Entryway Wall Sconces

How to choose entryway wall sconces

Decide first whether the wall gets one fixture or two. A pair on either side of a mirror or a console gives the entry a center and keeps shadow off a face at the mirror. A single sconce suits a narrow wall panel or the space beside a door, and it wants a wider backplate so it does not look stranded.

Then look at which way the shade points. An uplight washes the ceiling and makes a low foyer feel taller. A downlight drops a scallop onto the wall and over whatever sits on the console. A closed cylinder throws both ways and stays quiet, which suits an entry where the art or the door is meant to lead.

Which sconce for an entry or a porch

Sconce type	Best in	What it does	Price here
Lanterns	Beside a front door, on a porch	A framed source that reads as a classic fixture	$139 to $379
Up and down cylinders	A facade, a path, a garage wall	Two cones of light washing the wall both ways	$110 to $759
Solar and wired panels	A wall with no circuit run to it	Light on an outside wall with no wiring work	$169 to $1,110
Marble and alabaster	An indoor entry, a hall console	A warm glow coming through the stone itself	$134 to $1,110
Acrylic and glass	An indoor hall, a stairway wall	A lit face with no source to stare into	$123 to $1,080
Oversized and strip	A tall entry wall, a double height hall	A long line or a large disc holding a big wall	$170 to $990

What the ratings mean

IP65: A body sealed against dust and against water jets. A large part of this page carries it, which is what makes the outdoor models above usable beside a door. It is the rating to look for on any wall exposed to weather.
IP20: Dry indoor use only. The rest of this page carries it, and those fixtures belong in a hall or a stairwell inside the house. Fitting one on a porch that takes blowing rain will shorten its life whatever the finish says.
Hardwired to an outdoor junction box: The fixture joins the house wiring in a weather sealed box behind it. Many outdoor models here fit this way. The gasket between the backplate and the wall is what keeps water out, so it has to seat flat on the surface.
Integrated LED: The light source is built in with no socket, so there is nothing to change when it ages. A good share of this range works that way. The color temperature on the product page is fixed, which matters on a facade seen from the street.
Solar powered: A panel on the body charges a cell during the day and the fixture runs at night. Part of this range offers it, sometimes as an alternative to wiring on the same model. Output depends on how much direct sun the panel actually gets.

Mounting height and spacing for entryway wall sconces

The center of the backplate belongs between 66 and 72 inches off the finished floor, which puts the source near eye level for most adults. Flanking a mirror, set the pair 36 to 40 inches apart measured center to center, and hold both at the same height even where the mirror itself is off center. Above a console, leave at least 12 inches between the tabletop and the bottom of the fixture so a lamp, a tray or a bowl can share the surface without crowding.

How far apart should a flanking pair sit?

Thirty six to forty inches between centers around a standard mirror, and a little wider around a mirror over 30 inches across. Keep the gap symmetrical rather than matching the frame exactly, since the eye reads the two fixtures against each other first.

Do these fixtures need a junction box?

Yes, when hardwired. The box is set in the wall at the height you want, so the position has to be settled before the drywall closes or before an electrician cuts one in. Plug in models with a visible cord avoid that step and can move later.

You may also want Wall Sconces for Bedroom, Wall Sconces for Living Room, Bathroom Wall Sconces and Foyer Chandeliers. This page is part of Wall Lamps.

Where should sconces go beside a front door?

A matched pair either side of the door, with the center of each fixture at roughly 66 inches from the threshold, which is just above eye level for most adults. Where only one side has room, a single fixture goes on the handle side rather than the hinge side so the light falls on the lock. The fixture height is measured from the walking surface rather than from the door frame, which matters on steps. For a door under about 36 inches wide, one fixture is usually better proportioned than two.

How much does an entryway wall sconce cost on this page?

Prices start at $110 and reach $3,129 across the 104 fixtures here. Half are below $199, nine in ten below $379. One large fixture accounts for the top of that range; most of this page sits between $130 and $290.

What rating does a fixture beside an exterior door need?

IP65 for an exposed position, which is sealed against dust and against water from any direction. Under a deep covered porch where rain never reaches the fixture, a damp rated or IP44 fixture is acceptable in many places, but wind driven rain reaches further under a porch than people expect. IP65 appears across part of this page. An indoor fixture with no stated rating belongs inside the door, not outside it, whatever the finish suggests.

Buying guide reviewed October 2026 by the OroDwell editorial team.