Cordless Table Lamps: How Long They Last and How Bright They Are

Short answer: The cordless lamps in our range run 6 to 12 hours per charge where the maker states it, which covers two to four evenings at three hours a night. They give a soft pool of light for a table, a shelf or dinner. They are not bright enough to replace a ceiling light.

A cordless lamp puts light where there is no outlet: the middle of a dining table, a bookshelf, a bathroom counter, a patio table on a summer night. You charge it, set it down, and there is no cord to hide.

Before buying one, people want to know how long it lasts, whether it is bright enough, and how to charge it. The answers below use the real numbers from the lamps we sell.

How does a cordless lamp work?

A cordless table lamp has a rechargeable lithium battery in the base and an LED light in the head. You charge it with a USB cable, then unplug it and use it anywhere. Most have a touch switch on top that turns the light on and steps it through brightness levels.

An LED uses so little power that a small battery can run it for a whole evening, or several.

How long does a cordless lamp last on one charge?

It depends on two numbers: the battery size in mAh, and how bright you run the light. A bigger battery and a dimmer setting both mean a longer run.

Here are the figures for lamps in our range, taken from each product's specs:

In real life, a lamp used for three hours each evening goes two to four nights between charges. Use it on a lower setting and it goes longer.

The battery also ages. Like a phone, a lithium battery holds a little less charge after many hundreds of cycles. Battery University puts the usual figure at 300 to 500 full charge cycles before capacity drops below 80% of new. Charging it before it is fully empty and keeping it out of hot sun both help it last.

Is a cordless lamp bright enough?

For mood light, yes. For reading a book in a dark room, a small cordless lamp is on the edge.

The cordless table lamps in our range run 3 to 5 watts of LED. For comparison, a standard plug-in reading lamp bulb is around 8 to 10 watts of LED, about 800 lumens. So think of a cordless lamp as a pool of light on a table, a glow on a shelf, or a soft light for dinner. It does not replace a ceiling light.

Restaurants and hotels set cordless lamps on tables for exactly that low, warm light.

If you want to read by one, pick a lamp with a larger head and a dimmer, and use it close to the page. The Rechargeable Cordless Table Lamp goes up to 5W with dimming, in an aluminum body in rose gold, gold or silver.

What color light do cordless lamps give?

Many let you switch between warm, neutral and cool white. Choose warm for evenings. Cool white is useful for a desk in the daytime, but it makes a room feel like an office at night.

• The Candle Rechargeable Table Lamp has tricolor dimming.
• The Rechargeable Dimmable Table Lamp dims steplessly across white, natural and warm light.
• The Cordless 3 Color Touch Table Lamp runs from 3000K to 6500K at 90 CRI. CRI measures how true colors look under the light, and 90 is high for a small lamp.

For more on picking a warm color, read our 2700K vs 3000K guide.

Where do cordless lamps work best?

• Dining table. One or two lamps down the middle for dinner, with no cord across the floor.
• Bookshelf or cabinet. A small lamp on a shelf lights the objects around it.
• Bedside, when the outlet is behind the bed. No cord to fish out from behind the headboard. See our bedroom lighting guide.
• Bathroom counter. A warm glow for a bath, away from the sink.
• Kitchen island. Soft light after cooking, when the bright overhead lights are off.
• Balcony or patio. Bring it out for the evening and back in at night. Only leave a lamp outside if the maker rates it for outdoor use.

How do you choose a cordless lamp?

1. Check the run time at the brightness you plan to use. A lamp rated 10 to 12 hours covers three evenings for most people.
2. Prefer USB-C charging. It is the same cable most new phones use, so one charger does both.
3. Look for dimming and a warm setting. A lamp stuck on bright cool white is hard to live with at night.
4. Match the height to the spot. A short lamp, around 10 to 12 inches, keeps the light below eye level at a dining table. The Candle lamp stands 11 in (28 cm) tall.
5. Pick a heavy base for tables where people reach across. Aluminum and metal bodies are steadier than plastic.

How do you care for a cordless lamp?

Charge it fully before the first use. Wipe it with a dry cloth. Keep it away from water unless it is rated for outdoor use. If you store it for months, charge it to about half first. Battery University found a lithium battery stored at 40% charge for a year keeps more capacity than one stored full.

Keep reading: bedroom lighting without a ceiling light and wall sconces without hardwiring.

FAQ

How long does a cordless table lamp last on a charge?

From about 6 to 12 hours at normal brightness for the lamps in our range, and longer on low. Our Candle Rechargeable Table Lamp runs 10 to 12 hours on its 2600mAh battery.

Can I use a cordless lamp while it charges?

That depends on the model. Check the product page or the manual before you leave it on the cable.

Are cordless lamps bright enough to read by?

Close up and on full brightness, yes for a short read. For long reading, use a plug-in lamp or a reading sconce.

How do I charge a cordless lamp?

With the USB cable in the box and any USB phone charger. A full charge takes 3 to 6 hours for the lamps listed above.

Can I replace the battery?

None of the lamps above list a user-replaceable battery. Treat the lamp as one unit and charge it with care to keep the battery healthy.

See the whole range in our cordless lamps collection. Shipping is free in the US, with 14-day returns.

Giving one as a present? See our Christmas gifts for the home and housewarming gifts, both built around lamps that need no wiring.