Desk Lamps
Focused Task Lighting for Work & Study
About Desk Lamps
LED desk lamps put bright, even light on your work, and a good one keeps it out of your eyes and off your screen. You'll find LED desk lamps with the light built in, and some let you dim the light or change its color. Picture late-night homework at the kitchen table: a desk lamp with an adjustable arm puts light right on the page. You'll also find reading lamps for the chair where you read and office lamps for a home office.
Types of desk lamps
- Desk Table Lamps The classic lamp for a desk, with a shade or an adjustable head. Choose one you can aim so the light lands on the page, not on your screen.
- Reading Table Lamps Table lamps for the end table beside a reading chair or the nightstand beside a bed, with a shade that sends light down onto the book.
- Reading Floor Lamps For a reading chair with no table beside it. An adjustable arm or head puts light over your shoulder and onto the page.
- Pharmacy Lamps A slim stem with a swing arm, and on some, an adjustable height. The narrow shade aims light down at a desk or a book and takes up little room.
- USB Desk Lamps A lamp with a built-in USB port, so you can charge a phone or earbuds without hunting for an outlet.
- Clamp On Desk Lamps Clamp to the edge of a sturdy desk, shelf or drafting table and leave most of the work surface free. A good fit for small desks.
How to choose a desk lamp
- LED or bulb An LED desk lamp has the light built in and typically uses less energy than one with an incandescent or halogen bulb, and some have dimmers and color settings. A lamp with a socket lets you choose and change the bulb; stay at or under the maximum wattage on the lamp's label.
- Brightness For reading and paperwork, about 800 lumens, roughly what a 60-watt bulb gave. A dimmer lets you turn it down for screen work. People over 60 often need noticeably more light to read, so go brighter or pick a dimmer that goes higher.
- Light color 2700K reads warm, 3000K soft white, 4000K crisp and good for focused work. Keep it close in color to the room's main lights.
- Glare Aim the head so you can't see the bulb or LEDs from your seat. The bottom of the shade or head should sit at or just below seated eye level, so you see the light on the page, not the source. Set the lamp on the side opposite your writing hand so your hand doesn't shadow the page.
- Reach The arm or head should reach the middle of your work area. Measure your desk's depth before you buy; a deep desk needs a longer arm.
Lamp size chart
| Lamp | Typical height | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Desk lamp | 15" to 22", adjustable | Desks and work surfaces |
| Clamp on desk lamp | Set by the arm; check the reach | Small desks, shelves, drafting tables |
| Pharmacy lamp | Adjustable on some; check the range | Desks and narrow tables beside a chair |
| Reading table lamp | 24" to 30" | End tables and nightstands; shade bottom about 40" to 42" from the floor |
| Reading floor lamp | 58" to 64" | Beside a chair, slightly behind your shoulder |
LED and lamp specs explained
- Integrated LED The LEDs are built into the lamp, so there's no bulb to buy or change.
- Color settings Some LED desk lamps switch between warm and cool white, so one lamp works for evening reading and daytime work.
- Dimmer Many have a touch or slider dimmer for the built-in LEDs. On a lamp with a socket, use a dimmable LED bulb, or it may flicker.
- USB port Check whether it's USB-A or USB-C so it matches your cables. Charging speed varies, so check the listed output.
- CRI How true colors look under the light. For crafts, art or sorting paint chips, choose 90 or higher.
- Base or clamp A weighted base sits anywhere on the desk. A clamp needs an edge it can grip, so check the maximum thickness it fits.
Questions
Is an LED desk lamp better?
For many people, yes. An LED desk lamp typically uses less energy than one with an incandescent bulb, and some have built-in dimmers and color settings. Built-in LEDs usually can't be swapped, though. If you'd rather choose your own bulb, pick one with a socket and use an LED bulb in it.
What should I look for in an LED desk lamp?
Look for several brightness levels, color modes from warm 2700K to crisp 4000K, and a head you can aim away from your screen. Many also offer a USB port for charging a phone, and some add an auto-off timer. If flicker bothers you, look for one listed as flicker-free.
Where should a desk lamp go?
On the side opposite your writing hand, a little in front of you, so your hand doesn't cast a shadow on the page. Aim the head down at the work. If you use a computer, keep the light off the screen and out of your line of sight.
How bright should a desk lamp be?
For reading and paperwork, about 800 lumens, roughly what a 60-watt bulb gave. For computer work you may want less, so a dimmer is worth having. Add a second light in the room so the desk isn't the only bright spot.
What are the best office lamps for a home office?
Start with an office desk lamp aimed at your work, then add a floor lamp or overhead light so the rest of the room isn't dark. A clamp on lamp saves space on a small desk, and one with a USB port lets you charge your phone within reach.
What color light is best for a desk lamp?
4000K looks crisp and bright, which many people like for homework and office work. 3000K is a softer white for evening use. Keep it close in color to the other main lights in the room so the space doesn't look mismatched.
