Top 10 Best Book Lights for Reading Comparison 2022

Whether you need a book light for reading in bed, or just need a book light to help improve your reading experience, I’ve taken the time to research, and test the best book lights & reading lights on the market.

In this book light review, we’ll be covering the best reading lights for bed, clip on reading lights, or for the mobile reader who wants a little light to help improve their reading experience.

What are the best book lights? Here’s our top 10 list:

1. Raniaco Daylight Reader
2. Merisky LED Clip on Reading Light
3. Vekkia Bookmark Light
4. CeSunlight Rechargable Light
5. Rechargeable 14 LED Book Light
6. Glocusent Amber Book Light
7. Energizer Clip Light
8. LEPOWER Clip on Light
9. Vekkia Neck Reading Light
10. Flexilight Reading Light

As you can see, we’ve listed the best book lights for you and included some of the differences between them like whether or not they are book light clips, rechargeable book lights or whether they serve as a portable reading light.

Best reading lights for books comparison chart (top 10 highest rated)

Image	Product	Rating	Price
Best Overall	Raniaco Daylight Reader	10	Check Price
Runner-Up Reading Light	Merisky LED Clip-on Reading Light	8	Check Price
Best for Travel	Vekkia Bookmark Book Light	8	Check Price
Best Hands-free Light	CeSunlight Reading Light	8	Check Price
Best Dual Light	Rechargeable 14 LED Book Light	8	Check Price
Best Warm Light	Glocusent Amber Book Light	10	Check Price
Best Budget	Energizer Clip Light	8	Check Price
Best for the Desk	LEPOWER Clip on Light	8	Check Price
Best Neck Light	Vekkia Neck Reading Light	8	Check Price
Best for Kids	Flexilight Reading Pal	8	Check Price

What are the different types of book lights?

There are several different types of book lights, depending on your needs. They include:

• Clip-on lights
• Neck lights
• Bookmark lights
• Warm lights
• Dual lights

Best Book Light Reviews

The Raniaco Daylight 12 LED reading light gets my #1 best book reading light vote because not only is it the sturdiest of them all, it is the most powerful light with 12 LED bulbs and uses 3 adjustable brightness settings.  I found the adjustable lights incredibly important because it allowed me to change light intensity, thus making this the best reading light at bedtime.  Add that to the fact that this is the only one with a 3-year money back guarantee, and it totally became my new best friend in reading.

The only thing I had against this one is that it isn’t the prettiest of them all.  However, I’m usually using these lights when in bed.  So, who am I trying to impress?

Features:

• 12 LED Lights
• 3 Brightness Levels
• 3-Year Free Replacement Guarantee
• Built in 1000mAh Rechargeable Battery
• 24 hour battery life
• Weight: 4.2 ounces

So, check out this sturdy, well built, highly luminescent book reading light.  It’s got a permanent place at my bedside.

The Merisky book light is not as powerful as the Raniaco, holding only 5 LEDs.  However, like the Raniaco, it does have a 3 settings for light intensity. Because of the lower light capability of the Merisky, the battery lasts much longer and also the light weighs less.  I personally am not too concerned with this, because I’ve found the weight difference of 2 ounces to be minimal, and would prefer a more powerful light source if I need it.  Also, while I thought the battery life would be very important, I’ve been reading for over a couple of months and haven’t had to recharge my book light since.  So, the battery life isn’t that much of a concern.

Also, while the Merisky claims to have soft/warm light, I didn’t see much of a difference but did like the light’s illumination path.  This reading book light also includes a 3 year warranty, which is nice.  Therefore, because of the dependability and light illumination, the Merisky gets my #2 for best reading light.

Features:

• 5 LED Lights
• 3 Brightness Levels
• 3-Year Free Replacement Guarantee
• Built in 1000mAh Rechargeable Battery
• 60 hour battery life
• Weight: 2.5 ounces

This gets the third spot in my and is an excellent travel reading light because of how sleek it is and easy it is to carry. Also, because of its flexible charging plug, it’s very easy to plug into my laptop while traveling.  Therefore, I decided to keep this one and permanently put it in my purse. The switch to turn it on isn’t bad either, with it being on the side.  This makes it so that it doesn’t inadvertently turns on like some of the others do.  I’ve had a couple of book reading lights run the batteries dead because the light was inadvertently turned on while I was traveling and I didn’t know it.  While not perfect, this one’s button design is better than most to stop this sort of thing from happening.

However, it only has 1 LED and boasts four light settings.  I found that the light produced, while soft and pleasant, didn’t show enough for my books.  Also, because the light isn’t diffused, it didn’t cover the entire area of my book.  Also, be careful with the battery life.  This one sports the lowest battery life of all.  But then again, I think that’s a sacrifice worth making for such a small and sleek light.

Features:

• 1 LED Lights
• 4 Brightness Levels
• 1-Year Free Replacement Guarantee
• Built in Lithium Polymer Rechargeable Battery
• 8 hour battery life
• Weight: 1.5 ounces

I’m personally not a fan of these types of lights where they hang off your body like this.  I like to shift around while reading in bed, and I found that every time I do this, I have to re-adjust my lights so that they are in place.  This made me a bit self conscientious about how I read and position myself – which isn’t enjoyable.

However, with that said, I know there are many readers that dislike the ones that clip-on their books, thus adding weight.  I get that.  So, I decided to test a bunch of hands free versions out there and decided these were the best bang for your buck.

Features:

• 1 LED Lights
• 2 Brightness Levels
• No Replacement Guarantee
• Built in 700mAh Rechargeable Battery
• 10 hour battery life
• Weight: 3.8 ounces

The Rechargeable 14 LED Book Light head is one of the best clip-on light on my list and works best for those who want individual lights to highlight each page.  I get that.  It can be frustrating when the edges of the light don’t reach the entire page, and I catch myself straining my eyes as I get to the edge of a page.  If this is important to you, then look no further than this one.  It’s light weight and provide ample enough light with the two heads.  It also has the longest lasting battery life of them all.

However, I still believe top two choices for best reading light provide enough light to catch all pages without having to hassle with two light heads.  Also, it doesn’t have any replacement guarantees.  Although, I didn’t experience anything that worried me about its durability.  The parts didn’t feel very cheap compared to others, and I didn’t see anything in the reviews that people experienced any unnecessary issues with its durability as well.

Features:

• 14 LED Lights – 7 per head
• 9 Brightness Levels
• No Replacement Guarantee
• Built in 1000mAh Rechargeable Battery
• 60 hour battery life
• Weight: 3.2 ounces

Having 3 Brightness and 3 Color reading modes to use, the Glocusent gets my best rating for being the easiest on the eyes.  You can change the color temperatures to something very warm (great for night reading), and  brightness levels in order to get the light to the most optimal level for your eyes.

I found the 10 LED lights to be really awesome as well.  However, I wasn’t impressed with its weight compared to the others.  Although it compares to my number #1 choice, I’d of expected the Glocusent to pack enough punch. But alas, it didn’t. That being said, it’s by far the best if you’re after a really warm light.

Features:

• 10 LED Lights
• 3 Brightness Levels, 3 Color Levels
• 1.5 Year Replacement Guarantee
• 80+ Hour Free From Charging
• 80 hour battery life
• Weight: 1.52 ounces

Although the Energizer Clip book light is the lightest and cheapest of the lights, it’s light lacks in intensity, and does not have a replaceable battery.  The CR2032 are not a commonly owned battery and it only lasts 25 hours.  I found that this was very problematic and would cause issues for future long term use.

Features:

• 1 LED Light
• No Brightness Levels
• No Replacement Guarantee
• 2x CR2032 batteries
• 25 hour battery life
• Weight: 1.3 ounces

Sometimes, you don’t need a reading light for bed, but a reading light for your desk. That’s why I had to add this beauty, the Lepower Clip-on Light that can attach directly to your desk.

I thought the flexibility of this light, with its gooseneck and durable click, was one of its best features. And it comes with a USB adapter which is really handy when it comes to desk lighting. My only qualms would be its brightness, which was a bit lackluster, and its weight. Thankfully, you don’t need to worry about how heavy it is when it’s attached to your desk.

Features:

• Flexible
• USB adapter
• Super durable

I already have one other neck light on this list, which I’ve identified as being not my favorite type of light overall. But I had to get this one on the list as well, because it almost convinces me otherwise.

It has a lot of different brightness settings and three different colors if you need something warmer. It also has a long-lasting battery, which is handy. Plus, it’s really sturdy around the neck, which is really helpful when trying to adjust it to your different reading positions.

Features:

• 1 LED Light per side
• Collapsible
• Useful in other situations besides reading
• 3 Colors 3 brightness settings

Okay, you guys! Look at these! I almost picked up a whole set of these when I first found them. These are the best reading lights for kids by a mile. There are over 30 different options, all with different fun colorful and animal figures for your child.

These lights are fairly simple, with only one LED and 8 lumens of light, so not a ton. And their clips are also pretty basic, but they also act as really good bookmarks, so there are pros and cons to that.

Basically, they’re adorable, and you should totally buy them for your kids.

Features:

• 1 LED Light
• No Brightness Levels
• No Replacement Guarantee
• 2 Lithium Metal batteries required
• Weight: 0.8 ounces

The best book reading lights: what to look for before buying

If you’d like to learn more about book reading lights, be sure to check out these characteristics:

Rechargeable Book Light vs Replacement Batteries

Are you the type that prefers rechargeable abilities vs batteries? For readers who do heavy reading at night, replacement battery costs may begin to grow expensive. If that’s the case, you should consider a rechargeable book light. Check for a model similar to this No products found..

Clip-on Reading Light Capability

• Sometimes you need portability for your book light. Clip-on book lights for reading are great if you’re on-the-go. Models like this LuminoLite may help you solve your dilemma of needing a clip-on book light for reading at night.

LED Reading Light Intensity

• Look for a book light with adjustable brightness. Excessive LED reading light intensity can damage your eyes– and keep your spouse awake at night. Maybe a book light such as this RYCYN would best suit your needs.

LED Color Settings

• Studies have shown that different light colors can affect our eyesight. According to the EastWest Eye Institute, reading with excessive blue light at night can throw off your circadian rhythm and over prolonged exposure cause retinal damage. Look for a book light with multiple color settings such as the HOLIFE mini rechargeable light offered by Amazon.

What are book lamps & what do they do?

Book lamps are lamps designed specifically for reading, often in the form of a clip-on that clips onto your book while you read, or as a neck light that shines at the book while you read. They are typically constructed with LEDs and require batteries.

What are night reading lights good for?

Night reading lights allow you to read without damaging your eyes, while also not blowing up the whole room with light. They give you just what you need in just the right quantity. Good reading lights are lightweight and give you enough brightness to be useful but not overpowering.

What is the best reading light for bed for me? My conclusion

Well I hope you enjoyed my list of the best reading lights out there. Personally, I recommend the first item on this list for most of you, the Raniaco Daylight Reader. However, if you have specific needs or prefer something like a neck light, I’d go with one of the others on this list.

FAQs on reading lights for bed

What type of light is best for reading in bed?

I prefer the clip-on lights for reading in bed, because you can attach them directly to your book as you read. Some of these can be a little bulky and add some weight to your book, which can annoying if you’re reading one of the best Harry Potter books for example.

What color light is best for reading at night?

Warm colored reading lights are best for reading in bed. Lights that are two white use blue light, which is actually a trigger to our brains that we need to stay awake. The warm light reading lights help to avoid this problem which is important at night.

What light is best for reading?

Warm light is best for reading. It doesn’t damage your eyes with blue light, and it won’t keep you from falling asleep at night. Personally, a nice warm clip-on reading light hits the spot for me. I just clip it to my book and viola!

Is LED lighting good for reading?

Yes, LED lighting is good for reading. There is nothing wrong with LEDs, though you want to make sure that they lean on the warmer side of the spectrum, because brighter white lights can be damaging in the long term and keep your from falling asleep at night.

Is yellow or white light better for reading?

Yellow light is better for reading because it doesn’t have the damaging blue light which is contained in white light. Yellow or warm lights will not damage your eyes and will allow you to fall asleep at night, which is something that white light doesn’t do as well.