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Best Portable Desk Lamps for Your Work & Illumination in 2022

Best portable desk lamps are a great way to illuminate your working space for reading, working, and studying without having any overhead lights on; they are more energy-efficient and less harsh for your eyes. They can light up your working space, or a limited area depending on your needs.

These portable lamps are great at lighting working area, and can easily be moved as needed. The following article will list the top 7 portable desk lamps that are currently available on the market, as well as a comprehensive buying guide; allowing you to make an informed decision regarding your next purchase.

 

In a hurry? There are the best we picked for you:

Foldable for Space Saving and Easy to Carry Around – TaoTronics LED Lamp for Eyes

Small in Size for Kids’ Room – Simple Designs Mini Lamp

Adjustable and Able to Clip it on Headboard and Table – CeSunlight Gooseneck Lamp

Rechargeable for Outdoor UseLustrat Minimalist Table Lamp

 

Why Do you Need to Buy a Portable Desk Lamp?

Portable desk lamps are perfect for proving an additional amount of light when you are working on a project around the home, reading, or for studying.

They are capable of going with you wherever you need them to be, and won’t be as harsh for your eyes as overhead lights can be. Some of the benefits of having a portable desk lamp include:

  • Focus our Attention

Whether you are using a portable desk lamp as an accessory piece on your furniture or to illuminate the area that you are working in, they are great at drawing your attention to a specific area.

For instance, if you are working on a paper and need to focus, they are great at keeping your attention where the light is illuminated. For those who get distracted easily or need to focus on a particular project, these products are great ways to do so.

  • Reduced Eye Strain

best portable desk lamp for your eyes reviewDesk lamps are great at reducing eye strain as we work. Ambient lighting is great to have when you are not working on a project for the right amount of light, and when you need to read or write at your desk, they can provide the right amount of lighting to do so.

With portable table lamps, glare, and shadows are minimized, which also allows you to be more productive by seeing what you are working on and staying focused on the project at hand.

  • Light Stimulation

Light is a great way to increase our moods, productivity, and overall well being. For those who can’t work with natural light, or tend to work when the sun is down, providing a good source of light such as that found in a portable desk lamp can do wonders.

They are fantastic at providing ambient light while in a specific room or area of the home, and when needed they can help you to see what you are working on. For reading, they will reduce the amount of strain for your eyes and elevate your mood.

 

What Is a Good Portable Desk Lamp?

Desk lamps are a great way to provide additional light into your room, or create a better working space for yourself and others. Some will have additional features like lighting effects and level of lighting, while others may be more aesthetically pleasing.

A good desk lamp will be one that is sturdy, reliable, easy to operate, and has the right amount of lighting that you require. Some things to take into consideration when looking to purchase a portable desk lamp include:

Size and type

Knowing what size and type of lamp you are looking for will make it easier to decide on a purchase. You will want to find one that is the right size for your desk or table while maintaining the amount of lighting and features that you will need.

A basic rule of thumb is that smaller lamps will cost less, although they are not capable of providing as much light as others.

Lighting

Having the right amount of lighting provided by your desk lamp is also an important consideration.

It is important to think about how much light you are wanting it to produce, as well as if you would like the amount of light to vary depending on your needs.

Some lamps will have options to change the amount of light that is filtering in your room, as well as the warmth of that light.

Price

Desk lamps are one of those products that can vary in price quite a bit. While you may have a budget in mind, it is important to know what the low-end and high-end of that budget may be.

For instance, if you find a lamp within your low-end budget but can upgrade to one that has all the lighting and features that you would need, it might be a good idea to upgrade.

 

Reviews of the 7 Best Portable Desk Lamps

#1. Hot Sale – TaoTronics LED Portable Desk Lamp

TaoTronics led portable desk lamp for workbench

Pros

  • Energy Efficient
  • Multiple lighting modes to choose from
  • Easy on your eyes while being versatile
  • USB port makes charging electronics easy

Cons

  • There is not a replaceable bulb available after this one burns out

A good quality desk lamp that has a unique design while being durable and budget-friendly, this lamp from TaoTronics is also gentle on the eyes while in use as a source of light during your workday. It is a great choice for reading, working, and studying; while emitting a flicker-free light that will brighten up any space without producing a harsh light.

You have the option to choose between 5 color modes and 7 brightness settings, giving you more versatility and allowing you to choose the setting that is perfect for your needs. With the USB charging port located at the base of this lamp, you can keep your phone or tablet within reach even when it is charging, without needing an additional outlet.

Easy to swivel and energy-efficient, this light uses LED technology with great performance allowing you to save money on energy costs.

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#2. Best Rated – Deacon Portable Desk Light with Gooseneck for Living Room

vintage portable desk lamp with swing arm reading light

Pros

  • Multiple designed available to choose from
  • USB port and power outlet at the base of the lamp
  • Gooseneck lamp head for additional lighting access
  • Each style is elegant and comes with the lampshade

Cons

  • While not the most expensive on the market, this lamp may be outside of some budgets (Around $120)

Available in 4 different styles, this desk lamp from Deacon features 2 lights in one; regardless of the style that you choose. Coupled with the USB port and an additional power outlet located in the base, this portable desk lamp gives you a lot of versatility and additional functionality.

This lamp comes with a main traditional 60-watt bulb socket while it also comes with a GU10 LED gooseneck arm light that is perfect for illuminating your working area more precisely. You also can have one light on while the other isn’t, thanks to the dual switch design on the base of this lamp.

The gooseneck light is fully adjustable and can swivel to point exactly where you need it to, while the light is bright enough that you can see what you are working on with ease. The lampshade is included, and depending on the style of the lamp chosen, it will either be beige or white.

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#3. Cheap – Simple Design Mini Nursery Lamp

mini portable table lamp

Pros

  • Budget-friendly
  • Compact and won’t take up a lot of room
  • Multiple color options to choose from for the shade
  • Simple in design and functions well, doing the job it was designed for

Cons

  • No additional features; a basic lamp

Simple in design, this budget-friendly option from Simple Designs features a simple chrome base and comes available in multiple color options for the lampshade. While there are not any additional features associated with this product such as a USB port, it is great at providing enough light for your working area to see what you are needing to focus on.

A perfect option for areas where space is limited, this lamp won’t take up a lot of room and is great for any type of room in your home. Because you can choose the color of the lampshade, you are guaranteed to be able to have this fit in with your current aesthetic of any room in your home; it is versatile and compact enough that it won’t take up a lot of room and is a great option for areas where space may be limited, although you are wanting some extra lighting.

Compatible with 40-watt lightbulbs, it may not produce as much lighting as other options, but the price point is an ideal budget for many who are just starting in their own space, or for college students.

Check on Amazon

 

#4. Space-Saving – CeSunlight Clip-on Desk Lamp

portable desk lamp with strong clamp

Pros

  • Multiple lighting options to choose from
  • Easy to clip on to a multitude of surfaces
  • Portable to use in any room of your home
  • Works with either a USB cord or power outlet

Cons

  • No batteries included, therefore, can only operate where there is electric power

A great option if you are running on limited space yet need extra lighting, this desk lamp from CeSunlight will clamp to your desk or table and allows you to choose either from low to high lighting. With the two levels of brightness, you also can choose from up to 6 illumination modes and can clip onto your headboard if you want to use this to read in bed.

This functions very well, especially considering it is at a lower price point and is guaranteed not to flicker at lower light settings like some other products are prone to do. You have the option to plug this into either a power outlet or use the USB cord, allowing you to plug it in wherever you may need it to be.

It is easy to clip onto most surfaces, including headboards, desks, and tables; giving you complete portability and versatility.

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#5. Cordless – Lustrat Portable Rechargeable Battery Operated Desk Lamp

folable table light

Pros

  • Comes in at a decent price for what is offered
  • Rechargeable battery with 3 ways to power on
  • Different lighting modes offer increased versatility
  • Sleek and won’t take up a lot of counter space for your desk or table

Cons

  • The bulbs can’t get replaceable

If you are looking for a good cordless option, then the portable LED desk lamp from Lustrat is a great choice. The sleek design of this lamp and the option to go cordless will give you more freedom, and this product takes up very little space as relates to others on the market.

The minimalistic design of this lamp comes with a high-quality rechargeable battery; you can choose to power this by way of the battery, electrical outlet. or even a USB port. There are 3 lighting modes available, which allows you to choose the perfect amount of light for the time of day and activity that you are working on.

This is a great option for those with a limited amount of space, or if you are looking for a product that does not need to be plugged into a power source constantly to function properly.

Check on Amazon

 

#6. With Glass Shade – Simple Design Antique Style Lantern Desk Lamp

industrial portable desk lamp

Pros

  • Available in different colors
  • Durable and will last a long time
  • Allows for more light to filter through the room
  • Elegant design that can fit into any type of interior design scheme

Cons

  • The bulbs are not included

One of the more elegant options on this list, this lamp from Simple Designs features a glass lampshade that will allow for more light to enter your living space, as well as give the option for more aesthetics. Available in 4 different colors to choose from, there is one that will fit in with the design scheme that you are looking for, and are highly durable while maintaining a lower price point.

These lights are fantastic at saving space on your counter, nightstand, or desk and allow more light to enter the room using a lower wattage bulb. They are easy to turn off and on thanks to the convenient switch on the power cord, and guests will comment on the modernized clean lines that they provide. A great choice for a functional and great looking workspace that will keep you productive as well as provide ambient lighting.

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#7. For Nightstand – Lifeholder Cylinder Portable Desk Lamp

bedroom portable desk lamp

Pros

  • Easy to operate
  • Does not take up a lot of room
  • Provides a good amount of lighting
  • Simple design that is budget-friendly

Cons

  • You need to buy sperate bulbs

If you are looking for a great desktop lamp that will provide enough light while you are in bed reading or working, the Lifeholder table lamp is a great option that won’t break the bank. It is compact yet provides an ample amount of light, without taking up a lot of space in your living area.

Included in the purchase of this product is a high-quality linen lamp shade that features the same look and aesthetic that the rest of the lamp base offers. Easy to turn off and on, the switch is located on the power cord which is long enough to reach across your room to make it easy to plug in and operate.

There may not be any additional features available, but for the lower price point, you get a solid lamp that will allow plenty of light to read and work in bed. When not needed for a reading light, this provides a good amount of ambient light that is not too harsh, while being able to easily provide the right amount of lighting to any room.

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How Many Lumens Can I Expect for a Portable Desk Lamp?

To decide how many lumens is accurate for your personal needs, it is important to understand exactly what lumens are. To get scientific and technical for a minute, the term lumens is used to describe the visible brightness that a lightbulb produces.

A 60-watt light bulb will produce roughly 650 lumens, and research has shown that the ideal lumen range for a desk lamp that allows you to read and work without straining your eyes is in the 400-500 lumen range; meaning that a 45-watt bulb would be ideal.

However, that will also depend on the project or task that you are currently working on. For more delicate tasks such as building a model or working with precise instruments and figures, you may require a desk lamp that has lumens of up to 800; in some cases, over 1000 lumens.

Knowing the ratio of lumens to lightbulb wattage will help you to understand this. It is almost a 1:1 ratio; however, lumens do tend to run around 50 units higher than lightbulb wattage. To make this easier to follow and incorporate into your personal life, it is easy to note that a lightbulb will be around 50 units less lumens than it would be wattage; and vise versa.

So for instance, if you are using a desk lamp to read, the appropriate lumen measurement would be around 450; meaning you would want to use a lightbulb that has either 45-50 watts.

As we touched on above, if you are doing repair work, or working on computer, you are going to want to have a higher wattage bulb and lumen rating; at least twice as much as would be necessary for reading and writing, and more along the 800-1000 lumen range.

That, of course, will be dependant on the type of project that you are working on.

 

What Is the Best Portable Desk Lamp?

TaoTronics led portable desk lamp for workbench

When you are considering your next purchase of a portable desk lamp, it’s important to take into consideration how a particular lamp will affect the strain on your eyes.

You won’t want to choose one that is too dim, and this may cause you to strain too much to see what you are working on.

On the flip side, you also won’t want to choose a desk lamp that emits too much light, as this can be too much for your eyes to take in at a time.

In addition to the amount of light produced, you will also want to consider the other light settings that some portable desk lamps have, as well.

For instance, if you are working in a room with a decent amount of natural light during the day, you will probably only want the lamp on the lowest setting; however, if you tend to work at night or need more light after the sun goes down, you will want to choose a lamp that can have a decent amount of light output when needed.

For these reasons, the best lamp on the list for lessening the strain on your eyes will most likely be the first one; the TaoTronics LED Portable Desk Lamp. This features an LED bulb which is a great choice for your eyes.

 

Conclusion

It is our sincere hope that after reading this article you will be able to decide on your next portable desktop lamp easily. All of the products listed above are budget-friendly without being cheaply made or designed, durable, and are fantastic at illuminating your working area without being harsh on your eyes, as well as offering multiple additional features.

Our buying guide listed above will also help you to understand some other aspects of what a good quality portable desktop lamp should have.