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Best LED Lamps

Updated January 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
BenQ e-reading LED Desk Lamp
BenQ
e-reading LED Desk Lamp
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

A great desk LED lamp that protects your eyes as you work in front of a monitor for extended periods of time.

Pros

The design of the lamp allows users to bend the lamp over the monitor or stand it straight to cover a larger area. It is small enough to free up space. Extremely energy-efficient and FCC-certified to help protect your eyes.

Cons

The lamp is heavy and thus not extremely portable.

Best Bang for the Buck
Trond Halo
Trond
Halo
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Light & Portable
Bottom Line

A good choice if you value portability, but some other models offer more bells and whistles for a similar price.

Pros

Ultra-lightweight, portable model that attaches with a simple clip. Long gooseneck (19.7 inches) emits bright, diffused light. Features a 3-step dimmer with a memory function.

Cons

LED bulb is not replaceable. Clip doesn’t grip as securely as clamps.

Brightech Sky LED Torchiere
Brightech
Sky LED Torchiere
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Cool Operation
Bottom Line

A stylish, minimalist floor lamp that provides ambient lighting without using much electricity.

Pros

Lamp head can be tilted to direct light. Integrated 30-watt LED bulb produces up to 2,260 lumens with adjustable brightness. Weighted base. Not a fire hazard like halogen torchieres.

Cons

LED lighting element is not replaceable. Could be taller.

Phive Architect
Phive
Architect
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Great for Working
Bottom Line

A solid choice with excellent flexibility; great for illuminating work tables and desks.

Pros

Exceptionally thin, space-saving design. Flexible, adjustable arm. Diffused light is easy on the eyes even at high brightness. Boasts step-less dimming and setting memory.

Cons

Control button is awkwardly placed and very sensitive.

Lepro Smart Table Lamp
Lepro
Smart Table Lamp
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Bedside Color
Bottom Line

A serene, smart home-capable table lamp with millions of colors for living rooms or bedrooms.

Pros

Can produce up to 16 million colors and multiple temperatures of white light. Diffused light is easy on the eyes. Simple controls. Compatible with Alexa and Google Home.

Cons

2.4GHz WiFi only. Joining a network more complicated than necessary.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
190
Consumers
Consulted
8
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best LED lamps

Lamps haven’t changed all that much since the invention of the light bulb – until recently, that is. If you want to stay on the cutting edge, choose an LED lamp. Thanks to their LED bulbs, these lamps are far more energy-efficient than regular lamps. Not only is this better for the environment, it will also save you money on your energy bill.

You’ll need to decide whether you want a tall floor lamp for the living room, a table lamp by your bed, or a desk lamp for your working area. You may also need to relearn everything you thought you knew about bulb strength and brightness because LED lamps have a significantly lower wattage than incandescent bulbs of the same brightness.

There’s no need to worry, though, because our buying guide has all the information you need to choose your perfect LED lamp.

Content Image
The majority of LED lamps feature built-in LED bulbs, but some take replaceable LED bulbs.

Key considerations

Lamp type

The majority of LED lamps fall into one of three categories: desk lamps, table lamps, or floor lamps.

Desk lamps are practical, though not always particularly stylish, and are designed for use while working at a desk. They’re great for providing extra light when doing homework, drawing, painting, crafting, or performing any other task that requires good lighting. They tend to be adjustable so you can angle the light right where you need it.

Table lamps are small lamps designed to provide ambient lighting. If your overhead lights are too bright for relaxing, a couple of table lamps or a table lamp and a floor lamp will provide a more relaxed lighting scheme. They’re also great for use on bedside tables.

Floor lamps are tall freestanding lamps, usually measuring between 50 and 70 inches tall. They’re versatile lamps that can be used instead of or in addition to overhead lighting.

Lighting style

The majority of LED lamps either produce uplighting or downlighting, but some give you a combination of the two or full 360-degree lighting. Downlighting is light that’s directed downward toward the floor or table. It’s a must-have for desk lamps or any lamps you want to read by. Uplighting is when light is directed upward toward the ceiling. It’s useful when you want mild ambient lighting or for highlighting a painting or other feature. LED table lamps without shades give you 360-degree lighting, which is useful in some cases but can also feel too bright.

Bulb strength

LED lights require little in the way of wattage to produce light, which is why they’re so energy-efficient. You might expect a six-watt bulb to produce about as much illumination as the indicator light on your oven, but a six-watt LED bulb is the equivalent of a 40-watt incandescent bulb and gives off 450 lumens of light. It makes more sense to compare the strength of LED lamps in lumens, since their low wattage can make it difficult to tell how bright they are. Between 400 and 700 lumens is ideal for most lamps, which is between five and 10 watts in LED bulbs.

Features

Color changing

It’s fairly common for LED lamps to have a color changing feature. This allows you to change the color of the lamp’s light on the red-blue-green (RBG) spectrum, giving you a wide range of color options.

Shade

Some LED lamps come with a shade. Lampshades dim the light from the bulb slightly so it’s not too bright, but they also direct the light. For instance, a straight shade with openings of the same size on the top and bottom will give you equal amounts of uplighting and downlighting.

Adjustability

Consider the adjustability of your chosen LED lamp. Check whether you can physically adjust the angle of the lamp and whether you can adjust the brightness and color temperature of the bulb.

"LED lamps are usually made from metal or plastic, but you can occasionally find more traditional-looking wood or ceramic options."
STAFF
BestReviews

LED lamp prices

Simple LED desk lamps and table lamps cost as little as $15 to $30. These lamps tend to be on the smaller side.

Mid-range options cost around $30 to $50. In this price range, you’ll find both intricate table lamps and basic floor lamps.

High-end LED lamps cost between $50 and $100. Most options in this price range are stylish floor lamps.

Tips

  • Consider whether aesthetics matter to you. You can find LED lamps in all kinds of decorative styles. If you want a practical work lamp, appearance may not matter so much. However, you’re likely to care what your lamp looks like if you want to create feature lighting in your living room.

  • Check what kind of controls your LED lamp uses. LED lamps often have more functions than standard lamps, including color changing and adjustable brightness. Therefore, they often have more complex controls than just an on/off switch. These may be touch controls or buttons. Some LED lamps can be controlled via a remote or an app.

  • Choose the correct LED lamp for the task. Desk lamps are best for desks or other work areas, for instance, whereas floor lamps are great when you want a softer alternative to overhead lighting.

  • Find out the size of your chosen LED lamp. Some LED lamps are smaller than expected, so check the dimensions before you buy to avoid being disappointed.

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Some LED desk lamps must be clamped to the edge of a desk or table, but most can stand independently.

FAQ

Q. How long will my LED lamp last?
A. An average LED bulb lasts between 30,000 and 50,000 hours. Even if you have your LED lamp switched on for 10 hours a day, 365 days a year, it will last roughly eight to 13 years. If you’ve chosen an LED lamp with a built-in LED bulb, this limits the lifespan of the lamp to the lifespan of the bulb. This isn’t a bad life for a lamp, but you may be able to get a new bulb fitted professionally if you don’t want to be wasteful. If your LED lamp uses replaceable LED bulbs, you can simply replace the old bulb with a new one when it stops working.
 

Q. What is color temperature?
A. Color temperature is measured in Kelvins (K) and is used to describe the look and feel of the light produced by a bulb. Most residential lighting falls somewhere between 2,000 and 4,500 on the Kelvin scale but can occasionally be higher. Anything between 2,000K and 3,000K is classed as warm white.

This light has a slightly orange or yellow tinge to it and tends to feel cozy and inviting. Color temperatures between 3,100K and 4,500K are cool white, which is either pure white or has a slight blue tint. These color temperatures feel bright and vibrant and are great for desk lamps or other lamps in working environments.
 

Q. How much money can I save using an LED lamp?
A. The exact running cost of an LED lamp will vary depending on the wattage of the lamp, how often you use it, and the unit price of your electricity. That said, assuming you’re on an average-price energy plan, it will cost less than $2 per year to run a 10-watt LED lamp for five hours a day. Comparatively, it would cost around $10 per year to run an incandescent lamp of the same brightness for five hours a day.

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