The best cordless lamps that double as decor

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Most of us have an area of our home that could benefit from a little extra light. Maybe it's a dark living room with north-facing windows, a bedroom with insufficient overhead lighting, or a nook without an electrical outlet for a lamp to add some brightness. That's why cordless lamps are a brilliant solution. Also known as portable lamps, these rechargeable lamps provide hours of illumination exactly where you need it.

"Portable lamps were once seen as novelty items valued mainly for their utility," says lighting designer and consultant Staci Ruiz. "Today, they have become some of the most sought-after design pieces in the home and hospitality industries." That's because cordless lamps allow lighting to be responsive instead of fixed. "It's illuminated freedom," says industrial designer Alecia Wesner, brand steward for George Kovacs Lighting. "The limitations of electrical outlet locations, dealing with cords and how to hide them, or being limited by the infrastructure of an existing space and its electrical plan are completely eliminated."

Cordless lamps come in a variety of sizes and styles, making them a fantastic renter-friendly option for illuminating a work desk, nightstand, entryway, patio, or tucked-away corner. We tested 14 models to find the best cordless lamps for every need, style, and budget, evaluating them on battery life, brightness, ease of use, and durability.

Our picks of the best cordless lamps

Best overall: Zafferano Pina Pro - See at Amazon

Best budget: Brightech Celia Portable Lamp - See at Amazon

Best table lamp: O'Bright Dune Battery Powered Table Lamp - See at Amazon

Best desk lamp: O'Bright Bankers LED Lamp - See at Amazon

Best for bedroom: Addison Ross Rechargeable Bobbin Lamp - See at Addison Ross

Most stylish: Pooky Katherine Cordless Lamp - See at Pooky Lighting

Best floor lamp: Pooky Lillee Cordless Standing Lamp - See at Pooky Lighting

Best outdoor: Weilailux Outdoor Lamp - See at Amazon

Best overall

You'll use it for everything. You may recognize the Zafferino Pina Pro cordless lamp from your favorite restaurant, but we think it makes an excellent addition to the home. It has three color temperatures (candlelight, warm white, and cool white), and its brightest setting is powerful, making it ideal for reading, desk work, dark entryways, patios, and areas with limited lighting. The lamp can also be dimmed to function as a bookshelf light or ambient lighting. We actually traveled with the petite Pina Pro, using it as a nightlight in a guest bedroom that only had overhead lighting.

Operation is a no-brainer. The Pina Pro includes a proprietary charging base and utilizes a single button for operation. Tap to turn the light on or off, and long-press to slowly dim it. Adjusting the color temperature is just as simple. While the lamp is off, press and hold the button until it turns blue. Then tap to cycle through the three warmth options. The button turns red to indicate when it's time to recharge. Incidentally, we found that the Pina Pro has a run time of 11 hours versus the advertised 12, but it still lasts a full day.

Also consider: The Zafferano Poldina Pro, a slim, portable indoor/outdoor lamp that functions similarly to the Pina Pro, and you can also accessorize it with shades. It has three color temperatures and can be adjusted to three different heights. We tested the large floor lamp version. The downside? It's heavy and expensive at $360.

Best budget

A lot of bang for your buck. Brightech's Celia Portable Lamp resembles some of the fancier models we tested but is a fraction of the price. We loved its trendy mushroom design and that it takes just a tap to operate and adjust the three brightness settings. It gives off a good amount of light for its size. Plus the lampshade pivots so you can direct the light where you need it most.

It doesn't look cheap. Though it's made from recycled plastic, the Celia is durable and sturdy, and it doesn't skimp on quality, with a lengthy 5-year warranty. Its lacquered exterior tends to show fingerprints and dust over time, but those can be wiped clean with a microfiber cloth. If we had to call out one main con about the Celia lamp, it's that it only has a 6-hour run time on the brightest setting. Still, considering the price, we can't complain.

Also consider: If you really want to save money, try our best ultra-budget pick, the Nusogon Cordless Table Lamp. Priced at $22, it's good for casual use with various light settings but has a limited light spread, looks low-budget, and has visible wiring.

Best table lamp

This is a true table lamp. Many of the models we tested touted themselves as table lamps, but this was the only one that really lived up to the hype, with a scale that follows traditional table lamp designs. The O'Bright Dune Battery Powered Table Lamp offers four brightness settings (100%, 60%, 30%, 15%) and superior light diffusion, making it a solid choice for adding extra ambient light to a living room, desk, dining area, entryway, or bedroom.

Assembly is easy. The O'Bright Dune takes a few steps to assemble — including unrolling the linen lampshade, hooking it around two rings, then closing it shut with Velcro — but the instructions are clear, so setup takes minutes. The finished product is a stunner, with an elegant ceramic base and brass accents, including a power/brightness button and a charging port along the base's rim. We liked that charging takes roughly 6.5 hours and that the lamp has a runtime of approximately 20 hours at its brightest setting.

Best desk

Task lighting with style. Another favorite from O'Bright, the Bankers Lamp has an old-school, "antique brass" design, with a 180° swivel head that can be positioned to provide direct task lighting for reading or crafting, or to angle upward for ambient lighting. Its three brightness levels (100%, 50%, 20%) can be adjusted by tapping a button on the base, helping keep glare to a minimum.

Perfectly portable. The versatile O'Bright Bankers Lamp is the kind of lighting you'll likely move around your home as needed, so not having to worry about electrical outlets or ungainly power cords is a huge plus. The lamp takes 6 hours to charge and has a ridiculously long runtime — we found it lasted 28.5 hours at its brightest setting and 150 hours at its lowest, even though the bulb grew quite dim in the last remaining hours.

Best for bedroom

It's soft enough for winding down. Bedroom lighting should never be harsh, which is why the Addison Ross Bobbin Lamp belongs on your nightstand. It has three levels of soft, warm lighting that can be used for reading, winding down, or as a nightlight. The lamp takes about 8 hours to charge, but we found that it had an excellent run time of 12.5 hours. We also appreciated that the brightness can be adjusted manually with a few taps on the lamp's top or via remote control. The remote also lets you program the lamp to run for 2, 4, or 6 hours.

A dreamy addition to your bedroom. The lacquered wood Bobbin lamp has a sleek, modern design that adds beauty to the bedroom without being distracting or overwhelming. It's available in a rainbow of colors, making it an accent piece that can pop. It's also slim and doesn't take up much room on a nightstand, so you have plenty of space for a picture frame, book, or glass of water. One thing to note about the Bobbin is that it does tend to show dust and fingerprints over time, but a microfiber cloth can wipe them away.

Also consider: Following a similar mushroom design, the $80 Adesso Connie is a comparable option with a brass shade and a wood base.

Most stylish

Style comes first. Let's be clear: The Pooky Katherine Cordless Lamp is more decorative than functional. It doesn't emit a lot of light and the difference between its brightest and dimmest settings is hardly noticeable. But this is an incredibly beautiful lamp, with a heavy glass base and lampshades that come in an assortment of colors and styles (more than 100!), so you can really customize the lamp to match your decor. The base is technically sold separately so you can outfit with the shade of your choice, and easily swap with the seasons, if you're inclined. The Katherine also comes with a remote control dimmer that fits inside a shiny gold case for added elegance.

Room for improvement. Assembling the lamp was challenging, mainly because a removable plastic ring inside the lampshade that wouldn't come out easily. Charging the lamp requires a few steps because the port is under the removable bulb/light socket. We had to remove the magnetic lampshade and socket to access it for charging. The power button is also on the underside of the socket and not clearly visible, so it's easiest to remove the lampshade and socket or use the remote to turn it on and off. Despite these quirks, it's a decent little decorative lamp that will give any space a stylish upgrade.

Best floor lamp

More useful than you think. A cordless floor lamp might seem odd — how often are you going to move around a floor lamp? — but it actually makes sense. It can float in the middle of a room or be placed in darkened spaces where there is no electrical outlet. The Pooky Lillee Cordless Standing Lamp is a stylish portable option with a lacquered wood pole and a choice of more than 100 lamp shades. Like the Pooky Katherine, however, the Lillee doesn't provide much illumination and works best as ambient lighting.

Good to know. The Lillee lamp requires assembly, but we found it to be quick and painless. Just screw two separate poles together, then attach them to the base. As with the Katherine, the lampshade and the bulb/socket must be removed in order to access the port and charge the battery. Though the battery takes a lengthy 8.5 hours to charge, our tests found that the lamp had a decent run time of 11 to 12 hours on its brightest setting.

Best outdoor lamp

Great for patios and camping. The Weilailux Outdoor Lamp was designed to withstand the elements. It's crafted with a plastic lampshade, a matte powder-coated aluminum alloy body, a tap button, and a rubber charging port cover. It has an IP44 rating, meaning the lamp is protected against water splashes but not heavy rain. The Weilailux gives a soft glow that can be adjusted by holding the singular button down.

The battery life is Impressive… most of the time. The Weilailux takes between 4 to 6 hours to charge, and our tests found that it lasted an impressive 20 hours on its highest setting — that's 4 hours longer than the manufacturer's claim. But that wasn't always the case. The lamp also functions as a power bank, and when we used it as a charger, the run time plummeted to about 6 hours. This wasn't a dealbreaker for including the Weilalilux on our best list, but it's worth keeping in mind.

What else we tested

What to look for in a cordless lamp

Use: The best cordless lamps are designed to let users easily respond to their space's needs throughout the day or night, says Wesner. They can serve as decorative, ambient, or task lighting, and come in a range of styles, including table lamps, desk lamps, floor lamps, outdoor lamps, lanterns, sconces, and picture lights.

Lumens: According to the Department of Energy, lumens measure how much light a bulb emits. A bulb that has 1,000 lumens is similar to a 100-watt incandescent bulb, while a 40-watt bulb is roughly 450 lumens. Higher lumens are recommended for task lighting, while lower lumens are best for ambient, softer lighting, says Wesner. Some portable lamps also let you adjust the color temperature of the light. Warm lighting is cozy and ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, dining spaces, and patios, while cool lighting is brighter and best for kitchens, bathrooms, and work-from-home areas.

Battery life: Cordless lamps have an internal battery that can be charged, so the lamp can be placed where needed. The battery runtime varies by model, but most manufacturers claim a range of 6 to 20 hours at the brightest setting. "Many cordless lamps use LED illumination, which uses less energy and extends battery life," says Wesner. However, she adds, battery lifespan may degrade over time.

Charging method and time: Most cordless lamps use a USB-C cable or a proprietary charging base and can take at least 5 hours to fully charge. The majority of the lamps we tested did not include a wall adapter with their USB-C cords. While pass-through charging via a power bank is an option, it may take longer to charge the battery or result in a shorter run time. The manufacturers also advise to not continuously leave plugged in while operating.

Portability: The best cordless lamps should be lightweight and have a streamlined design that makes them easy to relocate where needed. Some portable lamps are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, but not all are weather-resistant. More on that below.

Outdoor compatibilty: For a cordless lamp that can stand up to rain and splashes, look for the Ingress Protection (IP) rating, which grades how well electronic devices protect against dust and water. It typically consists of two numbers: the first, ranging from 1 to 6, indicates protection from solid objects or materials; the second, ranging from 1 to 8, indicates protection from liquids. According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, an IP66 rating means the device can withstand dust and strong jets of water with minimal ingress. For more guidance on IP ratings, see this chart.

Design & materials: Cordless lamps are moved and handled more frequently than regular lamps, and the materials they're made from can vary. Plastic can make a lamp lighter but perhaps less stable, notes Wesner, while metal can be more durable but also heavier. Aesthetics certainly can play a role in selection, but durability is key when choosing cordless lighting.

How we tested cordless lamps

We test every cordless lamp in our own homes, using them in a variety of ways to see what they are best suited for. Is that adorable little lamp bright enough to read by, or is it really just for show? And what about that banker's lamp — does it need to live on a desk or is it suitable for other areas of the home? We aim to find out. We also want to know just how portable the lamps really are and how well they actually work. Here are just a few of the criteria we consider when testing the best cordless lamps.

Battery drainage

Although each manufacturer lists the lamp's runtime, we conducted several tests to verify their claims. We ran each lamp at its brightest setting until the battery ran out, recharged it, and ran it again at its lowest setting until the battery ran out. We repeated the process at least two more times to see if there was any variation in the results. Some lamps actually held a charge much longer than the manufacturer suggested, but the light quality tended to grow too dim to be practical over time.

Brightness levels in dark and light rooms

Every cordless lamp had different brightness levels, so we moved them around different areas of our homes to see how effective each was in both bright and dark spaces. Based on those results, we determined the best use for the lamp. We found we preferred using these lamps at their brightest settings, as the lower settings were too dim.

Ease of charging and usability

The best cordless lamps have ports that are clearly visible and easy to access. We considered whether any parts had to be removed to plug in the USB-C cord or charging dock, whether we had to fumble to fit the cord into the port, and whether the cord length was sufficient for charging. We also preferred lamps with charging indicators. We also looked at how the lamp operates. Does it take a few taps to power it on and off, and adjust brightness, or can brightness only be controlled via the remote? The simpler, the better.

Build quality and durability

We tested cordless lamps in different materials, including steel, plastic, ceramic, brass, glass, and lacquered wood. We considered how well-made each lamp was, whether it seemed durable or cheap, and if it was a good value for the price.

Portability

Since we're testing cordless lamps, we obviously wanted to see how portable each lamp was. We looked for lamps that were lightweight and could be effortlessly transferred to different spots in our homes or outdoor spaces.

Meet the expert behind the guide

Mark Marino is a writer and editor experienced in creating celebrity, lifestyle, travel, and shopping content for national media outlets, including People, Bon Appétit, Yahoo!, Apartment Therapy, and the UK's iPaper. He lives in New York City.

FAQs

How long do cordless lamps last on a single charge?

Run time varies by model, but the cordless lamps we tested ranged from 6 to 20 hours on their brightest settings. However, some lamps grew dimmer as battery life drained. The runtime of each lamp was much longer on its lowest setting, with some holding a charge for more than 120 hours.

Are cordless lamps bright enough for reading?

It depends on the number of lumens and the lamp's style, says Wesner. A portable lamp with 450 lumens and a shade or head that can be angled to direct light toward your reading material is sufficient.

Can cordless lamps be left plugged in?

Think of a cordless lamp like your cellphone. You don't want to leave it plugged in and charging continuously, as this will shorten the overall battery lifespan.

Are cordless lamps safe?

Yes, but look for certifications from the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) to ensure the lamp meets electrical safety standards.

Do cordless lamps use LED bulbs?

Most modern lamps currently utilize LEDs, says Wesner. This enables energy efficiency and battery performance.

Are cordless lamps worth it?

The biggest benefit of a cordless lamp is the ability to move light. Cordless lighting doesn't replace wired lighting, but it complements both the existing lighting and the space. "Advances in technology — including longer battery life, color selection, remote dimming, and convenient charging stations — have pushed rechargeable lamps to the forefront of design investment," says Ruiz. "They are now a must-have for anyone who entertains and wants to create an inviting atmosphere without the distraction of cords and dangling plugs."