The best bathroom vanity light bars
Three bulbs above the mirror is the default vanity light. Whether it flatters or glares comes down to one thing on the spec sheet: the glass.
By Sawyer V. · · How we research
The short answer
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Quick picks
Tap any row for the full write-up. Prices are checked against Amazon rather than remembered — where we have no verified figure the button says so.
| # | Product | Best for | Renter | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Simplice Three-Light Vanity Fixture Frosted painted-glass shades, a damp rating and the slimmest projection here at 5-9/16 in. | Even, low-glare light over a single vanity | Owner-only | |
| 2 |  Occasion Three-Light Vanity Fixture Ridged glass over medium-base T10 bulbs, damp-rated, and dimmable with the right dimmer and bulbs. | A dimmer switch and a vintage look | Owner-only | |
| 3 |  Memoirs Two-Light Sconce Two frosted shades, a 60 W, 1,600-lumen socket rating, damp-rated and dimmable, 15-1/8 in. wide. | A narrower mirror | Owner-only | |
| — | No photo yet Embra by Studio McGee Three-Light Vanity Fixture Clear glass globes over A19 bulbs, at eye level — handsome, and a recipe for glare. | Skip this one | Owner-only | No buy link |
Bar or sconces?
A bar mounts above the mirror on one junction box. Sconces go either side, which lights the face more evenly but needs two boxes. The two are compared here. This page is for the far more common case: a box above the mirror, and a bar to go on it.
The glass decides the glare
A vanity bar sits close to eye level. Frosted or painted glass spreads the light; clear glass shows you the bulb. Kohler draws the distinction itself — its frosted shades are described as “reducing glare”, its clear ones are not.
Check the bulb base
The Occasion and Embra take medium (E26) bulbs, which is the widest choice in the store. The Simplice takes candelabra (E12). Whichever you buy, look for CRI 90 — the vanity bulb page explains why.
Size and projection
- Memoirs two-light: 15-1/8 in. wide, 7-3/16 in. from the wall.
- Simplice: 22-5/8 in. wide, 5-9/16 in. from the wall.
- Occasion: 24-1/4 in. wide, 6-1/2 in. from the wall.
- Embra three-light: 24-11/16 in. wide, 7-13/16 in. from the wall.
None of these sheets gives a rule for matching a bar to a mirror, and we will not invent one. Measure your mirror and the wall above it, and hold the bar’s width against it.
Damp rating and dimming
All four are “Suitable for damp locations, per UL 1598”. Dimming is published for the Occasion and Memoirs; the Simplice and Embra three-light sheets say nothing either way.
If you rent
Every fixture here rates Owner-only on our install rating. The renter’s upgrade is the bulbs in the bar you already have.
Every pick in full
3 we would buy, and one we would not. Each carries its Renter-Safe Install Rating, the published specs behind it, and the honest gap in what we know.
1. Best overall
Simplice Three-Light Vanity Fixture
Kohler · K-26848-SC03 · best for even, low-glare light over a single vanity
Frosted painted-glass shades, a damp rating and the slimmest projection here at 5-9/16 in.
The Kohler Simplice three-light wins on the glass. Kohler describes “Painted glass shades perfectly diffuse the light, reducing glare”, and the technical sheet lists the shade type as frosted.
It is 22-5/8 in. wide and 9-11/16 in. tall, and it projects 5-9/16 in. from the wall — the least of the bars here, which matters above a narrow vanity where you lean in. It is “Suitable for damp locations, per UL 1598”.
It takes three candelabra (E12) bulbs, with “type B10 or T10 bulbs recommended”. That is a narrower choice of bulb than a medium base, so check what you can buy before you commit.
Renter-Safe Install Rating
- Drilling
- Not published
- Tools
- Not published
- Time to fit
- Not published
- Power
- Hardwired
- Reversible on move-out
- No
Why: A hardwired fixture on a junction box above the mirror. Electrical work on wiring the tenant does not own.
Read from published documentation, not from fitting one. Kohler — Simplice three-light sconce K-26848-SC03 specification sheet. How the verdict is derived: renter-safe ratings explained.
What’s wrong with it
Candelabra (E12) bulbs only, a narrower choice than medium base.
What we can’t tell you
Whether it dims: the sheet makes no dimming statement either way.
Published specifications
| Shades | “Painted glass shades perfectly diffuse the light, reducing glare”; frosted glass |
|---|---|
| Bulbs | Three candelabra (E12); “type B10 or T10 bulbs recommended (sold separately)” |
| Damp rating | “Suitable for damp locations, per UL 1598” |
| Dimensions | 22-5/8 in. wide, 9-11/16 in. tall, 5-9/16 in. from the wall |
| Electrical | 120 V, 1.5 A; one circuit |
| Material | Steel, glass, aluminum, zinc |
| Finishes | Brushed Nickel, Polished Chrome, Matte Black, Brushed Moderne Brass |
| Warranty | KOHLER Indoor Lighting Fixtures Limited Warranty |
| Dimming | Not published on the sheet |
Source: Kohler — Simplice three-light sconce K-26848-SC03 specification sheet
#ad Price $269.70 as of October 18, 2026. Prices change; Amazon’s listing is the one that counts. How we’re funded.
2. Best dimmable
Occasion Three-Light Vanity Fixture
Kohler · K-31778-SC03 · best for a dimmer switch and a vintage look
Ridged glass over medium-base T10 bulbs, damp-rated, and dimmable with the right dimmer and bulbs.
The Kohler Occasion three-light is the one to buy if you want to dim the bathroom. Kohler says it is dimmable “when paired with dimmer switch and compatible bulbs”.
It uses “Ridged cylindrical glass shades” over three medium-base bulbs, with T10 recommended, and comes in six finishes including a black-with-brass-trim option. At 24-1/4 in. wide and 16-3/8 in. tall, it is the largest bar here.
Renter-Safe Install Rating
- Drilling
- Not published
- Tools
- Not published
- Time to fit
- Not published
- Power
- Hardwired
- Reversible on move-out
- No
Why: A hardwired fixture. Swapping it is electrical work.
Read from published documentation, not from fitting one. Kohler — Occasion three-light sconce K-31778-SC03 specification sheet. How the verdict is derived: renter-safe ratings explained.
What’s wrong with it
The tallest fixture here, which needs the wall space above the mirror.
What we can’t tell you
Kohler does not say how much the ridged glass diffuses compared with frosted.
Published specifications
| Shades | “Ridged cylindrical glass shades” |
|---|---|
| Bulbs | Three medium (E26); “T10 bulb recommended (sold separately)” |
| Damp rating | “Suitable for damp locations, per UL 1598” |
| Dimming | Dimmable “when paired with dimmer switch and compatible bulbs” |
| Dimensions | 24-1/4 in. wide, 16-3/8 in. tall, 6-1/2 in. from the wall |
| Electrical | 120 V, 1.5 A; one circuit |
| Finishes | Six, including Polished Nickel, Matte Black and Black with Brass Trim |
| Coordinates with | Occasion faucets |
| Warranty | KOHLER Indoor Lighting Fixtures Limited Warranty |
Source: Kohler — Occasion three-light sconce K-31778-SC03 specification sheet
#ad Price $528.25 as of October 18, 2026. Prices change; Amazon’s listing is the one that counts. How we’re funded.
3. Best two-light bar
Memoirs Two-Light Sconce
Kohler · K-23687-BA02 · best for a narrower mirror
Two frosted shades, a 60 W, 1,600-lumen socket rating, damp-rated and dimmable, 15-1/8 in. wide.
The Kohler Memoirs two-light is our top vanity light overall and the right bar for a narrower mirror. Its frosted shades “perfectly diffuse the light, reducing glare”, its sockets are rated to 60 W and 1,600 lumens, and it is dimmable with compatible bulbs.
At 15-1/8 in. wide it is the smallest fixture on this page. Its full review is here.
Renter-Safe Install Rating
- Drilling
- Not published
- Tools
- Not published
- Time to fit
- Not published
- Power
- Hardwired
- Reversible on move-out
- No
Why: A hardwired fixture on a junction box. Swapping one is electrical work, and a rental's wiring is the landlord's responsibility.
Read from published documentation, not from fitting one. Kohler — Memoirs two-light sconce K-23687-BA02 specification sheet. How the verdict is derived: renter-safe ratings explained.
What’s wrong with it
Only three finishes, none of them black or brass.
What we can’t tell you
Warranty terms are on Kohler's website, not the sheet.
Published specifications
| Lights | Two E26 medium sockets; “works best with type G light bulbs (sold separately)” |
|---|---|
| Shades | “Frosted glass shades perfectly diffuse the light, reducing glare” |
| Socket rating | “60 Hz, 60 W, 1600 Lumens” |
| Electrical | 120 V, 1 A; one circuit |
| Damp rating | “Suitable for damp locations, per UL 1598” |
| Dimming | Dimmable “when paired with dimmer switch and compatible bulbs” |
| Dimensions | 15-1/8 in. wide, 9-3/8 in. tall, 7-3/16 in. from the wall; 5 in. square backplate |
| Finishes | Polished Nickel, Brushed Nickel, Polished Chrome |
| Listing | cETL and ETL listed |
| Warranty | KOHLER Indoor Lighting Fixtures Limited Warranty — terms are on Kohler's website |
| Bulbs | Not included |
Source: Kohler — Memoirs two-light sconce K-23687-BA02 specification sheet
#ad Price $380.50 as of October 18, 2026. Prices change; Amazon’s listing is the one that counts. How we’re funded.
The one to skip
Embra by Studio McGee Three-Light Vanity Fixture
Kohler · K-32254-SC03 · best for rooms where the fixture is decoration
Clear glass globes over A19 bulbs, at eye level — handsome, and a recipe for glare.
The Embra three-light is a beautiful fixture with the wrong glass for this job.
Kohler lists the shade type as “Clear Glass” and recommends A19 bulbs. Clear globes over bare bulbs, mounted where you look every morning, put bright points of light straight in your eyes — the problem the frosted Simplice and Memoirs are designed around.
Its three-light sheet also makes no dimming statement. If you love the look, the matching one-light Embra sconce is covered on the bar-versus-sconces page.
Renter-Safe Install Rating
- Drilling
- Not published
- Tools
- Not published
- Time to fit
- Not published
- Power
- Hardwired
- Reversible on move-out
- No
Why: A hardwired fixture on a junction box. Electrician's work.
Read from published documentation, not from fitting one. Kohler — Embra three-light sconce K-32254-SC03 specification sheet. How the verdict is derived: renter-safe ratings explained.
What’s wrong with it
Clear glass at face height, and no dimming statement.
What we can’t tell you
Whether the three-light dims: its sheet is silent, though the one-light Embra's says it does.
Published specifications
| Shades | “Globular glass shades”; shade type “Clear Glass” |
|---|---|
| Bulbs | Three medium (E26); “type A19 bulb recommended (sold separately)” |
| Damp rating | “Suitable for damp locations, per UL 1598” |
| Dimensions | 24-11/16 in. wide, 9-1/16 in. tall, 7-13/16 in. from the wall; 6-9/16 in. globes |
| Electrical | 120 V, 1 A; one circuit |
| Material | Steel, glass, brass |
| Finishes | Five, including Polished Nickel, Matte Black and Brushed Moderne Brass |
| Warranty | KOHLER Indoor Lighting Fixtures Limited Warranty |
| Dimming | Not published on the three-light sheet |
Source: Kohler — Embra three-light sconce K-32254-SC03 specification sheet
There is no buy button on this one. It is easy enough to find if you want it anyway — we would rather point you at something that is still on the wall in a year.
Where to buy
Everything recommended on this page, in one place. Each link is an Amazon Associates link — we earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it never decides a pick.
- $269.70View on Amazon
Simplice Three-Light Vanity Fixture
Kohler · K-26848-SC03 · Renter verdict: Owner-only
- $528.25View on Amazon
Occasion Three-Light Vanity Fixture
Kohler · K-31778-SC03 · Renter verdict: Owner-only
- $380.50View on Amazon
Memoirs Two-Light Sconce
Kohler · K-23687-BA02 · Renter verdict: Owner-only
#ad Prices are not shown because we only publish figures we have verified on the day. How we’re funded.
Questions people actually ask
what size vanity light bar do i need
None of the Kohler sheets here gives a sizing rule. Measure the mirror and the wall above it: the bars here range from 15-1/8 inches wide for the two-light Memoirs to 24-11/16 inches for the three-light Embra.
what bulbs do vanity light bars take
It varies. Kohler's Occasion and Embra take medium (E26) bulbs; the Simplice takes candelabra (E12), with B10 or T10 recommended.
are vanity light bars dimmable
Some are. Kohler's Occasion and Memoirs sheets say dimmable with a compatible dimmer and bulbs; the Simplice and Embra three-light sheets make no dimming statement.
how far should a vanity light stick out from the wall
There is no published standard, but less is easier over a narrow vanity. The bars here project 5-9/16 inches (Simplice) to 7-13/16 inches (Embra).
Sources
Read next
Back to Mirrors & Lighting.