7 Best Desk Lamps for Home Office (2023)

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Desk lamps provide the right lighting you need to perform various tasks and activities in your home office. A suitable desk lamp in your workspace can make a huge difference not only to your productivity but even to your health!

After extensive testing and research, I’ve found the best desk lamps for your home office that have great functionality, range of movement, great design, adjustable brightness, and light temperature. Whether you’re searching for a budget desk lamp or a smart lamp with some extra functions, we’ve got you covered.

Quick Menu

• Best Desk Lamp (Overall)
• Best Desk Lamp on a Budget
• Best High-End Desk Lamp
• Best Desk Lamp for Broad Light
• Best Desk Lamp for Functionality
• Best Slimline Desk Lamp
• Honorable Mention – If Money Is No Object
• What Is the Best Task Lighting for Home Office?
• FAQ – Home Office Lighting

Best Desk Lamp (Overall)

AmazLit Desk Lamp with Clamp, Swing Arm, and Eye Care Features

Best Desk Lamp on a Budget

Globe Electric Architect 32″ Swing-Arm Clamp-On Lamp

The Globe Electric desk lamp is a budget desk lamp, with some features of a more upscale lamp. It has a swing arm and a metal clamp up to 2″ wide, which is enough for most desks and tables. One of my favorite features of this lamp is that the clamp takes up much less space than the base of many other lamps I’ve used – perfect if you don’t have a large space to take advantage of.

The lamp extends out a good distance. The 6-foot (180cm~) cable is long enough to reach most spaces. The lamp also comes with a 10W A19 LED bulb – making it even better value for money. The on & off switch is conveniently located at the top of the lampshade which allows for quick and easy use, instead of being located on the cable which can be awkward to reach. However, if you’re thinking about upgrading the lamp for a small cost – no problem! You can upgrade even this budget lamp at any time: simply add a smart bulb to control the temperature of the bulb, play with colors, and match its color intensity to your day and night cycle. Since the lamp features a standard A19 bulb housing, you can easily find an affordable smart bulb to match it without issue. This way you don’t even have to turn the light on or off with the switches on the lamp itself, but can use your smart home app or smart home device (like Google Home or Alexa) instead.

In terms of downsides, for this price you’ll have to deal with the lamp not having the best construction quality. It uses some brittle fittings and screws, and although the metal clamp is better than plastic versions often seen in this price range, it’s still a little flimsy. However, once it was clamped onto the back of my desk behind my computer monitor I never had a reason to move it. If you need to constantly reposition the light, it may require more delicate treatment. I recommend not over-tightening the knobs while mounting it to your desktop so you don’t leave a mark or damage the surface it’s clamped to, especially if it’s a softer wood or material. Nonetheless, it’s a hard price to beat!

Best High-End Desk Lamp

BenQ eReading LED Desk Lamp

BenQ’s e-Reading LED Desk Lamp offers wide illumination thanks to a unique curved shape which provides up to a 35″ lighting range and a high degree of adjustability. It’s been designed especially for e-reading, but is great for both paper and computer work. I’m a fan of this unique curved design, not only due to the functionality but also for the sleek, futuristic design.

The LED bar moves on a ball joint, so the light portion of the lamp can be maneuvered into a surprisingly varied amount of positions. The lamp is also very stable – all of the joints and hinges are tight enough that the lamp doesn’t droop or sway.

I’m also a big fan of being able to customize the brightness and color temperature, so I can easily switch between warmer and cooler tones. Cooler temperatures help me focus during my everyday freelance duties while warmer tones are great for relaxing in the evening. The built-in smart lighting technology also detects light in my home office and automatically adjusts the brightness to the ambient light, optimizing the balance and reducing glare. The lamp delivers its patented ‘brighter at the sides, darker in the middle’ illumination which reduces contrast glare and the reflection on your screen – a feature I hugely appreciate especially while working later in the day.

My main and only gripe is with the touch ring. The lamp has a touch power toggle control which has a nice modern touch and feel. However, it’s really easy to accidentally turn the lamp off and on while adjusting the brightness or color temperature. It happened to me several times before getting used to it, but it’s far from a deal-breaker.

Best Desk Lamp for Broad Light

PHIVE LED Desk Lamp With Clamp

The PHIVE LED desk lamp features a 20W LED and an extra-wide 31.5-inch LED light bar, making it especially useful for multi-screen users. The size of the light bar alone sets it apart from other models. It lights up not only my two wide monitors but also my entire large desk without additional glare. Thanks to the adjustable gooseneck you can also modify height and lighting angles.

I make frequent use of the multiple lighting choices – you can adjust between 4 color temperatures and a 5-level dimmer. When turning off and on the next time, the memory function remembers the last mode and brightness level you’ve selected. The power button has a small, dim LED power indicator that can be seen in the dark making it easier to turn on, although it’s not distracting when not using the lamp.

My main complaint is with the stability of the gooseneck when clipping the lamp to the desk. I had some initial issues with the light bouncing around whenever I hit my desk or even while just working normally – although this could likely be solved with a sturdier desk. In my case, I decided to fix the lamp to the wall, which is a good alternative way to install the lamp after you remove the protective pad. This way the lamp is totally sturdy and doesn’t take up any more of your desk space, which is even more important with a multi-monitor setup.

Best Desk Lamp for Functionality

AFROG 4th Gen Multifunctional LED Desk Lamp

The AFROG 4th Gen Multifunctional LED Desk Lamp is an upgraded version of the previous edition of the Afrog lamp with more efficient wireless charging. It’s my top choice when it comes to multifunctional lamps – it saves me money, time, and space, eliminating the need for an extra item in my home office and on my desk.

You can charge your iPhone or Android device wirelessly simply by placing it on the lamp’s wireless symbol. My phone automatically charges at 10W speed without any wires connected, while keeping my workspace nicely illuminated. The lamp also comes with a 5V/2A USB charging port, if some devices aren’t wireless compatible.

The head of the lamp tilts up to 145° while the arm folds up to 0°. The lamp offers 1800 Lux max brightness, 47 inches of coverage, and flicker-free illumination. It offers a bigger selection of color modes and brightness levels than other multifunctional lamps in this price range. There are 5 color temperature settings from 2700K to 6500K and 7 adjustable brightness levels. The lamp even has a built-in 40/60 minutes auto-off timer. If you left your office or fell asleep without turning the lamp off, no need to worry – the lamp will take care of itself.

A minor nit-pick I have is that the buttons aren’t lit up when the lamp is off, which makes it harder to see in the dark. There’s also only one USB port, which seems a little low given how many devices we have that need charging these days. However, compared to other similar products which generally offer wireless charging without a single USB port, the AFROG is still my number one.

Best Slimline Desk Lamp

EppieBasic LED Desk Lamp

The EppieBasic LED Desk Lamp is a tall, slim lamp with a clamp with a 31.5 inch 24W LED light bar that can illuminate a really big desk. Likewise, it’s a good choice for multi-screen or ultrawide monitor users. However, as the clamp attaches to the desk, and the working height maxes out at 27.5 inches, the lamp probably won’t work with portrait monitors. The scratch-resistant metal clamp supports a desk edge up to 3.34-inches.

The lamp is provided with 45° angled away LEDs and a side-lighting design, thanks to which it illuminates only the desk and keyboard, without reflection or glare on the screen or in the eyes. The 1100LM bright lamp features adjustable color temperatures modes from 3,000K to 6,000K and 6 dimmable brightness levels. Thanks to the memory function, the lamp will turn on to the last set temperature and brightness you’ve chosen. It also has a built-in light sensor that detects surrounding light intensity and auto-adjusts the brightness level to your surroundings.

My only qualm with this light is the location of the buttons. The on/off, auto-dimming button, brightness, and temperature adjustment buttons are all located on the light bar. Sometimes while adjusting the angle, I accidentally tapped on the buttons and changed some of the settings by accident. However, this can be avoided by adjusting it at the neck. The lamp is also quite tall and as a result, I have to stand up to do any adjusting and choose the proper button. On the plus side, this button location is much easier to reach than other desk lamps – since the lamp is clamped behind my monitors.

Honorable Mention – If Money Is No Object

Dyson Lightcycle Desk Light

Dyson Lightcycle Desk Light features from 100 to over 1000 Lux and adjusts its light for age, task, sleep times, and daily routine supporting your body clock. For a premium price, you get an intelligent desk lamp that tracks the color temperature, brightness of your environment, and how your current lighting fits into your schedule.

The lamp takes light temperatures adjustment options to the next level. My favorite feature is the ambient light sensor that reacts to changes in my background light. This way the lamp automatically keeps your space at a constant brightness. Even better is the (togglable) energy-saving motion sensor which switches the light on when I’m near and turns it off when I’m away for 5 minutes. On top of these features, the lamp offers 3-axis of motion to adjust your light vertically, horizontally, and through 360° of space. As the light slides up and down its main pole, a counterweight ensures an effortless motion. Likewise, the light arm slides back and forth on three wheels – lacking any springs or pivots that could wear out.

The lamp has an integrated USB–C charger providing you with a convenient charging point on your workstation and saving you additional space. There are two touch-sensitive bars on top of the unit. Simply slide a fingertip across the bars to make the light brighter or change the color of the light. You can also control the lamp with the Dyson Link app. It will sync the color temperature to match your location on Earth, such as the light getting warmer leading up to you going to sleep. The app also offers you a choice of recommended light for your current task and time of day, starting from “age adjust mode” to “boost mode” for tasks that require extra focus providing brighter, cooler light for bursts of 20 minutes. They may sound like overkill, but these clever functions have a positive influence on your work and will make it hard for you to go back to traditional desk lamps.

The construction of the light is also impressive – it’s beautifully crafted and with great attention to detail. According to Dyson, the lamp features cooling technology that keeps six high-power LEDs cool enough to protect light quality for 60 years or longer. The company even offers a 5-year warranty which is one of the longest available on the market.

The only thing I’m not a fan of about this lamp is its price – it’s one of the most expensive desk lamps on the market! However, if money is no object or you’re feeling like asking for a pricey birthday gift – this lamp is the way to go!

What Is the Best Task Lighting for Home Office?

A well-chosen desk lamp will support you in performing various activities with more accuracy, atmosphere, and ease for your eyes. Place a nearby task light to provide focused, directional or targeted light exactly when and where you need it: while going through documents, reading a book, browsing your phone, or engaging in crafts, and hobbies.

Task lights in your home office should be functional and flexible. The best desk lamp needs to have an adjustable arm, gooseneck, and appropriate joints, such as swivel, pivot joints, or elbows. This way you can move the head of the lamp around and aim it in your desired direction. I recommend looking for full-spectrum desk lamps which provide even and bright light, reduce eyestrain, and render colors correctly. We also recommend choosing a lamp that features dimmable bulbs so you can better adjust the lighting to the time of day.

Apart from task lighting, there are two other very important layers of your home office illumination such as ambient and accent lighting. There are also a set of good practices on how to arrange these lighting layers which you may want to know about. Find out more about the best lighting for your home office, and key rules on how to position it to maximize your performance and comfort.

Your home office environment affects your performance in a number of different ways. Avoiding poor lighting is a very important step while setting up a productive workspace. The rest of your equipment is also key to your productivity and effectiveness. If you happen to be a writer who’s looking for the best laptops for writing, we’ve created a list of the top devices with multiple features such as the best keyboards, displays, and more.

FAQ – Home Office Lighting