Wall Sconces Without Hardwiring: 3 Ways to Add Wall Light

Short answer: Yes, you can add a wall sconce without hardwiring. Use a rechargeable sconce with a built-in battery, a plug-in sconce with a cord to the nearest outlet, or a regular sconce lit by a battery puck light. If you rent and have no outlet nearby, pick rechargeable.

Wall sconces change a room. They put warm light at eye level, free up the nightstand, and make a hallway feel finished. The catch is wiring. A hardwired sconce needs a cable inside the wall and a junction box behind the fixture, and most walls have neither where you want the light.

Below are three ways to get a working sconce on the wall with no electrician, what each costs you in effort, and which one suits which spot. The wired route comes last, for comparison.

Option 1: Rechargeable sconces

A rechargeable sconce has a battery and an LED built in. You mount it on the wall, take it down or unclip it to charge by USB, and put it back. There is no cord at all.

Best for: bedsides, hallways, stairs, rentals, and any wall far from an outlet.

The trade-off: you charge it every few days to every few weeks, depending on use. The battery also wears slowly. Battery University puts lithium batteries at 300 to 500 full cycles before they hold less than 80% of their first charge.

Here is what the batteries in our rechargeable sconces deliver, from each product's specs:

Read the run time at the brightness you will use. A sconce rated 4 hours at full and 24 at the lowest lasts much longer than 4 hours if you run it at half.

A remote is worth having by a bed. You can switch the light off without reaching over to the wall.

Option 2: Plug-in sconces

A plug-in sconce is a normal wall light with a cord and a plug instead of wires in the back. You screw the bracket to the wall and plug the cord into the nearest outlet.

Best for: reading lights by a bed or a chair, where you want full brightness every night and an outlet sits nearby.

The trade-off: a cord runs down the wall. Hide it with a paintable cord cover, or make it part of the look with a fabric cord run straight down.

The Japanese Folding Wall Light has a wood body and an iron shade that faces down, and is sold with a US plug. It takes one E27 bulb, sold separately. A downward shade keeps the light on your book and out of the eyes of the person next to you.

Option 3: A puck light inside a regular sconce

If you love a hardwired sconce design, you can mount it with no wiring and put a battery LED puck light inside the shade. Stick the puck in place with a removable strip, not glue, so you can change the batteries. Many pucks come with a remote.

Best for: decorative pairs on either side of a mirror or a piece of art, where the light is for looks more than reading.

The trade-off: puck lights are dim, and the empty wire hole in the back plate needs a cover.

When should you hire an electrician instead?

For a permanent sconce on a wall switch, an electrician runs a new cable from a nearby circuit, fits a junction box, and patches the wall. The light then works exactly like a built-in fixture. It needs a licensed electrician, and in a rental it needs the landlord's yes.

How do you mount a sconce without wiring?

1. Mark the height. The common rule for a hallway or living room is about 60 inches from the floor to the center of the sconce. By a bed, set it so the bottom of the shade sits just above your head when you sit up against the headboard, around 20 to 30 inches above the mattress top.
2. Find what is behind the wall. Use a stud finder. Screw into a stud if you can. If not, use drywall anchors rated for the fixture's weight.
3. Keep screws short. Screws of 2 inches or less keep you clear of any wiring or pipes in the wall.
4. Use adhesive only for light fixtures. Removable adhesive mounts suit small plastic sconces. Check the weight rating on the pack before you trust one with metal or wood.
5. Charge it before you mount it. For a rechargeable sconce, a full first charge saves you taking it straight back down.

Which no-wiring option should you choose?

• Renting, with no outlet nearby: rechargeable.
• Nightly reading by the bed, with an outlet close: plug-in.
• A purely decorative pair: a sconce with a puck light, or two small rechargeable sconces.
• Staying for years and wanting a wall switch: an electrician.

For light color, pick warm white for bedrooms and living rooms. Our guide to 2700K vs 3000K explains why. For more bedroom layouts, read bedroom lighting without a ceiling light.

Keep reading: battery operated picture lights and cordless table lamps.

FAQ

Can you install a wall sconce without hardwiring?

Yes. Use a rechargeable sconce, a plug-in sconce, or a regular sconce with a battery puck light inside. None of these need an electrician.

How long does a rechargeable wall sconce last on a charge?

It depends on the battery and the brightness. Our Solid Wood Rechargeable Wall Sconce runs 8 hours at full power and up to 100 hours at 10%, on a 4000mAh battery.

Are battery wall sconces bright enough to read by?

For a short read at full brightness, yes. For long nightly reading, a plug-in sconce with a standard bulb gives more light and never runs down.

How high should a bedside sconce be?

Set the bottom of the shade just above your head when you sit up in bed. For most beds that lands 20 to 30 inches above the top of the mattress.

Will mounting a sconce damage a rental wall?

It leaves two small screw holes, which fill with spackle when you move out. Removable adhesive mounts leave no holes on smooth walls but carry less weight.

See every option in our wall sconces collection. Shipping is free in the US, with 14-day returns.

Renting? Our renter-friendly lighting page collects our rechargeable, stick-on and plug-in lights in one place.