The Best Desk Lamp

This Old House Reviews Team

Desk lamps brighten your workspace, help reduce eye strain, and keep you productive no matter the time of day. While the main function of a desk lamp is to brighten your work area, many modern desk lamps are equipped with features like outlets and charging stations to centralize all your working necessities. To help you select a desk lamp that fits your workspace and meets your lighting needs, the This Old House Reviews team researched the best desk lamps on Amazon and delved into the factors that influence each lamp’s user experience. Here are our top picks.

1 Most adjustable
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00APAQSP6

TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp

Pros

  • Contains a USB output for charging mobile devices and tablets
  • Offers a one-hour sleep timer that automatically turns the light off to help you save energy
  • Comes with a cleaning cloth for maintaining the lamp’s black or white finish

Cons

  • Many customers felt that the lamp was too tall, blocking their line of sight while working
  • Some customers said that the touch buttons on their lamp malfunctioned after continued use


2 Best design
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AJ7F14I

Aukey Table Lamp

Pros

  • Its base lets you manually change color, brightness, and lighting modes
  • Is lightweight at just over one pound
  • Protected by a 45-day, money-back guarantee and a two-year limited warranty

Cons

  • Doesn’t contain a USB charging output
  • Requires you to manually cycle through an RGB color spectrum to select your lighting preference, which can be time-consuming


3 Best value
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078W61H9P

LEPOWER Metal Desk Lamp

Pros

  • Equipped with a metal lampshade and base for increased durability
  • Its sleek design fits in a variety of settings, including offices, bedrooms, and dorm rooms
  • Protected by a one-year limited warranty

Cons

  • Doesn’t come with a lightbulb 
  • Isn’t dimmable


4 Best charging lamp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WLQ2BTY

AFROG LED Desk Lamp

Pros

  • Includes two timers that can shut off the lamp after 30 minutes or an hour of use
  • Its lamp head folds up or down for easy angle adjustment
  • Available in white or black

Cons

  • Its lamp head doesn’t rotate
  • Many customers were disappointed in the lamp’s brightness, with one customer saying the lamp was dim even at its brightest setting


5 Most mobile
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NKRPZXN

iVict Clip-On Desk Lamp

Pros

  • Equipped with a simple brightness and color control attached to its USB power source
  • Weighs under one pound and can be easily clipped anywhere
  • Utilizes eco-friendly LED lights to reduce energy consumption

Cons

  • Only offered in one color
  • Doesn’t come with a USB-to-AC power adapter


 

Buyer’s Guide

Before purchasing a desk lamp, it’s important to understand the factors that influence each model’s user experience. Here are four factors to consider before buying a desk lamp.

  • Lumens: Lumens measure the brightness of an LED light, meaning a light bulb with more lumens will be brighter than those with less. Most desk lamps come with pre-installed bulbs that emit a certain number of lumens, while other lamps, like the LEPOWER Metal Desk Lamp, don’t include bulbs and are compatible with a wide range of LED or incandescent light bulbs.
  • Controls: Some desk lamps like the TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp come with various brightness levels and lighting modes, while others like the LEPOWER Metal Desk Lamp offer one brightness setting controlled by an on and off switch.
  • Charging capabilities: Before purchasing a desk lamp, ensure that the model supports your preferred charging method. Most desk lamps are equipped with USB, AC, or wireless charging ports to limit the number of plugs surrounding your workspace.
  • Power source: Most desk lamps are AC-powered, meaning they plug directly into a wall outlet. However, some mobile models, like the iVict Clip-On Desk Lamp, are USB-powered. AC power is convenient as all homes are equipped with outlets, eliminating the need for an adapter. USB-powered lamps typically have a cord that’s less bulky, but these models require an AC adapter or USB output.  

 

 

FAQs

  • Are desk lamps bad for your eyes?

According to Harvard Health, while reading in dim lighting won’t damage your eyesight, it will cause you to feel more tired. A desk lamp helps remedy this problem by providing direct light to your reading or work material. 

  • How do I choose a desk lamp?

To select a desk lamp, first narrow down the features that you want. Many models support phone and tablet charging, which is a convenient way to declutter your workspace or nightstand. Additionally, some desk lamps have adjustable light or brightness settings that let you customize your lamp’s light output.

  • Why do you need a desk lamp?

A desk lamp allows you to see your workspace at all times of the day, preventing your eyes from straining and growing tired in the dark. Additionally, a desk lamp can be positioned on a bedside table for an easily accessible night or reading light. 

 

 

The This Old House Reviews team provides overviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, hands-on testing in select cases, and other objective criteria unique to a given product line. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for DIY or other non-pro users only. Editor’s picks are made by members of the Reviews team, and do not imply an endorsement by the experts on This Old House or Ask This Old House.

If you’re a reader or represent a brand and have questions, reach out to our team at

reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.