The Best Lava Lamp
This Old House Reviews Team
While buying a lava lamp may not require much thought, you should consider factors like color, shape, and size before making a purchase. Read our review below to learn about the best lava lamps available on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BFQ4TU
Original Brand Lava Lamp
Pros
- Contains purple liquid and yellow wax
- If the liquid becomes cloudy, customers can run the lamp for an extended period to return it back to normal
- Has a silver base
Cons
- Liquid can become cloudy
- Moving the lava lamp too much can cause the wax to lose its blob shape
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GUDIBM
Schylling Lava the Original 14.5-Inch Silver Base Lamp
Pros
- Lamp body is made of glass
- Amazon’s Choice for lava lamps
- Is 14.5 inches tall
Cons
- Description says the wax is yellow, but the picture shown makes it look green
- Have to keep the lamp on for four to six hours when you first turn it on to get the wax to form into blobs
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPM1Z88
Schylling 2179 14.5-Inch Tri-Colored Base Lava Lamp
Pros
- Plugs into a standard, 120-volt power outlet
- Produces a warm glow
- From a trusted lava lamp manufacturer
Cons
- No color in the wax or liquid
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DRNZS4H
My Groovy Light 13.5-Inch Tabletop Lava Lamp
Pros
- Light bulb is included
- Comes with operating instructions
- Customers can turn the lamp on and off with a cord switch
Cons
- Shortest product in this review at 13.5 inches
- Skinniest product in this review at 2.25 inches
Buying Guide
While lava lamps aren’t a big investment, there are still a few factors to consider before making a purchase.
- Size: Most lava lamps are small enough to place on top of a table and range in height from about 11 inches to 27 inches.
- Color: There are three elements in a lava lamp that have color—the base, the liquid, and the wax. When looking for a lava lamp, look for color combinations that match your existing room decor.
- Shape: Traditional lava lamps are cone-shaped, but you can also find variations of lava lamps that are cylindrical, globular, and rectangular.
- Extra features: Some lava lamps include extra features like a built-in Bluetooth speaker or glitter in the liquid. If these sorts of features interest you, be prepared to pay a little more for your lava lamp.
FAQs
How does a lava lamp work?
Inside of a lava lamp is blobs of wax in a translucent liquid that’s usually a mix of water and mineral oil. At the base of the vessel is a light bulb. When that bulb is turned on, it heats up the liquid and wax, causing the wax to expand and float around in the liquid.
Are lava lamps safe?
Yes. However, the outside of the lava lamp can get hot when the light bulb is on, so we recommend keeping objects away from it and not touching it while it’s on to prevent burns. You should also keep the lava lamp away from a hot stove or fire because they could cause it to explode.
Do lava lamps produce a lot of light?
No. Lava lamps use a small light bulb, which doesn’t produce enough light to brighten up an entire room. We recommend an overhead light, table lamp, or floor lamp if you’re looking for more light.
What type of light bulbs do lava lamps use?
This depends on the specific lava lamp, but most lava lamps use a bulb that’s between 15–40 watts.
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 This Old House Reviews team.