The Best Reading Lamps

Nxone Reading Floor Lamp

Custom experience

From height to brightness, this lamp can always give you what you need to read.

Best Overall

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If you need a versatile reading lamp that can be adjusted for the whole family, this floor lamp by Nxone is the one for you. It’s so easy to operate that almost any child or adult can easily use it for reading, writing, or simply lighting the room. Nearly everything about it is adjustable, including the height, brightness, color temperature, and angle, and the addition of a remote makes it even more convenient. We especially like to put it at the right height for our recliner and then angle it to shine perfectly onto our book.

Pros:

• A handy remote controls all of the light settings, so you only have to move if you need to adjust the angle
• A memory function retains your settings for your next reading session
• It can be dim enough for low-light bedtime reading or bright enough to light a room

Cons:

• This lamp is a bit pricey for a reading lamp, but the versatility and quality are worth it for us
• It’s relatively easy to knock over, which can be an issue when you have kids and pets

TaoTronics Desk Lamp

Convenient choice

This easy-to-use lamp charges your devices while you read.

Best For Desk

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If you own a desk, you need a desk lamp — simple as that. They help you get your work done without straining your eyes, and many come with convenient features to make them even more useful. One of our favorite options is the TaoTronics desk lamp. Its simple design is user-friendly for kids of any age, while the sleek look and convenient features make it ideal for adults. The seven brightness levels and five color modes are controlled by simply tapping the touch control or long-pressing it as needed. And it does all that using less power than almost any other light option.

Pros:

• There’s a built-in USB port so you can charge your phone or tablet while you read
• Every part of this lamp can swivel and move for a customizable experience
• It comes in several color options so that you can match the rest of the room without a problem

Cons:

• The cost is higher than we’d like for such a small lamp
• It takes a bit to learn all the patterns that control the brightness and color modes

Topelek Rechargeable Book Light

Sensibly simple

Recharge and adjust this portable little light for hours of reading.

Best Clip-On

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For the ultimate in control and convenience, you can’t beat Topelek’s rechargeable book light. It clips onto your book and bends to illuminate the pages while you read. We love that it isn’t too bright, which means it won’t interrupt your sleeping partner or kids. Speaking of kids, they will love it, too — it makes sharing a room a little less frustrating because while one child reads, the other can get some rest. As a bonus, its adjustable color temperature makes it ideal for bedtime reading.

Pros:

• Each charge lasts up to 60 hours, and you can recharge it whenever you need to
• There are lots of modes built-in, so you can always set it to the most comfortable color and brightness levels
• It’s very affordable

Cons:

• This light is tiny, so don’t expect it to work for more than one family member at a time
• It isn’t as durable as we’d hope

EverBrite Reading Headlamps Five-Pack

Affordable set

Everyone in your house can read to their hearts' content when you get this neat set of headlamps.

Best Value

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As we were prepping for our next camping adventure, we grabbed these headlamps by EverBrite. That’s when we realized they could work just as well at home. This set comes with five headlamps that all have adjustable brightness levels. That means your kiddos can use it on dim for reading and then turn the brightness up to see their way to the bathroom or kitchen at night.

Pros:

• This is a low-cost set, making it affordable for everyone to get one
• Batteries are included to make it convenient to get started
• The lights angle is adjustable, as is the headband

Cons:

• They aren’t super durable
• Although they adjust to fit, small kids find them a bit heavy to wear for long

Flexilight Pals Reading Lights

Stylishly fun

Surprise your little bookworm with one of these adorable reading lights.

Best For Kids

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To help make reading a bit more fun for young learners, these Flexilight Pals are our secret weapon. These adorable little lights feature tons of cute characters, patterns, and colors, making it easy to find one your youngster will warm up to. Plus, they’re super thin, which means they easily double as convenient bookmarks, so kids have fewer accessories to keep track of. When they are ready to read, they can slide it onto the cover and angle it down to brighten up the pages.

Pros:

• There are lots of fun colors and designs to choose from, and they’re all affordable
• The light is bright enough for your child to read by without bothering slumbering siblings
• Cute characters and prints can make even the youngest readers eager to open up their books

Cons:

• We wish the batteries lasted a bit longer
• It can slip off of the cover, so you may need to reposition it while you read

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a book lamp come in useful?

Book lamps are the best option when you or your kids want to read at night. They brighten up the pages so that you can see all of the words and illustrations clearly without worrying about bothering anyone else. They’re also helpful for supporting healthy sleep habits. Bright overhead lights keep your body in “daytime” mode. Using a small book lamp helps you darken the room without making it impossible to see, and many allow you to adjust their color temperature to make it easier on your eyes.

Should I be letting my kids read at night after their bedtime?

We won’t tell you how to parent because no two kids are alike. But we’ve found that giving our kids the option to read with a book light at night is a fantastic way to compromise. They get to stay up late, and they aren’t forced to go to sleep when they aren’t tired. At the same time, they aren’t being exposed to harmful blue light or bright overhead lights that can disrupt their natural sleep patterns, so they will get sleepy faster than they would have if they were using their phones or other screens.