Here’s a little secret about me – I have a disturbingly huge collection of different kinds of night-reading lights. Even on the nights when I am not reading, I like to keep a reading light on to create a relaxing ambience.
Clip-on lights are by far one of my favorite kinds of light for reading at night. These lights are convenient to use, easy to travel with, affordable, and importantly, they won’t disturb your partner’s sleep.
You will find a smorgasbord of clip-on lights in various sizes, shapes, and colors to match your personal aesthetic.
Since I am such a self-proclaimed authority on clip-on book lights, I’ve decided to put together a list of the best clip-on book lights based on build quality, brightness, and value. Hope it helps you find the perfect reading light for your needs.
So without any further ado, let’s jump straight to the point –
10 Best Clip-on Reading Lights 2023
1. LEPOWER Clip-on Light
This swanky clip-on light meets all the criteria to qualify as the best book light for reading in bed at a reasonable price. You will find two switches on the light – the first one lets you switch between warm light, white light, and switch off mode. The other one is a dim switch with two brightness settings.
When I’m looking for a clip-on reading light for bed, I always go for one with warm light settings as it minimizes the eye strain. I love the cozy, calming vibe it creates in the room, and so does my partner.
I got another one of these for my indoor plants. I use the bright white light setting (white 01) to keep my plant babies alive and kicking. I occasionally dabble in knitting and I found the brightest setting to be good enough for needlecrafts. However, if there’s no background light, you will need to have the clip-on light really close to you for optimal visual acuity.
The design of the light allows me to focus the light exactly where I want it to. My partner is a terribly light sleeper with a pair of photosensitive eyes. Thanks to the 360-degree adjustable head, my reading light doesn’t bother my partner anymore.
The clip can go as wide as 2.36”, which allows me to easily clip the light onto my bed headboard. My only tiny complaint with the product is that it doesn’t have any battery.
The light cable end is USB and it comes with an AC adapter as well. While that works perfectly fine for me while I’m at home or in a hotel, the lack of a battery renders it a less than ideal option when I’m on a road trip or camping in the woods.
2. Vont LED Clip On Reading Light
As an avid reader with a penchant for the great outdoors, having a portable reading light with a long battery life is crucial to me. So, every time I come across a battery-operated clip-on reading like this, I feel super tempted to grab it.
This model’s biggest upside is its battery, without a doubt. The 1000 mAh rechargeable battery lasts for a solid 6-8 hours, depending on your light settings. It barely takes more than an hour to fully charge. I love that the light turns on even while charging.
You can plug into a USB port as well when and if you want to conserve the battery for an emergency. The illumination is perfect for my use. It has three light settings, allowing you to adjust the brightness according to the environment and thus, keep eye strain to a minimum.
It scores A+ for the touch control. I can turn the light on just by lightly tapping it, however, the touch sensor can be extra sensitive at times. You will have to cycle through the 3 brightness settings to turn it off which can be mildly annoying at night in a pitch dark room.
Also, I would have preferred it to remember my last chosen brightness setting but I guess I’m getting what I paid for. The gooseneck arm flexes any way you want it to. The base is extra wide and heavy, hence, I can also use it as a free-standing reading lamp when I want to.
The quality of the clamp is top-notch as well. It’s sturdy and opens wide enough (about 2 inches) to fit my bed headboard and the edge of the table.
3. Flexilight Reading Light
This one’s for those of you looking for a quality clip-on light on a shoestring budget. The Flexilight, as the name implies, flexes out in every possible direction.
It’s bright enough to illuminate both pages at a time. While that’s great when you’re the only one in the room and don’t mind the brightness, the lack of the dimming feature might disturb your partner or roommate’s sleep.
I tried putting a tape on the bulb to dim the light out a bit and it worked to some extent. If you are out camping in the wilderness and want a super bright portable light to illuminate your whole tent, Flexilight could be an excellent option.
I think that the on/off switch could have been a tad bigger, though but on the upside, the slim design of Flexilight comes in real handy when you’re traveling with a small bag. You can also use the light as a bookmark when you are done reading, thanks to its slender shape.
The light came with 2 lithium metal batteries which didn’t last for more than a week. That’s probably because the light is too bright which makes the batteries drain faster. Therefore, I suggest you keep a few extra pairs of batteries on hand all the time.
4. Vekkia LED Rechargeable Book-Light
The next entry on this list of the best clip-on book lights has pretty much all the features I look for in a high-quality clip-on book light for night-time reading and working purposes. Although it’s equipped with a bunch of fancy features, the 3 brightness settings were really the ones that sold me.
It can go from soft, buttery white reading light to medium bright light to sharp white light. The brightest setting is what I use for knitting work. It’s easy to position the light in every possible direction to get proper illumination on the desired area.
The raised button on top of the clip section makes turning on/off the light and changing the brightness setting real easy. Would a touch control make it even better, though? Yes. But would it also possibly drive up the price? You bet!
I absolutely loved how lightweight it is and how easily it folds into a compact unit that easily fits in my eternally crammed backpack. The rechargeable battery seems to last forever before needing a recharge, which doesn’t take more than an hour.
The clamp is sturdy and opens as wide as 4.5” when fully extended. So far, I have had no issues clipping it onto the edge of my desk and bed headboard.
5. DEWENWILS Amber Book Reading Light
The biggest USP of this clip-on light, for me, is the temperature of the light (1800k warm LED light). Reading or working under bright light at night can mess up your sleep cycle real bad.
If your circadian rhythm has lately been totally out of whack, getting yourself a soft, warm reading light this one would be a good idea. The mellow yellow light of this clip-on light is gentle on the eyes.
It puts out just the right amount of light for reading, crocheting, and needlework while keeping the overstimulating glare out of my way. It has three brightness levels, allowing you to tune the light according to your mood and need. The neck, although not very long, articulates in many directions.
It’s lightweight and folds flat into a compact unit, making it a perfect clip-on light for traveling. It comes with a built-in USB rechargeable battery which easily lasts up to 8 hours, give or take. You can fully charge it in 1.5 hours using your car charger, power bank, or laptop when you’re on the go.
Overall, it’s a worthy investment if you’re concerned about eye strain and disturbed sleep cycle due to prolonged exposure to sharp white light. I even bought an extra one for antique display.
6. LEPOWER Led Clip-on Light
The next product that I feel has rightfully earned a spot on this list with its sleek and modern design. I have a thing for light fixtures that look the way this LED light, please don’t ask me why because I don’t know.
Anyways, apart from the flexible gooseneck that flexes in all directions, I am also mighty impressed by the quality of the clip.
I can literally clip it anywhere I want to without compromising the stability of the fixture. The foam pad is a nice touch. I believe it exists to safeguard your furniture against unsightly scratches.
Like all the best clip-on book lights on this list, this one is also easy on the eyes so as to minimize eye strain when you’re reading for hours in a dark room.
Moreover, it also has a color-changing option with three color temperatures – perfect for setting the right mood for a quiet evening with a book, some wine, and soft jazz music.
It doesn’t run on battery, meaning you will have to plug it in. This is the only aspect I did not like as I spend most of my days hiking to remote places where I don’t always have access to electricity.
7. Flexilight 2 in 1 Bookmark Book Light
This one is a rather quirky-looking clip-on reading light. I got this one for my toddler nephew who was enamored by the cool bookworm shape of the light. The flexible neck can be angled to illuminate two pages and it even folds flat and acts as a bookmark.
Like the previously reviewed Flexilight, this one also suffers from the lack of the dimming feature. I found the white light to be overstimulating in a completely dark room.
However, if you are going to use it for school/college/office assignments or crocheting, the brightness level would be just about right for you. It comes with two batteries which sadly drain too quickly.
Thankfully, the replacement batteries are easy on the wallet, so make sure to always keep a few extra pairs of batteries handy.
If you’re looking for a really bright reading light for focusing on a book with really tiny letters or for night study, this would be a decent option at an affordable price.
8. Vekkia Bookmark Book Light
Design-wise, this clip-on light is my top favorite so far (the LEPOWER is a close second). It has a very striking, elegant, contemporary feel to it. It’s dimmable and lets you choose from 3 color temperatures.
This beautiful light has multiple uses such as reading at night and lighting up the display area or plants. I also have one of these in my kitchen which acts as a mood lighting during my midnight snacking sesh. Its soft rubber neck can be angled to focus the light directly onto the book to avoid eye strain.
If you have the habit of reading for hours in a pitch-dark room before sleeping, an adjustable clip-on light like this is probably exactly what you need. It comes with a built-in rechargeable battery.
You will need to plug it into a USB outlet to charge it. The battery lasts for 2-3 hours on full charge. The only thing I’d change about this light is the clamp. The spring-loaded clamp is not as strong as other Vekkia clamps I’ve used in the past.
9. Mighty Bright Rechargeable Book Light
Available in a multitude of colors, the flexible clip-on lights are perfect for preschoolers and toddlers as they can handle a good amount of abuse. The clip quality is top-notch, it adheres to my Kindle as well as paperback without any issue.
The biggest plus side of this product, however, is its incredible battery life. One full charge (which takes about 2 hours) allows me to go a whole day, or sometimes two, without having to charge again.
All you need is a USB outlet to plug this stuff into for charging. It has two brightness settings – high and low, allowing you to adjust the light according to your need and mood.
On the dim setting, it puts out a soft and warm white glow that is easy on the eyes but also sufficiently bright for nighttime reading. Overall, it’s a great little light if you need to give your eyes a much-needed break from harsh white light that is messing up your circadian rhythm.
10. VAVOFO Rechargeable Reading Light
Ending this round-up of the best clip-on book lights with an attractively priced, feature-packed light. The description on the package is misleading, though. Instead of 9 colors, in reality, it offers 3 color temperatures (bright, warm, and cool) and each color has 3 brightness levels, so 9 settings in total.
Thanks to the multiple adjustment modes, you can use these lights for not just reading but also for creating relaxing mood lighting in your living room, office, car, or tent.
I liked that it clamps onto the headboard and tables easily and stays in place. Its long gooseneck is bendable in every possible direction, making it the perfect light for reading without disturbing your partner.
A Few Tips for Choosing the Perfect Clip-on Book Lights
Choosing a clip-on light ain’t no rocket science. You just have to keep note of a few generic aspects while traipsing through your options. To make your decision easy, I’ve prepared a brief checklist of things I look for when shopping for a clip-on book light for reading before bed.
Light Temperature
There are hundreds of studies that unequivocally suggest that warm light (between 2000-3000k) is the best for reading and studying at night as it helps you relax by reducing eye strain, whereas right white lights are better lighting solutions for needlecraft, crocheting, and regular office work.
Unless I have a tight budget, I would go for a light that offers at least two color temperature modes, so that I can use the same light for different applications without affecting my sleep cycle.
Adjustability
Light intensity levels are just as important as temperature when it comes to choosing book light for night reading. I generally keep my distance from lights that don’t have a dimming switch.
But if you are tight on money or you will be using the light for lighting up your work area, growing plants, or displaying your art collection, a low-cost white bright clip-on light might actually be a great idea.
Flexible Design
A lightweight and long gooseneck that bends 180 degrees would ensure great coverage. Ideally, you want both of the pages to receive proper illumination when reading in order to avoid eye problems.
The clamp quality also plays a pivotal role here. It should be wide open to fit books, bed headboard, desk, and tables and stay put without needing constant readjustment.
Power Source
My favorite kind of clip-on light is the one that is powered by rechargeable batteries. Clip-on lights should be travel-friendly. Therefore, having to rely solely on electricity for powering the light limits its usability for outdoorswomen like me.
In Conclusion
So that was the list of the absolute best clip-on book lights according to me. A clip-on reading light is one of the greatest investments you can make if you are someone who can’t fall asleep without reading at least a few pages at night.
Apart from the aesthetic and convenience, clip-on lights are a fantastic choice of reading light if you live with your partner. The design of the fixture is such that your partner won’t be bickering about their sleep getting disturbed by your reading light anymore. Amazing, isn’t it?
Read Also:
Best Reading Lights That Won’t Disturb Your Sleeping Partner
