Before falling for a model, check that it will fit in your home. The size of a cuckoo clock is not just about its case: on a mechanical model, you also need to allow for the descent of the weights.
How to read the size of a cuckoo clock
The height given on our product pages is that of the case alone, without the weights or the pendulum. In our collection, it ranges from about 20 cm (8 in) to around 50 cm (20 in) for the large carved scenes, such as this stag with crossed rifles.
Size does not depend on the movement: there are 20 cm mechanical cuckoo clocks, like this gentian cuckoo clock, and quartz models over 40 cm (16 in) tall. That said, 8-day movements are often found in larger, more elaborate clocks.
Allowing space for the weights
On a mechanical cuckoo clock, the weights descend along their chains over the hours, by about 1.50 m to 1.80 m (5 to 6 feet). You therefore need a clear wall below the case, with no furniture over this whole height: if a weight hits an obstacle, the clock stops before it is due to be wound.
A quartz cuckoo clock is more flexible: its weights are decorative and do not descend. It can therefore hang above a console table or a sideboard.
Choosing a size that suits the room
A small cuckoo clock easily finds its place in an entrance hall, a corridor or a kitchen. Large carved or animated models are best seen from a distance, on a large living room or dining room wall.
To get an idea, cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the case and stick it on the wall at the planned height.
Hanging height and weight
The screw should be placed between 1.80 m and 2 m above the floor (about 6 to 6.5 feet), which gives the weights their full travel. The larger and more carved the clock, the heavier it is, and 8-day movements also have heavier weights. Use a sturdy screw and a wall plug suited to your wall, following our advice on how to hang it properly.
Once you have measured your space, all that remains is to choose your model from our cuckoo clock collection.
