How-to · Updated October 2, 2026
What does a 9 × 16 × 10 lamp shade mean?
Direct answer
9 × 16 × 10 is top × bottom × slant: 9 inches across the top, 16 inches across the bottom, and 10 inches along the side. Vertical height is 9.37 inches. It suits a base about 14–18 inches tall, with an 8.5″ harp.
The three measurements
| Listing | Vertical height | Base it suits | Harp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 × 16 × 10 | 9.37 in | 14–18 in | 8.5″ |
| 8 × 8 × 7.5 (drum) | 7.5 in | 6–10 in | 7″ |
| 6 × 12 × 10 | 9.54 in | 10–14 in | 9″ |
Vertical height = √(slant² − ((bottom − top) ÷ 2)²) = √(10² − 3.5²) = 9.37 in
How to measure one you already own
- Top diameter: straight across the top opening.
- Bottom diameter: straight across the bottom. This is the number a store uses as the size.
- Slant: along the outside from the top edge to the bottom edge, not straight down.
- Vertical height: straight down, if the listing uses height instead of slant. Some sellers swap those two.
Limits
- There is no single standard shade. The same bottom diameter can have a different top and a different slant.
- A spider fitter sits on a harp and is held by a finial. An uno fitter screws onto the socket. A clip-on grips the bulb. The three numbers do not tell you which fitter you have.
- Metric listings use the same order. A 42 cm drum is 42 cm across the bottom.
Use the calculator
Starting from the lamp: what size lamp shade you need. Decode another listing in the lamp shade size calculator.