We evaluated dozens of lamps, evaluating brightness, design, value, and added features. Our favorite, the Brightever Industrial Dimmable Desk Lamp, is small but effective and can also charge your smartphone. Here are the best desk lamps. When you’re working at home, an ideal desk lamp is bright enough to keep you focused and comes with features for greater efficiency. Our best overall pick, the Brightever Industrial Dimmable Desk Lamp, soars above the competition in those areas. Not only does this lamp have multiple light settings, but it also has two USB charging ports and an outlet to power your phone, laptop, smartwatch, or wireless headphones. With three dimmer settings, this light is excellent for bright light in the morning and throughout the day, and slightly dimmer light once dusk falls to help your eyes adjust. You don’t have to hit a particular button to see this effect—simply touch any part of the lamp to activate the dimmer settings. You can also move the 360-degree rotating head for the best lighting angle. If you want a multitasking lamp for your desk, the Brightever checks many boxes. It’s compact, made from durable metal materials, and is reasonably priced for the quality you’re getting. Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $11 Price at time of publish: $30 The brightness also auto-adjusts by using an ambient light sensor, but it also can be manually adjusted via the touch sensor. The battery light will flash when it’s low on battery and you can charge this lamp through a USB port in just 3 hours. It also easily folds up so you can carry it with you for an on-the-go lamp at the library or in the office. Price at time of publish: $50 We recognize that this lamp’s aesthetic may not be the most fashionable option on the market, but if your priority is utility, it more than satisfies in that category. The charging ports and phone slots do make this lamp’s base a tad larger than others, but you can consider it an organized trade off to finding space on a smaller desk for all of your charging devices. Price at time of publish: $40 Price at time of publish: $180 We also appreciate the black and white fabric-covered cord, which gives it an elevated look compared to a standard plastic-covered cord. This lamp would be great for a smaller desk space thanks to its small footprint, but it would also be a great statement on a larger desk. Price at time of publish: $78 This lamp is also listed separately as having a rechargeable battery, so that it doesn’t have to remain plugged in, which would be especially helpful if you’re cramped for wall sockets. We also appreciate the reading timer on this lamp, which allows you to set a 30 or 60 minute timer that automatically turns off the lamp. While this function is primarily designed for reading before bed, we also think it would be a great study tool for college students or young children. Price at time of publish: $20 This lamp also has a wireless charging pad—for any of your QI-compatible devices—plus an additional USB port. The integrated LED light should last up to 30,000 hours, but unfortunately cannot be replaced. Although this lamp is certainly luxe in design, we don’t love its high price point, given it has features comparable to other lamps on our list. However, if you’re set on a swing arm lamp, then this lamp may be worth the splurge. Price at time of publish: $229 Price at time of publish: $22
Style
Desk lamps come in an array of different styles, including swing-arm lamps, classic task lamps, and more. Snag an option you’ll love looking at throughout the workday—and make sure it offers the kind of light you’re looking for.
Extras
Many desk lamps come equipped with extra features, like built-in USB ports or wireless charging pads. These add-ons aren’t necessary, but since they can make your set-up more efficient, they can be really nice to have.
Why Trust The Spruce?
As a seasoned lifestyle writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands what a difference a great product recommendation can make. That’s why she makes sure to recommend products that are sleek, reliable, and well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them. To write this article, she selected lamps based on their materials, extra features, and style.
