Cozy up with a good book and these clip-on lamps this year.

The best 8 clip-on lights: At a glance

Book lovers of the world unite! We know how much you love to read anywhere and anytime (and we’re all for it)! Sometimes, though, aging eyes and tiny text are against us. Not to mention the dreaded gloom of winter weather! As we run through a list of the top eight clip-on lights for reading, we’re here to help you battle against the natural-sworn enemy of reading — darkness. Your reading needs are covered from multi-purpose clip-on lights to book lights for kids. Let’s see if you can find your must-own clip-on light here!

#8 LEPOWER Clip-On Reading Light 

Pros

• 15-in adjustable neck
• Bright and adjustable
• Affordable price

Con

• Not as bright as some LED clip on light

Take a look at the pics on the LEPower Gooseneck’s sale page, and you’ll see that it’s a multifunctional clip-on light suitable not just as a reading lamp but also as an addition to your desk for nighttime gaming sessions or as a desk lamp to shed some light on workplace matters.

Yes, it may not be the most glamorous lamp ever (it looks like a glow stick), but it’s sleek and has a 360-degree adjustable arm that makes it a flexible little device. The lamp has a warm light and cool light setting, but limited settings of “bright” and “dim.” A great entry-level device, but if you’re a feature-lover, it may leave you lacking.

#7  Glocusent 5W Multipurpose Clip-On Light

Pros:

• Dual-row design of 38 LEDs
• Additional 30-minute timer option
• Handy remote control

Con:

• Remote control has a limited range

Hey, we may be a little biased, but we love the Glocusent multipurpose clip-on light. The lamp has an impressive dual-row design of 38 LEDs that can be dimmed or illuminated using the remote control between three lighting modes. It also has lots of different color settings, including the eye-friendly amber mode which is great if you’re a late-night reader. Our fave feature, though, is the timer mode, which can be set for 30 minutes (perfect for a little light reading before bed) and can be extended if necessary.

While the price is a little higher than some on our list, we think this lamp is worth owning because the multi-functional light can be used as a children’s night light, a study light, a book light, and more, saving you the need to buy multiple lamps at added cost.

#6 CUMKA 3 Color Mode Clip-on Lamp 

Pros:

• 10 brightness settings
• White Light mode is perfect for close-up work
• Attractive ring light design

Con:

• No stand-alone design (clip-on only)

We love the ring light appearance of this clip-on lamp, which adds a modern vibe to your home office or bedroom. The 10 brightness settings of the CUMKA clip-on lamp make it great if you like to transition from day-time working to night-time working with ease. Though the lack of a stand-alone design makes it a little tricky for desk work, if you’ve got somewhere to add your clip-on lamp in mind, and you’re looking for an impressive 30 different settings that can be memorized by this clever little lamp, it may be the one for you.

The device is surprisingly energy efficient despite having a whopping 48 bulbs, as it uses efficient LEDs as a light source. Those who travel will love its multi-charge options, which include an adapter, power cord, and even a power bank. Handy!

#5 BOHON LED Desk Lamp 

Pros:

• Strong metal clip
• Multiple brightness ranges
• Easy to use and functional

Con:

• The power indicator is very bright at night

The powerful metal clamp of this LED clip-on light makes it perfect for heavy-duty lighting in the bedroom, office, or a hotel room. You don’t even have to worry about surface scratches, as the inside of the clamp is covered with a thick foam pad to prevent wear. Like the CUMKA clip-on lamp, the BOHON timer LED desk lamp has a memory feature so you don’t have to reprogram the device every time you switch it on. As the name suggests, a timer turns the lamp off after 30 minutes.

One downside noted in the buyer reviews is the power indicator, which can be distracting at night as it glows brightly. Still, if you can overlook this, it’s a solid desk or book light with a traditional desk lamp appearance.

#4 DPOWER Clip-On Light 

Pros:

• 48 LED lights make it extra bright
• USB rechargeable
• Long power cable

Con:

• A concentrated lighting area

This stylish 48 LED-powered clip-on light offers a bright, yet concentrated lighting area perfect for task lighting or for clipping to the headboard to read a book without disturbing your loved one. It is marketed as an eco-friendly option as it consumes 80 percent less power than most reading lights, making it great for those who are environmentally conscious.

One of our favorite features is the long USB power cable, which at 3.6ft is a convenient length for charging wherever you are in the room.

#3 VONT Clip-On Light 

Pros:

• Slick touch switch
• 360 degree flexible neck
• Long battery life

Con:

• It isn’t bright enough

While customer reviews are a little down on this clip-on light, claiming it is not bright enough, we think it’s OK for most reading needs. It is worth noting that it only has 16 LEDs, which when compared to some of our selections (36 LEDs and 48 LEDs), is not the most powerful option on our list. When we tested the lamp we noticed that while bright enough for some tasks, fell short when reading in darker conditions. Coincidentally, we saw similar comments in the review area on Amazon from other customers, too. This is perhaps a good lamp for reading in bed with a light-sensitive partner.

The device is clearly very well made with a smooth slick touch switch and a white curved modern appearance that reminds us of an Apple product.

The VONT clip-on light also has a rechargeable 1000 mAH battery designed to last twice as long as their competitor’s batteries. While we didn’t check this ourselves, we are aware that 1000 mAH is a very solid battery indeed.

#2 LEPOWER Clip Light 

Pros:

• Flexible gooseneck design
• Ideal for at-home use
• Switches on power cord

Con:

• The arm can be difficult to maneuver

The sleek, lightweight design and flexible gooseneck set the LEPOWER clip-on light apart from some of the others on our list. We love the fact that the designer has chosen to add the switches to the power cord itself, making them unobtrusive in the overall design. It is also a great space-saving option when compared to conventional lighting.

The customer reviews pointed out that the arm can be difficult to maneuver, which is why it didn’t hit the top spot of our list. For that…well, you’ll have to see what we have in store.

#1 Glocusent 5W Clip-On Light

Pros:

• Multiple light modes with a timer
• Eye-caring amber mode for bedtime reading
• Handy controller for added convenience

Con:

• Needs to stay plugged in for use

The cream of the crop. The big enchilada, the top banana…the…OK, we may be a little hungry writing this! But suffice it to say this is the top option we have available — and we’re delighted to tell you it’s one of our lights!

No, no, no! We’re not biased here. We spent a lot of time testing the competitors, but when it comes to balancing price, light modes, and flexibility, the Glocusent 5W eye-caring clip-on light Light comes out on top.

Not only is it great for kids (and their delicate eyes), but the choice of operating it with or without an adapter makes it a space-saving marvel. It’s also designed to block blue light, which is known to zap you of restful sleep.

Yes, it needs to stay plugged in to use, but with a 6.5ft cable, it’s longer than others on the market, making charging the 4.5-hour battery a breeze.

The reasonable price of the lamp makes it suitable for all budgets, and the long cord can be used by students to light their dorm room, office workers who need extra light at their desks, and bedtime readers. A truly flexible option.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to clip-on lamps, few can compare to the 5W Glocusent clip-on light, which supports eye health via 36 adjustable LEDs. Making a good alternative to neck lights, which are more beneficial for close-up tasks, the Glocusent clip-on light can be repositioned easily to move from one task to another, making it an excellent choice for office workers, students, readers, and those looking to add a bit of light to those nooks and crannies in their home that sunlight doesn’t reach.

A close second to the Glocusent clip-on light is the LEPOWER Clip light, which is an attractive alternative, albeit one with a difficult to maneuver arm.

Does your favorite clip-on book light make our list?