Best Products > Computer Components The 7 Best Desk Lamps of 2022 for Homes and Offices See why it's all about the lighting By David Beren David Beren Writer Nova Southeastern University David Beren is a former tech and commerce writer for Lifewire with 10+ years' experience. He has written and managed content for companies like T-Mobile, Sprint, and TracFone Wireless and contributor for sites like WebGeekStuff and MakeTechEasier. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 6, 2022 Fact checked by Stephen Slaybaugh Fact checked by Stephen Slaybaugh New York University London Metropolitan University Stephen Slaybaugh is a fact checker and music writer with with more than 20 years experience writing about internet retail and consumer tech. He has been featured in Digital Trends, DealNews, and TechRadar. He is a content designer at Bose Corporation and is completing his Master of Arts in Digital Media. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Computer Components Monitors Keyboards Mice Cards CPU USB/USB-C Storage Laptop Bags & Backpacks Printers We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. The best desk lamp is flexible, bright, and looks elegant perched on virtually any table or desktop. For our roundup, we chose options that would fit in office environments as well as they would in a home setting, and selected a broad gamut of design and style aesthetics so that, regardless of your personal taste, there's a lamp on our list for you. Our top choices are marriages of function and design. So whether you have a standing desk, are looking for something to fit in with your specific home decor, or really just want bright light, check out the best desk lamp options below. The Rundown Best Energy Saving: Lumiy Lightblade 1500S at Amazon Best for Customization: Lampat LED Desk Lamp at Amazon Best for Versatility: BYB E430 Architect Lamp at Amazon Best Budget: Sunbeam LED Desk Lamp at Amazon Best Design: Pablo Designs Pixo at Wayfair Best for Reading: BenQ e-Reading LED Desk Lamp at Amazon Best Cordless: Luxe LED Desk Lamp at Amazon in this article Expand Our Picks About Our Trusted Experts What to Look for in a Desk Lamp Best Energy Saving: Lumiy Lightblade 1500S LED Lamp 3 Courtesy of Amazon.com View On Amazon View On Walmart View On EBay What We Like Four color modes, each with a dedicated button USB port for charging devices Foam padding on the bottom What We Don't Like Expensive Plastic design feels cheap and flimsy Highly reflective surfaces Lightblade 1500S LED Lamp Review As LED lamps continue to grow in popularity (thanks to their energy-saving benefits), the Lightblade 1500S is a superb combination of looks and performance with an omnidirectional pivoting head that enables complete control over the direction of light. The LED light bulbs mean just 1 watt of power is used at the lowest brightness and 8 watts at maximum brightness, producing a total of 1100 lux of brightness overall. In addition to a USB port for charging a smartphone, our reviewer discovered this lamp also has capacitive sensors that are directly incorporated into the base of it, so it's touch-friendly. The total brightness of the lamp results in a color rendering index of 93 CRI (color rendering index), which is just below the 100 CRI product by natural sunlight. The CRI itself helps determine the lamp’s ability to accurately display any desk-based objects full color underneath the lamplight. Lights/Brightness: 1500 lux | Color Temperature Range: 93 CRI | Color Modes: 4 | Adjustable: Yes "Its plastic design, puts it firmly in the budget category while offering slightly superior arm rotation and attractive touch buttons on the base." — Eric Watson, Product Tester Lifewire Best for Customization: Lampat LED Desk Lamp 3.4 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like Great price Four color modes, each with a dedicated button USB port for charging devices Foam padding on the bottom What We Don't Like Plastic design feels cheap and flimsy High reflective surfaces Lampat LED Lamp Review If eye-protection and personalization are your major checkpoints, then look no further than the Lampat LED Desk Lamp. Our expert reviewer confirmed that it features four lighting modes and five levels of brightness which can be adjusted via touch-screen controls. The LED bulb skillfully mimics natural light and boasts a color rendering index of more than 90, meaning it illuminates color with almost true-to-life accuracy. It’s also energy-efficient and offers a 25-year lifespan. Physically, the Lampat also provides a good amount of flexibility and maneuverability. The arm bends forward up to 40 degrees, the lamp head has an adjustable tilt of up to 140 degrees, and it rotates up to 180 degrees. Additionally, the Lampat includes a USB charging port and an automatic 30- to 60-minute timer. Lights/Brightness: 530 lumen | Color Temperature Range: 2500-7000k | Color Modes: 4 | Adjustable: Yes "The Lampat serves up a decent choice for the budget desk lamp shopper with its four-color mode options, five brightness levels, and handy touch panel." — Eric Watson, Product Tester Lifewire / Jordan Provost Best for Versatility: BYB E430 LED Architect Lamp 3.4 Courtesy of Amazon.com View On Amazon What We Like Sturdy, durable swing arms Modern touchscreen controls with a minimal design Slide bar for brightness dimming Includes Allen wrenches for adjustments What We Don't Like Lighting modes are cycled with a single button Touchscreen buttons are located on the top of the LED panel Expensive BYB E430 LED Lamp Review The swinging desk arm of the BYB E430 LED desk lamp offers a functional lighting that’s uniquely and solidly designed. Featuring a highly adjustable clamp that can be attached to the edge of any desk, there’s a memory function for separate lighting modes and six different dimming modes to help suit any mood. The incorporated touch panel helps adjust each of the lighting and dimming modes, while the 144 included LED bulbs use 80 percent less energy than conventional bulbs, which allows for a lifespan of more than 50,000 hours. Beyond energy-efficiency, BYB took great effort to help protect our reviewer's eyes with an innovative light guide panel that helps prevent light flickering and harmful glares. Ultimately, this design feature means a less fatiguing experience overall. Lights/Brightness: 1000 lux | Color Temperature Range: 2700-6000k | Color Modes: 4 | Adjustable: Yes "Even among swing arm lamps, the BYB E430 is among the most expensive options you can find." — Eric Watson, Product Tester Lifewire Best Budget: Sunbeam Flexible LED Desk Lamp Amazon View On Amazon View On EBay What We Like Great price tag Three levels of dimming Rotating head and flexible neck Sturdy base What We Don't Like Single button interaction Some reports of turning on by itself With an incredibly attractive price tag, this little adjustable LED light from Sunbeam is the perfect budget desk lamp. Press the single button to turn the lamp on or off and cycle through the three levels of dimming: full brightness, half brightness, and a "night light" mode that is only 5 percent brightness. The lamp head rotates and the neck is super flexible so you can position it however you need it. The base is surprisingly heavy for such an inexpensive item, ensuring that it won't tip over no matter how you angle the lamp. The eight LED bulbs last 36,000 hours and the whole thing is guaranteed to operate for at least three years from the date of purchase. That alone makes it a pretty great deal, but the quality build, additional dimming features, and adjustability make it an exceptionally good desk lamp for the price. Lights/Brightness: 280 lumens | Color Temperature Range: 4000k | Color Modes: N/A | Adjustable: Yes The 5 Best Portable Solar Chargers of 2022 Best Design: Pablo Designs Pixo 17" Desk Lamp Courtesy of Wayfair View On Wayfair What We Like Simple and functional design Green-friendly material 50,000 hour lifespan Built-in USB charger What We Don't Like Expensive The design of the Pixo Optical LED Lamp strikes a fine balance between simple and functional, but with a fun, quirky silhouette. The frame is made with 97-percent recyclable materials: top-quality aluminum for the arm and polycarbonate for the lampshade and base cover. The Pixo boasts a high level of mobility, with a 180-degree arm tilt and 360-degree rotation in both the arm and the shade. The elegant LED light produces a pleasantly warm glow, and the battery offers a remarkable 50,000-hour lifespan. It’s also energy-efficient, with a max consumption of 6W per use and features a full dimmer switch. Finally, the base includes a built-in USB charger, and the platform itself functions as a holder for your phone or other small objects. Also, for the best fit for your home’s carefully crafted color scheme, the Pixo comes in six different colors (including azure, black, and white and brass) and is sure to bring a bit of flair to your desk space. Lights/Brightness: 325 lumens | Color Temperature Range: 90 CRI | Color Modes: N/A | Adjustable: Yes Best for Reading: BenQ e-Reading LED Desk Lamp Courtesy of Amazon.com View On Amazon View On Benq.com What We Like Supports 50,000 hours of use Flicker-free technology Built-in ambient sensor Mood lighting tones What We Don't Like Expensive BenQ’s dedicated e-reading and reading LED desk lamp is the perfect addition to the office of any engineer, architect or even for students with late-night study habits. The inclusion of BenQ’s lighting technology offers LED panels that are good for more than 50,000 hours or eight hours a day of lighting every day for the next 17 years. Beyond lifespan, BenQ incorporated zero flicker technology for a flicker-free experience that could place less harm on some users' eyes. The built-in ambient sensor offers multiple different touches on the control ring to automatically detect the brightness level of a room and adjust brightness accordingly. When it comes to positioning, the ball-joint base helps you to find the angle you need for the best reading experience. Lights/Brightness: 1800 lux | Color Temperature Range: 2700-5700k | Color Modes: N/A | Adjustable: Yes The 7 Best LED Light Kits of 2022 Best Cordless: Luxe LED Desk Lamp Courtesy of Amazon.com View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like Wireless design 18 settings, 6 brightness levels, 3 light modes Certified for 50,000 hours of use What We Don't Like Uses micro USB cable Variable battery recharge time Skip the cords once and for all with the Luxe wireless LED desk lamp that provides up to 40 hours of continuous light before requiring a charge. With a total of 18 unique settings, there are six different levels of brightness and three light modes incorporated into the 360-degree customizable design that's capable of rotating, twisting, and bending. Additionally, the LED panels feature 28 built-in LED lamps that will last for more than 50,000 hours of use. The lithium-polymer battery supports anywhere between 3 to 40 hours of continuous runtime with just three hours of charging via the included charging cable. Add in one meter of fall protection and you’re looking at a durable lamp that’s both attractive and long-lasting. Lights/Brightness: 150-200 lumens | Color Temperature Range: N/A | Color Modes: 3 | Adjustable: Yes The 7 Best Standing Desks of 2022 Final Verdict If you're looking for a simple solution, and want to save some cash in the long run, the Lightblade 1500S (view at Amazon) is a high-quality choice that has great energy-saving potential. About Our Trusted Experts Eric Watson has five years of experience reviewing consumer tech and games. He specializes in accessories, lighting, and mobile devices, testing numerous lamps on this roundup. FAQ What's up with this weird bulb? Can you replace it? Most desk lamps have replaced old-fashioned incandescent bulbs with LED fixtures which have a number of advantages over their older counterparts. They last much longer and are more energy-efficient, meaning you likely will never have to replace them. Also, some bulbs can be adjusted for brightness and temperature based on your preferred lighting environment. These bulbs can still be replaced but are often specific to the kind of lamp you're using, so make sure to check your lamp's specifications before ordering a replacement. Do LED bulbs get hot? Another fun benefit of the widespread adoption of LED bulbs is the amount of heat they give off compared to old-fashioned fluorescents which is low to virtually non-existent. LED bulbs will get a bit warm to the touch after prolonged use, but don't present the same hazard as older models. Will any of these lamps help with Seasonal Affective Disorder? (SAD) SAD can be used to describe a multitude of symptoms stemming from a general lack of sunlight that most people experience during the winter months when some people can get as little as 7 hours of sunlight. These symptoms can be even worse for people with office jobs. To help alleviate the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, the Mayo Clinic recommends a lightbox that projects a minimum of 10,000 lux, the relative equivalent to exposure to full daylight. Unfortunately, even the brightest LED bulbs fall far short of that mark at around 500 lux. What to Look for in a Desk Lamp Light Color You’ve likely heard about the potential dangers of blue light, which is why it’s especially important to pay attention to the color of light coming from your lamp. Many lamps allow you to customize their light color, from blue to white to a warm yellow or orange. Some lamps come with a night mode that lowers the brightness to 5 percent so you can find your way to the bathroom without tripping. The inclusion of flicker-free technology on higher-end models give you evenly distributed light at 50-60Hz. USB Port and Charging Many desk lamp models come with built-in USB ports. If you don’t have a convenient port or outlet to charge your phone nearby, consider buying a model that has one included. This also eliminates the need to have extra-long cords that tangle up and make everything appear messy. You can also get wireless lamps that can be topped up with micro USB or USB-C, and some even have a wireless charging pad built into their base for additional charging options. Style You’ll be looking at your lamp every time you’re at your desk, so it makes sense to choose a model that reflects your personal taste. A lamp’s design also affects its functionality: Some desk lamp styles are cordless, which is very convenient if you need it to be portable or don’t have a convenient outlet available. You'll want a lamp that's flexible and versatile, so consider how much adjustability you need. A 360-degree head can let you rotate and cast light wherever you need, though a lesser swing of 150 degrees might still cut it if you plan to have it just on your desk. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit