Short answer: yes, for a short read held close to the page. A decorative cordless table lamp gives a soft pool of light. For an hour in bed or at a desk, pick a cordless desk lamp with dimming and a light color you can change.
Our cordless table lamps guide covers battery life and charging. This guide covers reading.
Are cordless lamps bright enough for reading?
The cordless table lamps in our range run 3 to 5 watts of LED. A plug-in reading lamp bulb is around 8 to 10 watts of LED, about 800 lumens. That gap is why a cordless table lamp reads as mood light and a desk lamp reads as task light.
Put the lamp beside the page, close to the book, and turn the brightness up. Distance matters more than wattage when the lamp is small.
4 cordless lamps made for reading
- Rechargeable Eye Care Desk Lamp: an 18.9 in (48 cm) light bar that switches between 3000K, 4500K and 6000K and dims without steps. It runs 3 to 30 hours per charge, charges in about 4 hours and sticks in place with a magnet.
- Magnetic Remote Rechargeable Desk Lamp: a 6W LED bar, 11.8 in (30 cm) long, with the same three light colors and a remote. It runs 3 to 35 hours per charge. A mount and USB cable come in the box.
- Rechargeable Touch Desk Lamp: a flexible neck that bends to any angle and three brightness levels. It charges from a computer or a power bank, and comes in white, blue or pink.
- Rechargeable Cordless Touch Table Lamp: a folding arm, a circular LED and dimming from 10 to 100%. It remembers your last brightness. The 1200mAh battery is included.
What to check before you buy
- Dimming. You want full brightness for the page and a low setting for the last five minutes before sleep.
- Light color. 3000K is warm and suits a bed. 4500K is neutral and suits a desk. 6000K is cool white for daytime work. The two light bars above offer all three.
- Run time at your brightness. Each run time above is a range. Brightness sets where you land in it, so a long read at full brightness gets the short end.
- How it mounts. A magnet bar sticks to a headboard shelf or a cabinet. A folding arm or bendable neck stands on a nightstand. Pick the one that matches where your outlet is not.
For more on warm light at night, read our 2700K vs 3000K guide.
FAQ
Can I read in bed with a cordless lamp?
Yes. A desk lamp with dimming and a warm setting works best. Set it beside the book rather than above it.
How long does a cordless reading lamp last on a charge?
The lamps above run 3 to 35 hours per charge, depending on the model and the brightness.
How do I charge a cordless reading lamp?
With the USB cable and any USB charger. The Eye Care Desk Lamp charges in about 4 hours.
Is there a wall light for reading that needs no wiring?
Yes. See our rechargeable wall sconces, which charge by USB and need no hardwiring.
See the whole range in our cordless lamps collection. Shipping is free in the US, with 14-day returns.