Best Book Light For Reading in Bed in 2023

E-book readers like Kindle and Nook may be the preferred choice for a new generation of bookworms. But a lot of us still love reading the good old way, using books. And you need the best booklight for reading comfortably in the evening, night, and in other low light conditions.

We have the most comprehensive list of the best lights for reading available online. Check out our handy comparison table for a quick look at the features of the shortlisted products. If you want more detailed review, continue on to the next section. And if you are new to buying reading lights, we even have a handy buyer’s guide at the end. Have fun!

Best Book Light Comparison Table

1. Book Lights
2. Table Lights

Best Book Lights Reviews

Raniaco LED Clip Reading Light – Best Book Light For Reading In Bed

The Raniaco is a bedside or table-top light option for reading. This is a 12 LED lamp, with a 3W output and 300 lumens of brightness.

This white lamp comes with an adjustable base and a spiraled tube stand. There is a rechargeable battery rated at 1000mAh inside. The charging duties are handled by a regular USB cable. The controls use touch sensor instead of physical buttons.

Another great selling point is the clip built into the base. You can use that to anchor this light onto the edge of your table, or even a book you are reading. The neck of the lamp is made from flexible silicone. So you can adjust the light in any way you want, even going 360 degrees.

The main problem with this light has to be the rather questionable batter backup. Though they promise 6 hours of usage on bright settings at full charge, in real-world usage the number closer to 3 hours.

And it also has one of the MOST sensitive touch sensors we have ever come across. This thing can be set off by anything, an accidental brush of your finger, turning a page of the book, or even just picking up the device.

Final Verdict

CeSunlight Rechargeable LED Booklight – Best Light For Reading At Night

This booklight has a very intriguing design, with a tube shape. The U-shaped tube is designed to be worn around the neck. The snake-like body of the light can be twisted and shaped in many ways.

It has four LEDs, located at both ends. You get four adjustable brightness settings. Each end has two different types of LEDs, one wide angle, and the other spotlight. There is a control button on both ends with a simple click-based operation. The rechargeable lithium battery inside has a capacity of 700mAh.

Versatility is what makes this product from CeSunlight so attractive. The design looks deceptively simple. But with complete freedom to twist and bend the two ends (or arms) on the tube, you can set up this light in very creative ways.

The batteries are the Achilles heel in many affordable electronic products these days, and the CeSunlight LED is no exception. The 700 mAh lithium battery inside this one is very capricious and can degrade pretty quickly with regular use. While the snake-like design is fascinating and versatile, the length and weight around the neck may not suit every individual. So there is some uncertainty regarding the comfort aspect of the light.

Final Verdict

AoliPlus Clip Reading Light – Best Portable Reading Light

This is a very compact reading light weighing in at just under 2 ounces. It has a detachable clamp for clipping on to books or tables. The power is delivering via a rechargeable battery. You can use ordinary USB ports to recharge the device. The AoliPlus LED comes with four adjustable light settings.

The wafer-thin design is what amazed us when we tried this reading light. It weighs less than a spoon! This has to be one of the most travel-friendly reading lights out there.

The light can do double duty as a bookmark due to its slender form. The clamp is detachable for this purpose The charging mechanism is also pretty neat, as it does not use a separate cable. One of the flexible legs of the light has a USB charging point built in. This lamp can be clipped on to books, or kept on a table. It is very versatile.

The main concern regarding this light is its power ratings. At such a small form factor, it cannot offer enough battery backup for extended use. Also, the light is also very weak when compared to some larger reading lights. The flat and compact design also means that this light can be a bit fragile.

Final Verdict

LuminoLite – Best Reading Light With Warm Lighting

The LuminoLite is two reading lights attached to the same clip-on base. Each light uses separate gooseneck stems and has a total of 12 LEDs. These are warm light LEDs, with two separate brightness settings. The lamp has a clamp base, with a 100mAh rechargeable lithium battery inside.

Soft lighting is what the LuminoLite provides in abundance. And with two separate LED heads, you get more throw than the average clip-on light. This lamp can illuminate even the largest books and magazines with ease.

The gooseneck arms or stems are very flexible and can be adjusted according to your preferences. The large battery also provides up to 20 hours of backup in dim light settings.

The brightness is somewhat too high even on dim settings. The clamp has a one-inch wide mouth, but it could use a stronger spring mechanism. It also has some frail parts that are easy to break.

Final Verdict

Mighty Bright HammerHead – Best Clip-On Reading Light

This Mighty Bright light does look like a hammerhead in shape. Beyond that, you get the usual gooseneck stem attached to a base with clip-on.

There are six LEDs in that hammerhead-shaped head, with two brightness settings. This is a rechargeable LED light.

The Mighty Bright is a very functional reading light. It offers excellent illumination and can be clamped on to books with ease. The position of the light can be adjusted very easily. The clamp is very sturdy and works exceptionally well on hardcover books.

There is no significant difference between the two brightness settings. This light could benefit from a true “dim” light setting. The clamp and gooseneck stem become loose after extended use.

Final Verdict

Kandle II By Ozeri – Best Kindle Reading Light

This is a light designed specifically for the Amazon Kindle. It is available in three color options, black, white and grey.

The device is powered by two CR2032 batteries. There are three X2 LEDs, with intelligent sensors in this light by Ozeri.

If you need a light for your Amazon Kindle reader, the Kandle has a matching name and design features as well. The clamp is designed specifically for the Kindle, ebook reader. But it also works equally well on other similar devices.

The pivoting arms offer excellent illumination, while the LED smart sensors shut down when the device is not in use to save battery. The lamp surface is soft and non-slip, and very comfortable to grip.

This device does not work well with the Kindle 7 model. The batteries are kinda expensive, and the battery compartment is not easy to open. The device uses up batteries pretty fast, which is a bit of a bummer as well.

Final Verdict

Ecologic Mart – Best Rechargeable Choice

This is the third or fourth device on our list with dual head and two flexible gooseneck arms. The difference here is that these Ecologic Mart lamps have a soft, warm light. It has a clip on base and rechargeable batteries.

The product comes with a dual charger. This can be used for fast charging the device. One hour of charging delivers enough juice to keep the lampworking for up to 20 hours. And the batteries are also very easy to replace when they fail.

The clip part of the base is rather fragile and prone to breaking. The gooseneck arms could have been longer for improved light placement.

Final Verdict

CeSunLight Clip-On Reading Light – Highest Battery Capacity Choice

The LEDs on this lamp are among the widest we have seen yet in our shortlist. Other than that notable feature, it looks pretty ordinary with the usual gooseneck stem and clip-on base. There are three brightness levels in this rechargeable LED lamp.

The wide illumination from that LED panel is one of the highlights of this light. The battery capacity also deserves a special mention. At 2000 mAh, it is double what most other lamps offer. It also has built-in protection circuits that keep the electricals safe.

It is not a warm light, nor does it have any warm light settings, which is a missed opportunity in our opinion. This is also a rather heavy lamp, so it cannot be clipped onto books. The battery often malfunctions on some models.

Final Verdict

Table Lamps Reviews

Brightech LigthSpan LED 2nd Edition – Best Study Lamp

With a very long gooseneck stem, the LightSpan is a multi-use LED light idea for anything from reading to crafts and hobbies. Instead of batteries, this lamp uses a plug-in system.

The lamps are available in attractive colors and finish options, black, brown, natural wood and titanium.

This is a great light for a wide range of activities. It offers excellent brightness, thanks to the high power afforded by the direct power from a wall outlet. It can be used on desks or floors.

The different light settings include crisp white light and soft lights, which is an added plus. The choice of different colors and finishes are also pretty good.

The light has some wobbling issues at the base. And since it uses wall outlets instead of batteries, the lamp is not very mobile and cannot be used everywhere.

Final Verdict

Lighting Ever LED Desk Lamp

This is a large LED desk folding lamp, with no less than seven dimming levels. There is a touch-sensitive panel for controls and adjustable features all along the body. It has revolving base, rotating head, and adjustable arms. It uses AC power and has a polished aluminum body. The LEDs are in the form of a 15-inch long bar.

This 8W LED lamp offers excellent illumination, which is what truly sets it apart from the rest of the pack. The seven different brightness or dimming settings give you complete control over the illumination levels. It looks elegant in an aluminum body that also makes it very sturdy.

The touchscreen controls are futuristic, but their reliability is questionable. We have seen this in other LED lamps as well. And all those adjustable joints can decrease the overall stability of this lamp. At times, it does not hold a stable position. The light is also too bright for some.

Final Verdict

TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp – Best Reading Light For Eyes

The TaoTronics looks similar to the Lighting Ever LED above, with a long bar design. Like the latter, this LED is designed for use on tables and desks. And it also has touch controls and AC power. The lamp is available in two colors, white and black.

Advanced controls is what makes the TaoTronics one of the best products on our shortlist. The LED has adjustable brightness as well as temperature settings. Everything is controlled using a very intuitive touch sensor. Add to that a rotating base and adjustable head, and you have a lamp that can be pointed just about anywhere.

There is even a USB port that can be used to charge your other electronic devices. The lamp also looks very stylish in a brushed aluminum body.

As usual, the main complaints about this light arise from the excessively sensitive touchscreen controls. The hinges are made from plasticky materials and are not very durable looking.

Final Verdict

AUKEY Table Lamp – Best Reading Lamp For Bedroom

This Table lamp has some advanced features, and can also function as a bedside reading lamp. It has touch activation, and three different illumination settings: soft, moderate, and bright.

Another useful feature, though not relevant for reading, is the RGB color option. The lamp uses AC power.

From a book reading perspective, the Aukey Table Lamp can offer enough soft illumination when you are reading in your bed. The advanced touch controls are easy to use. All the light settings are very easy on the eyes. The extra features like color controls are just added gravy.

This is not a dedicated reading lamp. If you want illumination directly on your book pages, this lamp cannot provide that.

Final Verdict

WalterDrake Headboard Light – Best Fixture Choice For Bedroom

This is not a reading lamp. It is a permanent light fixture designed for installation above your bed, on the headboard.

Often, the best option for bedroom reading illumination is to install a permanent light on your headboard. And the WalterDrake is the best option for that. It comes with an excellent pull chain switch which is very convenient to use.

It has a very retro feel, which looks good. Thanks to the pleated shades, the light is soft and diffused.

It does not work with all beds. And that retro look may not fit with all indoor decor settings. It does not have any system to adjust the positioning of the lamp.

Final Verdict

Best Reading Light Buyer’s Guide

What are the main types of reading lights?

Reading lights can be divided into two main categories:

Table Lamps: These are lamps that can be used on a work table, or on your bedside table. These lamps don’t have to worry too much about weight and size considerations. So they tend to be some of the most potent reading lights. These lamps work better when you are sitting and reading. Due to their position on the bedside, they may not offer enough focused illumination when you are reading when lying down.

Book Lights: These are very compact and versatile reading lights. They usually come with a clip or clamp at the base. Due to their light weight and small size, these lamps can often be attached to the books themselves. That means that they can offer focused illumination directly to the pages while you are reading in bed. They can also be placed on tables, but their small size means that they have less power when compared to larger table lamps.

What are some of the common power options for LEDs, and which is best?

AC Wall Charging: this is the common choice for larger table lamps. The advantage here is that the lamps can be more power hungry and give better illumination. But on the downside, such lamps have limited mobility.

AAA Batteries: These are getting rarer nowadays, thanks to the rising popularity of compact Li-ion batteries. But you can still find them in some older versions of book lights and smaller reading lights. Disposable AAA batteries may be cheap, but they offer limited duration of use. You will have to frequently replace these batteries if you use the reading lamps on a daily basis.

Rechargeable Batteries: Li-ion batteries are very popular for compact book lights these days. Larger table lamps can also be found with this type of batteries. They are very convenient and do not require frequent replacing. But quality and reliability is a bit of a hit and miss for these batteries, especially when buying cheap lamps.

How to choose the best book light for reading?

As far as lighting technology is concerned, LED is the only true choice these days. They have the following advantages:

• Highly power efficient
• Available in compact forms
• Highly adjustable brightness settings
• Available as both soft and white lights

Depending on your requirements, you can pick from either compact book lights or larger table lamps. If you need illumination up close and in bed, clip-on book lights are the best option. Table lamps are better if you are sitting somewhere and reading.

Conclusion

The rise of LEDs has really revolutionized the reading lights market. Newer reading lights are smaller and lighter than ever before. And with improving miniaturization technologies, you can expect reading LEDs to get smarter and smaller. Many lights already come with touch controls and inbuilt memory functions. Reading lights with smart functions and WiFi connectivity may be the next thing to expect in the coming months and years.