13+ Best Desk Lamps for Artists in 2024 (April)

Looking for the best desk lamps for artists? This article will have you sorted in no time.

Many millennia ago, someone pretty important decreed, “Let there be light” and we’ve been basking in its glow ever since.

While technology has certainly changed, the search for the best light to work by hasn’t. Whether you’re an artist, or graphic designer, or work in another creative field, we have all felt the pain firsthand of a desk lamp that either isn’t strong enough or is too bulky to help efficiently.

To that end, we thought we’d “shine a light” on the problem and pick out the best desk lamps that are available today so you can stop searching and get back to work.

Before we start though, we should learn how to pick a desk lamp. It’s not as easy as you may believe.

03/05/2024 09:46 pm GMT

If you’re interested in more workplace comfort, check out our best laptop stands feature, the best under desk keyboard trays, the best ergonomic keyboards, the best office chairs and the best ergonomic mouse pads.

What is the Best Desk Lamp for Artists?

Our top pick for the best desk lamp for artists goes to Benq e-Reading Lamp because of its functionality, versatility and beautiful looks but check out comparison table below.

 

Top 8 Best Selling Desk Lamps on Amazon

These are the four most popular desk lamps on Amazon right now:

 

13+ Best Desk Lamps for Drawing & Design

1. Benq e-Reading Lamp (Editor’s Choice) 

The best lamp for artists overall

Size: 23.22 x 8.66 x 24.61 inches | Weight: 10.4 pounds | Voltage: 100 – 240 Volts | Wattage: 18 Watts

With its LED light design resembling a smile, we think that the e-Reading lamp from BenQ is beautifully designed.

It contains 36 LEDs evenly spread across the curved bar and can easily light the far corners of your desk. With its bright yet warm glow, the lamp can make working much easier without putting a strain on your eyes.

From our experience, the touch-sensitive ring on the top of the lamp lets you control the amount and temperature of the light.

Equipped with a light sensor, the automatic mode adjusts the lighting level based on the amount of ambient light in the room.

While it is on the high end regarding price, its unique design, touch controls, and crisp, beautiful light can brighten your day and workspace.

Read our full Benq desktop lamp review here.

Pros	Cons
➕ Light adjustments are automatic	➖ Head is too long
➕ You can adjust the tone of the light from light to warm
➕ Light covers a wide area

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

2. BenQ Screenbar or Screenbar Plus

The best space-saving desk lamp

Size: 18 x 4 x 4 inches | Weight: 1.17 pounds | Voltage: 5 Volts | Wattage: 5 Watts

From its innovative design to its intuitive features, the Screenbar or the latest Screenbar Plus (with desktop dial) from BenQ is easily our top choice for the best space-saving desk lamp.

With its unique design, the lamp sits on top of your monitor shining down to give you 500 lux of brightness without causing any screen glare like many other lamps.

With an auto-adjustment feature, the light adjusts to keep it even and steady based on the ambient light in the room.

This can be especially helpful if you working from home and it’s a dark and gloomy day outside. While it’s not the most affordable lamp, the versatility it offers certainly makes it worth the price.

Read our full Benq Screenbar review here.

Pros	Cons
➕ Built with aluminum with high-quality	➖ Expensive
➕ Solid mounting	➖ Automatic light adjustment is absent
➕ Touch/control is easy

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

3. Lampat LED Desk Lamp

The best desk lamp for small spaces

Size: 18.5 x 7 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Voltage: 12 Volts | Wattage: 10 Watts

The wonderful thing about LED lamps is not only how they can affect energy consumption but also the freedom they provide designers to try new things and new designs.

The LED Desk Lamp from Lampat is one such design with its sleek design that is perfect if you work in a cramped office or cubicle.

With five different illumination settings and four lighting modes, the lamp always provides you with the best combination of temperature and brightness.

The base also comes with a USB charging port and has an automatic timer of 60 minutes in case you forget to turn it off.

Pros	Cons
➕ It includes a touch-sensitive control panel	➖ Expensive
➕ Five modes and brightness levels

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

4. LED Wholesalers Folding LED Desk Lamp

The best budget-friendly LED lamp

Size: 13.9 x 7.2 x 16.8 inches | Weight: 2.6 pounds | Voltage: 100-240 Volts | Wattage: 7 Watts

Made from LEDs that have a lifespan of 35,000 hours, the folding LED Desk Lamp from LED Wholesalers provides an ample amount of light without consuming a lot of space or energy.

Made from aluminum with a plastic shield on top, the arm is easily adjustable so you can position it for the best lighting. At the head of the light, a frosted lens provides glare-free light.

The space-saving design makes it a perfect choice for home offices and its budget-friendly price won’t hurt your wallet either.

Pros	Cons
➕ Anti-glare light	➖ Build material quality is low
➕ High adjustability which helps in energy saving
➕ No flickering

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

5. Tenergy 11W Dimmable Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port

The best modern lamp for digital artists

Size: 18.94 x 5.28 x 17.2 inches inches | Weight: 4.43 pounds | Voltage: 12 Volts | Wattage: 12 Watts

With six levels of brightness and five different light temperatures, the 11W Desk Lamp from Tenergy will quickly become your desk’s best friend.

Able to reach up to 1200 lux, the lamp is the brightest that Tenergy produces, making it a great choice if you happen to work in a dark office.

With its Advance Memory setting, getting the perfect lighting for your needs is simple as the lamp can save your favorite temperature and brightness setting.

With a modern look, the base, head, and neck can rotate so you can adjust all angles to your desired setting. The base also has a USB port so you can charge your phone or other mobile devices.

Pros	Cons
➕ Able to reach up to 1200 lux and four preset light colors	➖ Expensive
➕ Base also has a USB port
➕ Flickering- Free

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

6. Ikea Forsa

A great lamp design at an affordable price

Size: 14 x 6 x 5 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Voltage: N/A | Wattage: 40 Watts

If you didn’t already know, Ikea doesn’t only sell furniture and one of their best products is the Forsa lamp. Made of sleek steel, featuring a long, adjustable arm as well as an adjustable shade letting you put the lamp in the perfect position for your work.

Unlike most lamps, Ikea includes a bulb with the lamp to make it easier for you to get set up right away. Available in many different colors, the Forsa lamp is a great choice if you’re looking for a lamp with a great design and a splash of color.

Pros	Cons
➕ Sleek design	➖ Not available easily in the market
➕ Adjustable heights
➕ Comes with bulb

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

7. YOUKOYI A16S

The best value desk lamp for artists

Size: 15.1″D x 13.19″W x 15.55″H | Weight: 1.76 Pounds | Voltage: 12 Volts | Wattage: 7.4W

If you are looking for the best and high-quality lamp, we think the YOUKOYI A16S desk lamp with touch-sensitive buttons is an ideal choice for you. It allows you to adjust the brightness just with the touch switch of the lamp head.

We found that it includes three color and temperature modes like 3000K (Yellow), 4000K (Natural light), and 6000K (Cool White), for you to set for different work modes.

You can adjust it in multiple angles like 180° up and down and left and right 350° swivel with extendable long arms which you can fold or extend up to 15.7.”

Furthermore, we felt it was easy to install with the sturdy construction, and suitable for reading, working, jewelry makers, arts and crafts, and hobbies. That’s not all.

It has a diffusion translucent lighting panel and LED high-quality lamp beads to protect your eyes while working long hours. That’s because every mode emits a soft light without glare or flicker.

This desk lamp’s price and the features it provides show much value and brightness it brings to your workplace.

Pros	Cons
➕ High-quality lamp beads	➖ You must adjust the plank properly
➕ Multi-position adjustments
➕ Color and temperature modes

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

8. Lepower Metal Desk Lamp

Classic appeal with a great price

Size: 10.4 x 6.1 x 6 inches | Weight: 1.9 pounds | Voltage: 120 Volts | Wattage: 40 Watts

Sometimes the best piece of hardware comes at an affordable price and that is the case with the Metal Desk Lamp from LePower.

With its sleek design that is reminiscent of older desk lamps and its matte finish straddles the line between traditional and modern design and its flexible neck lets you put into just about any position you need.

Although the lamp requires you to supply a bulb, this allows you to pick a bulb with a temperature that you prefer whether is an LED bulb, energy saver, or incandescent.

Pros	Cons
➕ Budget-friendly	➖ Bulb is absent.
➕ Built with metals and sleek design
➕ Easily adjustable and flexible

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

9. Simple Designs Lantern Glass Shade Desk Lamp

A unique design for filament style bulbs

Size: 9.8 x 5.8 x 18.8 inches | Weight: 3 pounds | Voltage: 120 Volts | Wattage: 40 Watts

With changes in technology, designers have taken the traditional look of products and taken them in new and interesting directions. This is the case with the Lantern Glass Shade Desk Lamp from Simple Designs.

The lamp prioritizes style with its industrial motif and glass shade. This results in a light source that isn’t pointed downward onto your desk like many other LED lamps.

While it looks incredible, the amount of light it provides to the whole room is the biggest draw here. To give it a sense of nostalgia, try using the lamp with a filament or Edison-style bulb, and with its relatively affordable price, you can add a lot of light to even the largest offices.

Pros	Cons
➕ Easily Affordable	➖ Glass attracts dust, so it requires cleaning.
➕ The light bulb is exposed
➕ Good design and built quality

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

10. TaoTronics Dimmable LED Desk Lamp

The best foldable lamp

Size: 6.77 x 7.09 x 17.52 inches inches | Weight: 2.42 pounds | Voltage: 100V-240V Volts | Wattage: 5 Watts]

TaoTronics continues to impress with its creative designs that not only save space but don’t skimp on any of the features that consumers are looking for.

This is most certainly the case with their Dimmable LED Desk Lamp which comes with four different lighting modes and five levels of brightness that are easily controlled. The lamp’s body is easy to adjust and can be rotated 180 degrees at the base.

The second point of adjustment is further up the body which allows you to compactly close the lamp for easy storage.

With anti-flickering technology to reduce eye strain and a 1-hour timer that can automatically turn the lamp off when you forget to, the Dimmable LED Desk Lamp is a great option for travelers who prefer to have a light source of their own on the road.

Pros	Cons
➕ Eye protection	➖ Not scratch and smudge proof
➕ It is power-efficient
➕ Modes of light are adjustable

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

No products found.

 

11. OttLite Pivot LED Desk Lamp

The best desk lamp for multi-taskers

Size: 6.69″D x 6.69″W x 13.25″H | Weight: 1.42 pounds | Wattage: 8.00 Watts

If you are tired of searching for a high-performance lamp, then OttLite Pivot LED Desk Lamp is the best solution for you. We recommend this best lamp for studying because has two prongs of built-in LED light in a single base.

This lamp features temperature and touch controls that make it more efficient and impressive.

Having a slim design, the desk lamp is lightweight, which makes it portable so you can carry it around easily. The desk lamp has a flexible neck through which you can adjust the height from 13.25 to 26 inches. Due to the ClearSun LED technology, you can work under this light without any eye strain.

In addition to these features, it provides two shades of lightning, three modes of temperature, and three settings for brightness. With these characteristics in mind, this desk lamp stands out as an excellent choice for both artists and graphic designers looking for the best desk lamps for drawing.

Pros	Cons
➕ Provides three temperature	➖Hard to see touch sensors
➕ Dual LED lights

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Latest Price on Amazon:

 

12. Govee Table Lamp

Best smart desk lamp 

Size: 7.87″D x 8.66″W x 8.66″H | Weight: 1.68 pounds | Voltage: 120 volts

Do you want to have a smart desk lamp? Then the Govee Table lamp is among the best creative desk lamps that you could own. As it is one of the most impressive desk lamps, it gives light with 16 million color options. Due to this feature, you can use this lamp for occasions like Christmas.

Considering the connectivity, you can easily operate the lamp through Bluetooth and WiFi. Compatibility with voice-controlling features via Google Assistant or Alexa is another highlight of the lamp. This will also allow you to sync the lights of the lamp with music.

In addition to these features, Govee Table lamps work great in personalizing your light tone. You can also save this tone and use it further. This customizing feature is also great for kids.

Pros	Cons
➕ Available in many colors	➖Hard to see touch sensors
➕ Sync with music	➖Plastic case
➕ Customizable
➕ Great for occasions

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

13. Globe Electric Multi-Joint Desk Lamp

The best affordable desk lamp for artists

Size: ‎6.2 x 7.9 x 31.5 inches | Weight: ‎1.32 pounds | Voltage: ‎120 Volts | Wattage: ‎60 watts

Globe Electric is 32 inches long with numerous joints and three pivot locations at the arm’s base, shaft, and neck. This traditional work lamp’s ability to be mounted however you like makes it the ideal option for artists.

This multi-jointed desk light for artists and designers is compatible with 1x E26/Medium Base 60W Bulb and incandescent, halogen, and LED bulbs.

From our experience with the product, you can move this adjustable desk lamp up and down, rotate it to change the light’s direction where you need it most, and modify the brightness. Hence, in our expert opinion, this work lamp’s adjustable feature makes it the perfect choice for designers.

In order to expand the length and make it reachable in any space, it is also equipped with an extra-long cord. If you’re looking to enhance your comfort level, this artist lamp is one of the best options available.

Pros	Cons
➕ Easy and accessible power switch	➖Brightness of light is not adjustable.
➕ Taller desk lamp with 32 inches
➕ Adjustable and can be mounted to any surface at ease

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

How to Pick the Best Desk Lamp

When you were in first grade or even high school, the lamp you had on your desk to do your homework didn’t matter that much. You could easily spend a couple of bucks on whatever the local store had. Now that you’re older, the same old lamp won’t do anymore, no matter how many fond memories you may have. Here’s a guide to picking your next lamp.

Brightness

The lights in a desk lamp can come in a variety of wattages and lux so that you can get a rough idea of how bright the light will be.

Wattage measures the amount of power needed to operate the light while lux measures how bright the light can be. Reducing any eye strain is important and having a lamp with the right brightness can help.

Generally speaking, the brightness of a light bulb is measured in lumens and if you’re seeking to match the brightness of a 60-watt incandescent bulb, you’ll want to find a bulb that’s 800 lumens.

Color Temperature

Whether you like a warm or cool light while working comes down to personal preference. However, warm yellow light has a Kelvin rating of around 2,700 while white light is about 3,000K.

In comparison, bright white light is between 3,500 and 4,100K, and bluish-white light comes in around 5,000 to 6,500K.

Lighting Type

Most new lamps come with LEDs as their light source. These tend to offer better energy efficiency and also last much longer than incandescent or fluorescent lights.

The temperature color of LEDs is also able to be adjusted to reduce eye strain. If anything, a major benefit with LEDs is that they don’t heat up while they are on and do not need to be replaced.

Location

Everyone has a specific location where they feel a desk lamp will provide the best performance for the work that they are doing.

Before you pick a desk lamp though, making sure it will fit in that spot is important. If you think you might move your lamp around, you might want to consider a wireless model that is battery-operated.

Style

When it comes to style, desk lamps have come a long way and many manufacturers will offer designs that might be a good fit in a certain type of décor.

The different styles of desk lamps can run the gamut from traditional to sleek and even unique versions as designers are always looking to make something that stands out from everything else.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Best Desk Lamps Summary

Lamps are a wondrous piece of technology. Before January 1879, when Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb, the only way to get work done in the dark was by a candle, a dangerous proposition. People woke up early and had to finish work before night fell since it was pitch dark back then.

In the 141 years since then, the lamp has seen incredible changes and new advancements in design and technology to help us work in the dark.

Any person from all walks of life understands the necessity of proper lighting. Whether you’re a student, artist, or a different type of worker, electric lighting greatly helps our lives.

We hope our list of the best desk lamps gives you a new appreciation for them and the wonder they create.

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