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Best Book Light: Illuminate Your Reading Experience

Danielle Mcleod

Love to tuck yourself away with a good book, but hate having to get up to turn off your light when you are done reading? A book light is a great low lighting solution to help illuminate both paper and electronic books, and provide you a convenience you won’t ever want to be without once you get used to it.

Portable, lightweight, and innovative, we have provided a list of some of the best book lights currently popular with readers everywhere. Take a look at our suggestions and find your favorite!

1. Vont Book Light Pro, Rechargeable Reading Light – Editor's Choice

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  • Type: Clip on w/ flexible neck
  • Light Color: Amber
  • Features: 3 light levels, easy recharging via USB, doubles as a small desk lamp

2. Runner Up: Energizer Clip on Book Light for Reading

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  • Type: Clip-on w/flexible neck
  • Light Color: Warm white
  • Features: Incredibly thin, collapsible, 25 hours run time, oversized clip

3. Best Wide Beam: Vekkia 14 LED Rechargeable Book-Light for Reading

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  • Type: Clip-on gooseneck with double lights
  • Light Color: warm, warm white, white
  • Features: 3 light levels, multi-hued, wide clip, adjustable neck, 2 light for a wide beam

4. Best Neck: Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light

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  • Type: Neck light
  • Light Color: Yellow, warm white, cool white
  • Features: Flexible wrap around style, double lights. 3 hues and 6 brightness levels

5. Best Compact: DEWENWILS USB Rechargeable Book Light for Reading

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  • Type: Folding
  • Light Color: white
  • Features: compact and lightweight, multiple colors, folding for various angles of use

6. Best Magnifying: MagniPros 3X Large Ultra Bright LED Page Magnifier with 12 Anti-Glare Dimmable LEDs

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  • Type: Magnifying Lens and Light
  • Light Color: white
  • Features: Adjustable light brightness, magnifying overlay, anti-glare LEDs, lightweight, large reading area

7. Best Bookmark: Vekkia Bookmark Book Light, Clip on Reading Lights for Books

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  • Type: Bookmark light
  • Light Color: warm white or amber/3 hues each
  • Features: Dimmable, color light options, gray or black body, incredibly thin, flexible

8. Best for Children: Mark-My-Time 3D Star Wars Droids Digital Booklight and Reading Timer

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  • Type: Bookmark, digital timer light
  • Light Color: white
  • Features: Thin and lightweight, multi-feature, flexible, 3 LED adjustable light, digital timer and reading storage

Best Book Light: Illuminate Your Reading Experience

1. Vont Book Light Pro, Rechargeable Reading Light – Editor's Choice

Highlights

  • Type: Clip on w/ flexible neck
  • Light Color: Amber
  • Features: 3 light levels, easy recharging via USB, doubles as a small desk lamp

This clip on reading light offers a long, flexible neck for 360 degree lighting using a 6 LED bulb arrangement. The special warm amber lighting helps block blue light for less eye strain, and provides 3 lighting strengths for all your reading needs. The light is also very specific to your own reading space to avoid bothering anyone sitting near you. It also has a clamp stand that you can place on a flat surface.

A 60 hour battery life on low and an easy to recharge option via a USB port provides continuous, uninterrupted reading. Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty.

2. Runner Up: Energizer Clip on Book Light for Reading

Highlights

  • Type: Clip-on w/flexible neck
  • Light Color: Warm white
  • Features: Incredibly thin, collapsible, 25 hours run time, oversized clip

Incredibly compact and lightweight, the Energizer Clip on Book Light runs on 2 CR2032 batteries that are easy to replace so you don’t have to go without in the event you run out of power. With a run time of 25 hours, it provides plenty of time for your reading enjoyment. The LED bulbs work with the flexible neck and built-in clip for easy collapsing to take along wherever you go. The spring clip is oversized as well, making it easy to connect to not only books, but reading tablets, visors, clipboards, etc..

The beam is a great size to cover both pages of an open book, but is still narrow enough for privacy. Altogether, it is only 0.5 inches thick.

3. Best Wide Beam: Vekkia 14 LED Rechargeable Book-Light for Reading

Highlights

  • Type: Clip-on gooseneck with double lights
  • Light Color: warm, warm white, white
  • Features: 3 light levels, multi-hued, wide clip, adjustable neck, 2 light for a wide beam

With a whale tail design, this book light offers a wide beam and extendable head to get light exactly where you need it. The clip-on design has 14 LED bulbs and 9 brightness modes with 3 different hues: warm, warm white, and white. The USB rechargeable port makes it convenient to keep charged, and with a 70 hour wireless reading time, you can take it with you anywhere you want.

It also has an extra large opening that measures 1.5 inches to ensure attachment to thick objects. With an adjustable gooseneck for any position, it is easy to focus the light with only one hand.

4. Best Neck: Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light

Highlights

  • Type: Neck light
  • Light Color: Yellow, warm white, cool white
  • Features: Flexible wrap around style, double lights. 3 hues and 6 brightness levels

Neck lights are a great hands-free alternative to other reading light solutions. You don’t have to worry about the light being clipped to pages, or having to readjust while reading, and instead can focus your lights in a simple manner since two lights are available – one on each end. Lightweight, flexible, and focused, you can also choose your color choice from pink, blue, or gray. Available in 3 light hues and 6 brightness levels, it is easy to find the best solution for your reading needs and to help alleviate strain on your eyes.

An easy to charge USB port offers up to 80 hours of read time, and uses a type-C cable. Easy to angle, it fits easily on any size neck.

5. Best Compact: DEWENWILS USB Rechargeable Book Light for Reading

Highlights

  • Type: Folding
  • Light Color: white
  • Features: compact and lightweight, multiple colors, folding for various angles of use

At 4.3 inches long and less than 2 inches wide, this folding book light offers an incredibly compact option. Available in multiple colors, the design offers a light that can be set at various angles, and a specific beam of light for total privacy while reading. The built-in USB charging port makes it easy to quickly bring your light back up to full charge, and lasts up to 8 hours on a single charge.

At only 1.3 ounces, it is small and lightweight, perfect for tucking into a pocket, backpack, purse, or other small space to bring along with you wherever you may be going.

6. Best Magnifying: MagniPros 3X Large Ultra Bright LED Page Magnifier with 12 Anti-Glare Dimmable LEDs

Highlights

  • Type: Magnifying Lens and Light
  • Light Color: white
  • Features: Adjustable light brightness, magnifying overlay, anti-glare LEDs, lightweight, large reading area

If you prefer, or require, a magnifier for small print, this is an excellent solution. With a viewing area of 4.5 x 7 inches, it is perfect for most standard sized paperbacks and provides both  magnification and even lighting over the page through the use of 12 anti-glare dimmable LEDs. Simply place the lens over the page to take advantage of its benefits. At only a half inch thick, it easily tucks into backpacks, purses, and backpack pockets to take along.

Lightweight, this is a portable option that can be used for various things. It take 3 AAA batteries and can last up to 10 hours of use depending on the strength of light you take advantage of.

7. Best Bookmark: Vekkia Bookmark Book Light, Clip on Reading Lights for Books

Highlights

  • Type: Bookmark light
  • Light Color: warm white or amber/3 hues each
  • Features: Dimmable, color light options, gray or black body, incredibly thin, flexible

Book lights are supposed to be small and convenient, and some of the best allow you to use them in multiple ways – such as a bookmark. These incredibly thin options are flexible and lightweight, and offer bright reading lights and a dual purpose for when you are done reading, but don’t want to lose your place. The clip is large enough for e-readers, but can be removed to help save your place.

Available in warm white or amber hues and with 3 different lighting colors for each, it has a built-in USB port for fast charging and allows for up to 20 hours of use. Plus, it can be dimmed.

8. Best for Children: Mark-My-Time 3D Star Wars Droids Digital Booklight and Reading Timer

Highlights

  • Type: Bookmark, digital timer light
  • Light Color: white
  • Features: Thin and lightweight, multi-feature, flexible, 3 LED adjustable light, digital timer and reading storage

If you are working on inspiring your child to read more, these digital booklight bookmarks and digital timers are the perfect solution. Thin and lightweight, they provide 3 digital LED lights that illuminate the pages they are reading, doubles as a bookmark, and can store up to 100 hours of reading and provides both a countdown fluency or session timer.

Comes with two easy-to-change batteries that you can replace as needed. Perfect for travel, or to help inspire kids to log more hours of reading.

Types of Book Lights

A book light is truly anything that is small, hands free, and offers a light for easier reading. With that being said, there are constantly evolving technologies to help make this a convenience for anyone looking for a lighting solution. Some of the best types are:

— Clip on, adjustable LED light

The lights have a bendable, adjustable neck that allows you to get the light exactly where you need it. They are perfect for larger books, or anyone who gets annoyed with dark areas on the page.

— Book light bookmark combo

These are some of the most lightweight, useful lights you can find, plus they come in dozens of colors and adorable designs. They are a flexible option that clips onto your book and either provides a removable clip, or a modified clip that flattens to use the whole thing as a bookmark.

— Solar reading light

Solar reading lights are the best thing ever for when you travel or campo, and still want to read each evening. These are generally sold through specially outdoor companies that anticipate all your outdoor needs.

— Neck reading light

Avoid uneven lighting and having to deal with a bulk clip with a neck reading light. These rest around your neck and illuminate anything you are looking at.

— Compact, folding clip on light

Compact folding lights are small and easy to pack, plus most charge off a USB port, making them very convenient

— Removable wall mounted reading light

These specialty lights are small and compact, but you can mount them to a surface on your wall or headboard to provide over the shoulder illumination. Plus, they offer adjustability and movability options for various scenarios.

— Headboard reading light

Specialty clips and mounts made specific for a headboard provide you the over the shoulder reading light you need for full book illumination. These are best for nighttime bed readers.

Benefits of Book Lights

If you figure you have managed in the past, so why purchase a book light now, you should consider the benefits a book light offers. To start, most are incredibly affordable and so it isn’t like you will be out a lot of money by taking advantage of one. But these reasons are well worth considering:

• Reduce Eye Strain

Using proper lighting (more on this below) is incredibly important to your eyesight. When you don’t have enough lighting, your eyes will be in a constant state of focus and refocus, which can lead to strain and even a reduction of eyesight.

• Avoid Headaches

With eyesight strain, you can also influence headaches and head pressure. Proper lighting can help reduce these occurrences and lessen the effects of stress on the eyes.

• Extend Your Reading Enjoyment

Obviously, the later it gets, the darker it gets. You won’t have to get up to turn a light on, or off when you are ready for bed if you have a reading light.

• Avoid Infringing on Another’s Space

When sharing space, such as on a plane or other public transport, you can light up your space without infringing on, or bothering anyone near you.

• Increase Productivity

With a good reading light, you don’t have to stop working on whatever it is you are trying to get done. Extend your work time and concentration with a light you can depend on.

Why Proper Lighting is Important When Reading

It isn’t just beneficial to have proper lighting when reading for personal comfort, there are also health benefits to avoid eye strain.

associated with this – as mentioned above. Preventing eye strain is incredibly important, but you also help combat dry eyes and eye fatigue, both of which can work against your eyesight and speed up changes that may require corrective lenses.

What to Consider While Shopping for a Book Light

Obviously, when you are looking for a good reading light, you want to consider a few details. Obviously the type and efficiency of your purchases needs to be first and foremost in your considerations, but also consider the following:

• Adjustability

Being able to adjust the angle of your light is very important as the band of light offered by reading lights is often needed to keep it focused on the area you are reading. Being able to move it to illuminate an opposing page or various size pages is important.

• Lighting Color and Dimming Abilities

Light can come in various hues, and warm or cool hues can have different effects on your eye focus and strain. Also, dimming options can help you adjust your eye comfort to what you need.

• Easy of Use

You don’t want to deal with anything complicated or difficult to turn on, charge, or change batteries in. Look for easy to use features and hassle free options.

• Size and Function

The overall size and function of the light also needs to be considered. Although all are fairly compact, when traveling, you definitely want something small and easy to pack. Also, if you want a multi-function option, watch for how well you can use it for what it is designed for.

You might want to check: How to Find the Best Reading Lamps

Conclusion

Book lights are an affordable solution to low light reading needs, are portable and lightweight, and many offer various other functions for you to take advantage of. These are wonderful additions for any avid reader, and can ever serve in other various capacities!

The options we’ve highlighted are consumer favorites due to quality and function, and we couldn’t help but notice why! They all offer great design and dependability for all your reading needs!