, the composition stays balanced without crowding the opening. Fit each light 10cm to 15cm from the door architrave and aim to centre it a little above eye level, at around 170cm to 180cm from the finished ground.
Every option below is rated IP65, meaning the fixture is dust-tight and protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction, which is essential for an exposed British porch.
- Riqi in 40cm or 60cm: an IP65 matte black oval profile with a full-length frosted acrylic diffuser, available in warm, neutral or cool white, or dimmable by remote.
- Xura in 40cm (10W) or 60cm (14W): IP65 rated, 8cm wide, with a three-colour switchable option for fine-tuning the tone after installation.
- Bubce in 40cm, 50cm or 60cm: IP65 rated aluminium with a 5cm profile, offered in black or white to suit both dark and pale render.
- Reta in 41cm or 61cm: IP65 rated aluminium that washes light both upwards and downwards, ideal for drawing out the texture of brick or stone.
Sizing for Side Doors, Pillars & Gate Posts
The 30cm lengths come into their own wherever wall space is tight or a single accent is wanted rather than a matched pair. Back and side doors often sit close to a corner, a downpipe or a window, leaving too little wall for a 50cm bar, and a compact fixture keeps the light in proportion with the space it actually has. The same applies to narrow brick pillars, gate posts and the wall beside a side passage, where a short bar marks the route without dominating it. Fitted horizontally, a 30cm bar is also the natural size above a house number.
- Riqi in 30cm: the same oval profile and even glow as the longer sizes, so a side door can match the front.
- Xura in 30cm (7W): a gentle output suited to paths and side passages.
- Bubce in 30cm (12W): the brightest compact option, with a 5cm profile that suits pillars and gate posts.
- Reta in 20cm: the smallest size in the range, for the tightest spots, with light washing both up and down.
Sizing for Double Garages & Tall Entrances
Once the opening grows, the 1/4 rule gives way to proportion with the façade as a whole. A double garage door is typically 4.3m to 4.9m wide, and a contemporary entrance with full-height glazing can rise to 2.4m or 3m. Against surfaces of that size, a 50cm fixture becomes a dot. Vertical bars of 120cm to 150cm restore the scale, carrying a continuous line of light that echoes the height of the opening and gives the elevation a deliberate, architect-designed rhythm. Mount them so the top of each bar aligns with the head of the door or glazing for the cleanest result.
At this length, output becomes the deciding factor, because the light must wash a much larger area of wall:
- Bubce in 120cm (48W) or 150cm (60W): the highest output in the range, with the entire front face illuminated. The natural choice for wide garage elevations and driveways.
- Xura in 120cm or 150cm (29W each): a softer, more restrained wash that suits tall entrances where you want definition without floodlighting the street.
- Riqi in 120cm or 150cm: an even, edge-lit glow with no hotspots, and the dimmable remote option lets you set the level precisely once it is on the wall.
Horizontal vs. Vertical Mounting
Vertical mounting is the default for flanking doors, because it emphasises height and frames the opening. Horizontal mounting has a different job: it underlines. A single slim bar fixed above the house number, or set just below the lintel of a door or garage, creates a crisp datum line that illuminates signage and highlights the head of the opening without competing with it. For this application, choose a fixture explicitly designed for either orientation and keep the profile as slim as possible so it reads as a line, not a box.
- Bubce: rated for vertical or horizontal installation, with a 5cm profile. A 30cm or 40cm length sits neatly above a house number.
- Riqi: also rated for both orientations. Choose a length that matches the width of the lintel above a door or garage.
Whichever orientation you choose, all of these fixtures are hardwired, so have them fitted by a qualified electrician.
Colour Temperature & Brightness
Length sets the proportion; colour temperature sets the mood. It is measured in kelvin (K), and the difference is obvious once the lights are on the wall:
- Warm white (around 2700K to 3000K): a soft, golden light that flatters brick, timber and render. The right choice for most UK homes and the most welcoming at a front door.
- Neutral white (around 4000K): crisper and more contemporary, suiting pale grey or white render and minimalist façades.
- Cool white (5000K and above): bright and clinical. Useful for security lighting, but harsh as the main light at an entrance.
If you cannot decide, choose a switchable or dimmable version. Xura and Bubce offer a three-colour option that changes between warm, neutral and cool white from your wall switch, while Riqi, Xura and Bubce are also available dimmable with a remote. Reta comes in warm or white light.
On brightness, remember that watts measure power use, not light output. Brightness is measured in lumens, and as a rough guide an entrance light needs a few hundred lumens to light the step, the keyhole and the faces of visitors. Within the same range, a longer bar at a higher wattage gives more light, which is why the 120cm and 150cm sizes suit large garage elevations.
Finally, think about your neighbours. A diffused linear light spreads its output across the wall rather than throwing glare down the street, and warm white at a dimmed level is the most considerate choice for a terrace or close. For lights that come on by themselves, ask your electrician to wire them through a dusk-to-dawn sensor or a PIR motion sensor switch.
Sizing at a Glance
| Location | Typical Size | Recommended Length | Arrangement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side or back door, pillar, gate post | Limited wall space | 20cm to 30cm | Single or pair |
| Standard front door | Around 200cm high | 40cm to 60cm | Pair, one either side |
| Taller front door or door with side panel | Around 240cm high | 60cm to 80cm | Pair, one either side |
| Double garage | 4.3m to 4.9m wide | 120cm to 150cm | Pair, vertical either side |
| Tall entrance or full-height glazing | 2.4m to 3m high | 120cm to 150cm | Pair, vertical either side |
| Above a house number or lintel | Width of the number plate or lintel | 30cm to 40cm, or lintel width | Single, horizontal |
Technical Comparison
| Fixture Name | Available Lengths | IP Rating | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riqi | 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150cm | IP65 | All-rounder; vertical pairs or horizontal lintel lighting |
| Bubce | 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, 150cm | IP65 | High-output garages and driveways; slim horizontal bars |
| Xura | 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150cm | IP65 | Front doors and tall entrances wanting a soft, controlled wash |
| Reta | 20, 41, 61, 81cm | IP65 | Single front doors and textured brick, using up-and-down light |
Frequently Asked Questions
What size outdoor wall light do I need for a front door?
Follow the 1/4 rule: choose a light roughly one quarter of the door's height. For a standard UK front door of around 200cm, that means about 50cm, and anything from 40cm to 60cm will look right as a flanking pair.
How high should outdoor wall lights be mounted?
Centre each light a little above eye level, at around 170cm to 180cm from the ground. For long bars of 120cm or 150cm beside a garage or tall entrance, align the top of each bar with the head of the door or glazing.
Can linear outdoor wall lights be mounted horizontally?
Yes, provided the fixture is designed for it. Bubce and Riqi are both rated for vertical or horizontal installation, which makes them suitable for fitting above a house number or along a lintel.
What colour temperature is best for outdoor wall lights?
Warm white, at around 2700K to 3000K, suits most UK homes and is the most welcoming at a front door. Neutral white (around 4000K) works on very modern façades, while cool white is best kept for security lighting.
Is IP65 enough for UK weather?
IP65 means the fixture is fully dust-tight and protected against water jets from any direction, so it is built for exterior walls exposed to driving rain. Every light in this guide is IP65 rated.
Choosing Your Size
Measure your door, divide its height by four and choose the nearest length from the lights below. For wide garages and tall entrances, scale up to 120cm or 150cm, and drop to 30cm where wall space is tight. For more styles, browse the full Outdoor Lighting collection.
Written by the Vexfa Lighting Team, the team behind Vexfa's outdoor lighting range. Learn more about us.
