A clock is one of the few objects in a home that you look at many times a day. A good one is easy to read, quiet and simple enough to sit comfortably in the room. Here is how to choose one.

Wall clock or table clock?

• Wall clocks suit rooms where you want to check the time from across the space: the kitchen, living room or a home office. They also anchor a blank wall.
• Table clocks suit a desk, nightstand, mantel or bookshelf, where you see them up close. They work well in rented homes where you cannot put holes in the wall.

Choose a silent movement

The single most important detail is often the one you cannot see. A ticking clock is easy to ignore in a busy kitchen and hard to ignore in a quiet bedroom or study. A silent sweep movement lets the second hand glide without a tick.

All three of our wall clocks use silent movements:

• The Minimalist Stainless Steel Wall Clock has a brushed silver face with a soft sheen rather than a mirror shine, and comes in three sizes.
• The Modern Blackout Circle Wall Clock pairs a flat black face with handcrafted walnut hands.
• The Vegan Leather Wall Clock has a soft, tactile face that softens the hard lines of a wall.

Get the size right

A clock that is too small for its wall looks lost. As a rough guide:

• Over furniture, such as a sofa, console or sideboard, choose a clock that is noticeably narrower than the piece below it, so the furniture frames it.
• On a large empty wall, go bigger than you think. A larger face reads better from across the room.
• In a kitchen or hallway, a medium clock is usually enough, since you see it from closer.

Before you hang it, cut a circle of paper the same size and tape it to the wall for a day. It is the easiest way to check the scale.

Hang it at the right height

On an open wall, hang the clock so its center sits at about eye level when you are standing. Above furniture, leave a gap of several inches between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the clock, so the two relate to each other without touching.

Match the material to the room

• Stainless steel suits kitchens and modern spaces with metal hardware and appliances.
• Black and wood suits living rooms and offices with warm wood furniture.
• Leather softens bedrooms, nurseries and reading corners.
• Concrete and marble suit desks and shelves, where their texture can be seen up close.

Table clocks that double as objects

A table clock lives at arm's length, so its material matters as much as its face.

• The Minimalist Designer Round Concrete Table Clock has a small storage pocket hidden behind the face for rings, keys or earbuds. It measures 5 inches tall and 5 inches long.
• The Modern Marble Cement Table Clock sets a sandy cement shell around a marble interior, in a compact square a little over five inches each way.

On a desk, a table clock pairs well with the other pieces in our minimalist desk setup guide.

Care

Quartz clocks run on a small battery. Replace it when the clock starts to lose time, and dust the face with a dry, soft cloth. Check the product page for the battery type.

See all of our wall and table clocks.

Common questions

What is a silent wall clock?

A clock with a sweep movement, where the second hand glides continuously instead of stepping forward with a tick. It is ideal for bedrooms, nurseries and offices.

How high should a wall clock be hung?

On an open wall, with its center at about eye level. Above furniture, leave a gap of several inches between the furniture and the bottom of the clock.

What size wall clock do I need?

Over furniture, choose a clock noticeably narrower than the piece below it. On a large empty wall, choose a larger clock so it reads from across the room. Taping a paper circle to the wall is an easy way to test the size.