Are Rechargeable Table Lamps Worth It ? Where They Shine, Where They Don't

A rechargeable table lamp is a lamp with a battery in its base and no cable trailing to the wall. Charge it, carry it to wherever the light is needed, tap it on. They were a restaurant-table novelty a few years ago; now they sit on bedside tables, bookshelves and garden tables all over the country.

Are they worth it ? For some places in the house, they are the best light you can buy. For others, a plug-in lamp still wins. Here is how to tell the difference, and what to check before you buy.

On this page

• Where a cordless lamp is the right answer
• Where a plug-in lamp still wins
• Battery, charging and how long they last
• The light: brightness, dimming and colour
• Our rechargeable lamps, compared
• Looking after the battery
• In short
• Common questions

Where a cordless lamp is the right answer

• A table with no socket nearby. The dining table in the middle of the room, the console in a hallway, the sideboard on the wrong wall. A cable across the floor is a trip hazard; a cordless lamp simply is not.
• Bedsides in older houses. Many UK bedrooms have the sockets on the wrong side of the bed. A rechargeable lamp ends the extension-lead problem.
• Shelves and bookcases. A small glow on a shelf adds depth to a room at night, and no one wants a cable hanging down the front of a bookcase.
• Outside, in summer. Some models are rated for outdoor use, so the same lamp moves from the dining table to the garden table.
• Rented homes. No drilling, no wiring, nothing to undo when you move. Our guide to lighting a room without wiring builds a whole room this way.

Where a plug-in lamp still wins

• Your main reading lamp. If it is on for three hours every night, a mains lamp is simpler than a lamp you have to remember to charge.
• When you need a lot of light. Most cordless lamps are designed for atmosphere, not for lighting a whole room. For a desk or a reading chair, see our home office lighting and floor lamps.
• Large shades. A tall lamp with a wide fabric shade, like the Pebble Table Lamp at 65cm, is a mains piece by nature.

The honest answer is that most homes want both: plug-in lamps where you sit every evening, cordless lamps everywhere a cable would be a nuisance.

Battery, charging and how long they last

Three figures tell you most of what you need to know.

• Battery capacity, in mAh. Higher means longer between charges at the same brightness. Our lamps range from 1,200mAh to 2,500mAh.
• The charging port. USB-C is the most convenient, because it is the same cable as most phones.
• Run time, which depends on brightness. Any cordless lamp runs far longer on a low glow than at full brightness, so a lamp used as a soft evening light lasts much longer between charges than one used at maximum.

One of our lamps, the Rechargeable Fabric Table Lamp, uses a removable 18650 battery. That is a standard cell size, which means the battery can be replaced rather than the lamp, a real advantage over the years.

The light: brightness, dimming and colour

Look for three things on the product page:

• Dimming. Stepless dimming, where you hold the touch control and the light fades smoothly, is nicer to live with than three fixed levels.
• Colour temperature. Several lamps switch between warm, neutral and cool light. In the evening, stay on the warmest setting, 2700 to 3000K. Our guide to colour temperature explains why.
• The shade. An opal or fabric shade spreads a soft glow; a metal dome throws the light down onto the table, which suits a dining table better.

Our rechargeable lamps, compared

All figures below come from each lamp's product page.

Prices are those on the site at the time of writing. See the full rechargeable and cordless lights collection, which also includes a battery-operated wall light with a remote control.

Which one, where

• Dining table and garden table: the Rechargeable Touch Lamp, rated for outdoor use, or the Cordless Brass Fabric Lamp under a covered terrace.
• Bedside: the Rechargeable Mushroom Lamp or the Rechargeable Fabric Table Lamp, both of which switch to a warm tone for reading.
• Shelf or console: the compact Cordless Dome Lamp, in five finishes.

Looking after the battery

Rechargeable lamps use lithium-ion batteries, like phones, and the same habits keep them healthy.

• Charge with a standard USB charger and the cable supplied, rather than an unknown fast charger.
• Do not leave it flat for months. If you put a garden lamp away for the winter, give it a part charge first and top it up now and then.
• Keep it out of direct heat while charging, away from radiators and sunny windowsills.
• Outdoor-rated does not mean waterproof. Bring the lamp in when it rains, and never charge it outside.

In short

• Cordless lamps are best where a cable would be a nuisance or a hazard: dining tables, shelves, bedsides without sockets, the garden.
• Your main reading lamp is usually better plugged in.
• Compare battery capacity (mAh), charging port and dimming.
• Stay on the warmest setting in the evening.
• Charge with a standard charger and never leave the battery flat for months.

Common questions

Are rechargeable table lamps bright enough to read by ?

Most are designed for atmosphere rather than reading. They give a lovely glow on a table or shelf, but for an hour's reading every night a plug-in lamp or floor lamp is more practical.

How long does a rechargeable lamp last on one charge ?

It depends on the battery and, above all, on the brightness you use. A lamp on a low evening glow runs for much longer than the same lamp at full brightness. Battery capacity, given in mAh on the product page, is the best guide when comparing models.

Can I use a rechargeable lamp outside ?

Only if the product page says it is suitable for outdoor use, like our Rechargeable Touch Lamp. Even then, bring it in when it rains and charge it indoors. Our guide to IP ratings explains what outdoor protection actually means.

Can you replace the battery in a cordless lamp ?

Some yes, some no. Lamps with a removable standard cell, such as the 18650 battery in our Rechargeable Fabric Table Lamp, can be given a new battery. Lamps with a built-in battery cannot easily be opened.

Can I leave a rechargeable lamp plugged in while it is on ?

Many models can be used while charging, which effectively turns them into a corded lamp for the evening. Check the instructions for your lamp, and unplug it once it is full if you are not using it.

Are cordless lamps safe for a child's room ?

They remove the trailing cable, which is the main risk with a lamp in a child's room. Keep the charging cable out of reach and choose a lamp with a stable, weighted base. Our guide to kids' bedroom lighting covers the rest.

Still unsure ?

Tell us where the lamp will live and how long you use it each evening at contact@thelightheritage.com, and we will tell you whether cordless makes sense, and which one. We answer every message ourselves.

Browse rechargeable and cordless lights, all table lamps, or our bedroom and outdoor lighting. For the right size of lamp on each surface, see what size table lamp you need.