How far from the wall should recessed lights start?

About half the on-center spacing for a symmetric grid.

Pick the axis that matches how you walk the room - then keep spacing visually even.

What about kitchen islands?

Break the pure grid - add task rows over counters even if ambient spacing changes.

Tools / Lighting Layout Calculator

Free lighting layout calculator: even grid spacing and wall offsets from room size and rows × columns of fixtures.

Room length Room width Units Rows (along length) Columns (along width)

Fixture count—

Row spacing—

Column spacing—

Offset end walls—

Offset side walls—

For an even grid, center-to-center spacing on an axis = room size ÷ number of fixtures on that axis. First center = half spacing from the wall.

Need fixture count from brightness first? Use the recessed calculator.