The best book lights or reading lamps can help you to see the page better when reading a book. While a standard floor lamp or desk lamp will be sufficient, book lights have the option of clamping to your book or device, illuminating text that’s closer to you.
Whether you’re looking for a clip-on gooseneck light, rechargeable book light, or something you can attach to the wall overhead, there’s plenty to choose from.
Depending on where you read most - in bed, at home, or while traveling - might sway you to choose one reading lamp over another. Take a look at our recommendations for different users and scenarios.
Rechargeable: Yes | Runtime: 80 hours | Settings: 3 colors, 3 brightness levels | Lumens: 102
Pros:
Cons:
The Glocusent Neck Reading Light is neck-mounted for convenience. Rather than attaching a device to your book or Kindle, you can simply wear one! There are two light beams to brighten your book’s pages, with three different colors and brightness levels to suit your requirements.
Using a USB-C charger, you can quickly charge up the device when it runs out of battery. On its lowest brightness settings, the Glocusent Neck Reading Light can last up to a whopping 80 hours.
Convenient, portable, and bright, this reading light is perfect for those who are looking for a hands-free design. It’s worth noting, however, if you do take this with you while traveling, the light has a tendency to turn on in your bag since there is no light lock.
Rechargeable: Yes | Runtime: 80 hours | Settings: 3 colors, 5 brightness levels | Lumens: 18
Pros:
Cons:
Another fantastic book light from Glocusent, the Glocusent USB Book Light is small, compact, and portable, allowing you to simply clip the light onto your book or device wherever you go. It’s also available in a range of bright colors, so you definitely won’t lose it
There are five levels of brightness and three color modes. Compared to the same brand’s neck reading light, it only has 18 lumens, so won’t be nearly as bright. However, for reading at home, it’s perfectly suitable and can easily be adjusted between 45 and 150 degrees.
The Glocusent USB Book Light does take quite a while to charge, so it’s recommended to do this overnight when you don’t need it. But at an affordable price and a conveniently small size, this is a great light for immersing yourself in your favorite book.
Rechargeable: Yes | Runtime: 80 hours | Settings: 3 colors, adjustable brightness | Lumens: 60
Pros:
Cons:
Whether you’re reading a book on the train, or getting your Kindle out at home, the Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clamp is a great value reading light that’s hard to fault. It comes in countless different colors to suit everyone and firmly clamps onto any book or device. You can even use it on your laptop if you want to thanks to the anti-skid clip.
The neck can be adjusted 360 degrees, so you can get the perfect angle at all times. It takes around 2.5 hours to fully charge, making it a more powerful and convenient choice. With up to 80 hours of battery, you can read all night long without worrying that the lights will go out.
There are three color modes, and the adjustable brightness ranges from 10% to 100%, making it incredibly versatile.
Rechargeable: No | Runtime: Not applicable | Settings: 5 brightness levels | Lumens: 335
Pros:
Cons:
If you’re looking for a more permanent reading light, perhaps to install over your bed or desk, the TOPMB Wall Reading Light is worth considering. It offers five brightness levels with 335 lumens, providing plenty of light where you need it the most. And for added convenience, there’s a USB output on the mount so you can charge your phone or your Kindle at the same time.
After four hours, the light will automatically shut down, saving you from the hassle. If you’re someone who has the unique ability to fall asleep while reading a book, that’s another great reason to invest in this wall light.
Easily attach the TOPMB Wall Reading Light to your wall at home using the support plate provided. It’s easy to detach and reattach when you like too, and features a fancy touch control panel to make life just that little bit easier.
Rechargeable: Yes | Runtime: 80 hours | Settings: 3 colors, 5 brightness levels | Lumens: Not specified
Pros:
Cons:
Don’t want to spend a lot of money on a book light? The Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clip is one of the most affordable reading lights around, and conveniently clips to your book with its flexible and multi-angle design. You can rotate the head 90 degrees left and right, and 45 degrees down to get the right angle.
If you want to chuck the Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clip in your bag so you can read on the long and boring commute to work, you’ll be pleased to know that it is shockproof, foldable, and lightweight.
It’s not the brightest light around, but for convenience, it’s hard to beat. This reading light features three color temperatures to suit your needs, as well as five adjustable brightness levels.
Rechargeable: No | Runtime: Not applicable | Settings: 3 colors, adjustable brightness | Lumens: 500
Pros:
Cons:
Take a break from your computer and read a few pages of your book, illuminated by the Honeywell HWT-H01 desk lamp. This stylish and modern-looking lamp produces a generous 500 lumens, has adjustable brightness settings from 10% to 100%, and features two charging ports. With USB-C and USB-A ports, you can charge up your devices while you take a 10-minute reading break.
While you can’t attach this light to your book, it is still very much portable if you want to take it with you to a hotel or move it from room to room. The Honeywell HWT-H01 folds down easily and can be adjusted from 0 to 180 degrees. With many purposes, this desk lamp is a great investment if you work or study at home.
Investing in a book light suggests you want to illuminate your reading space. And, since many of us read while traveling, in bed, or in other places, you’ll want something somewhat portable. That’s why many reading lamps or book lights are rechargeable, allowing you to de-tether yourself from the constraints of a plugged-in light.
Rechargeable lights should offer you a generous amount of reading time. There’s no point in getting a light that’s only going to last a few hours. Similarly, you’ll want to consider how long it takes to charge the light once it’s out of juice. Reading in darkness is not an option!
But other than portability and providing you with enough battery, a reading light should be adjustable to cater to your needs. This means you should be able to change the brightness and color levels, as well as the height and angle of the light.
What is the best lighting to read a book in?
The right lighting can make all the difference to your eye health and concentration. If you are reading your book with the aim to relax and drop off to sleep, a warmer and softer light up to 3,000K will be suitable. But if you’re reading your book to stay awake or you’re studying a paper, between 5,000K to 6,500K will improve your focus.
How many lumens do I need for a book light?
For daily reading and writing, a book light with at least 450 lumens should be suitable. Depending on the level of light in your environment, less may be sufficient.
Is it okay to read with a red light?
Red light is known not to badly affect melatonin levels, so if you’re reading a book in bed at night, a red light will ensure your sleep quality is not disrupted.
Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.
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TL;DR - These are the best book lights
- Glocusent Neck Reading Light
- Glocusent USB Book Light
- Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clamp
- TOPMB Wall Reading Light
- Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clip
- Honeywell HWT-H01
Whether you’re looking for a clip-on gooseneck light, rechargeable book light, or something you can attach to the wall overhead, there’s plenty to choose from.
Depending on where you read most - in bed, at home, or while traveling - might sway you to choose one reading lamp over another. Take a look at our recommendations for different users and scenarios.
1. Glocusent Neck Reading Light
Best Book Light Overall
Rechargeable: Yes | Runtime: 80 hours | Settings: 3 colors, 3 brightness levels | Lumens: 102
Pros:
- Hands-free
- Different color choices
Cons:
- Easy to press the power button while adjusting
The Glocusent Neck Reading Light is neck-mounted for convenience. Rather than attaching a device to your book or Kindle, you can simply wear one! There are two light beams to brighten your book’s pages, with three different colors and brightness levels to suit your requirements.
Using a USB-C charger, you can quickly charge up the device when it runs out of battery. On its lowest brightness settings, the Glocusent Neck Reading Light can last up to a whopping 80 hours.
Convenient, portable, and bright, this reading light is perfect for those who are looking for a hands-free design. It’s worth noting, however, if you do take this with you while traveling, the light has a tendency to turn on in your bag since there is no light lock.
2. Glocusent USB Book Light
Best Rechargeable Book Light
Rechargeable: Yes | Runtime: 80 hours | Settings: 3 colors, 5 brightness levels | Lumens: 18
Pros:
- Easy to place and adjust
- Small and compact
Cons:
- Slow charging
Another fantastic book light from Glocusent, the Glocusent USB Book Light is small, compact, and portable, allowing you to simply clip the light onto your book or device wherever you go. It’s also available in a range of bright colors, so you definitely won’t lose it
There are five levels of brightness and three color modes. Compared to the same brand’s neck reading light, it only has 18 lumens, so won’t be nearly as bright. However, for reading at home, it’s perfectly suitable and can easily be adjusted between 45 and 150 degrees.
The Glocusent USB Book Light does take quite a while to charge, so it’s recommended to do this overnight when you don’t need it. But at an affordable price and a conveniently small size, this is a great light for immersing yourself in your favorite book.
3. Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clamp
Best Gooseneck Light
Rechargeable: Yes | Runtime: 80 hours | Settings: 3 colors, adjustable brightness | Lumens: 60
Pros:
- All the colors to choose from!
- Anti-skid design
Cons:
- No memory function
Whether you’re reading a book on the train, or getting your Kindle out at home, the Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clamp is a great value reading light that’s hard to fault. It comes in countless different colors to suit everyone and firmly clamps onto any book or device. You can even use it on your laptop if you want to thanks to the anti-skid clip.
The neck can be adjusted 360 degrees, so you can get the perfect angle at all times. It takes around 2.5 hours to fully charge, making it a more powerful and convenient choice. With up to 80 hours of battery, you can read all night long without worrying that the lights will go out.
There are three color modes, and the adjustable brightness ranges from 10% to 100%, making it incredibly versatile.
4. TOPMB Wall Reading Light
Best Wall Light
Rechargeable: No | Runtime: Not applicable | Settings: 5 brightness levels | Lumens: 335
Pros:
- All the colors to choose from!
- Anti-skid design
Cons:
- No memory function
If you’re looking for a more permanent reading light, perhaps to install over your bed or desk, the TOPMB Wall Reading Light is worth considering. It offers five brightness levels with 335 lumens, providing plenty of light where you need it the most. And for added convenience, there’s a USB output on the mount so you can charge your phone or your Kindle at the same time.
After four hours, the light will automatically shut down, saving you from the hassle. If you’re someone who has the unique ability to fall asleep while reading a book, that’s another great reason to invest in this wall light.
Easily attach the TOPMB Wall Reading Light to your wall at home using the support plate provided. It’s easy to detach and reattach when you like too, and features a fancy touch control panel to make life just that little bit easier.
5. Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clip
Cheapest Reading Light
Rechargeable: Yes | Runtime: 80 hours | Settings: 3 colors, 5 brightness levels | Lumens: Not specified
Pros:
- Affordable
- Highly adjustable
Cons:
- Could be brighter
Don’t want to spend a lot of money on a book light? The Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clip is one of the most affordable reading lights around, and conveniently clips to your book with its flexible and multi-angle design. You can rotate the head 90 degrees left and right, and 45 degrees down to get the right angle.
If you want to chuck the Gritin Rechargeable Book Light Clip in your bag so you can read on the long and boring commute to work, you’ll be pleased to know that it is shockproof, foldable, and lightweight.
It’s not the brightest light around, but for convenience, it’s hard to beat. This reading light features three color temperatures to suit your needs, as well as five adjustable brightness levels.
6. Honeywell HWT-H01
Best Desk Lamp
Rechargeable: No | Runtime: Not applicable | Settings: 3 colors, adjustable brightness | Lumens: 500
Pros:
- Stylish design
- Dual charging ports
Cons:
- Corded - less versatile
Take a break from your computer and read a few pages of your book, illuminated by the Honeywell HWT-H01 desk lamp. This stylish and modern-looking lamp produces a generous 500 lumens, has adjustable brightness settings from 10% to 100%, and features two charging ports. With USB-C and USB-A ports, you can charge up your devices while you take a 10-minute reading break.
While you can’t attach this light to your book, it is still very much portable if you want to take it with you to a hotel or move it from room to room. The Honeywell HWT-H01 folds down easily and can be adjusted from 0 to 180 degrees. With many purposes, this desk lamp is a great investment if you work or study at home.
How to pick the best book light
Investing in a book light suggests you want to illuminate your reading space. And, since many of us read while traveling, in bed, or in other places, you’ll want something somewhat portable. That’s why many reading lamps or book lights are rechargeable, allowing you to de-tether yourself from the constraints of a plugged-in light.
Rechargeable lights should offer you a generous amount of reading time. There’s no point in getting a light that’s only going to last a few hours. Similarly, you’ll want to consider how long it takes to charge the light once it’s out of juice. Reading in darkness is not an option!
But other than portability and providing you with enough battery, a reading light should be adjustable to cater to your needs. This means you should be able to change the brightness and color levels, as well as the height and angle of the light.
FAQ
What is the best lighting to read a book in?
The right lighting can make all the difference to your eye health and concentration. If you are reading your book with the aim to relax and drop off to sleep, a warmer and softer light up to 3,000K will be suitable. But if you’re reading your book to stay awake or you’re studying a paper, between 5,000K to 6,500K will improve your focus.
How many lumens do I need for a book light?
For daily reading and writing, a book light with at least 450 lumens should be suitable. Depending on the level of light in your environment, less may be sufficient.
Is it okay to read with a red light?
Red light is known not to badly affect melatonin levels, so if you’re reading a book in bed at night, a red light will ensure your sleep quality is not disrupted.
Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.
Continue reading...