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Best Candle Lantern

Candace Osmond

Candle lanterns are made to provide light where you need it- either by housing a source of the light or producing it on their own. They can be purely decorative, designed to bring a breath of fresh air and some classy vintage style into your home or your garden paired with LED or real candles. However, candle lanterns can be highly functional accessories as well, designed for backpacking, camping, and general outdoor use. These practical designs can be a crucial addition to any outdoorsman’s kit – they provide good light and can also be a source of much-needed heat.


Ultimately, candle and LED lanterns both can be a good gadget to have in your household as a general emergency backup: when the grid is down, it’s good to have an independent source of light close at hand. And it doesn’t hurt if it also looks pretty to boot! All things aside, whichever reason for getting a candle lantern, be it as a decorative touch for your garden or patio, or to pack with your survival necessities, you’ll want it to be reliable and functional above all else.

To help you find the exact design you’re looking for, while making sure that the candle lantern you’ve chose is well made and practical to use, we’ve rounded up the best candle lanterns on the market to save you time and money – no need to waste hours on looking for candle lanterns that are with your $$$ when you can find everything you need in one place. Just read on to find the right match!

1. UCO Candlelier Deluxe Candle Lantern – Editor's Choice

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  • Material: Aluminum
  • Light source: Wax candle

2. TAKE ME Solar Outdoor Lantern

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  • Material: Plastic + glass
  • Light source: LED

3. Vela Lanterns Morrocan Style Candle Lantern

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  • Material: Iron and Glass
  • Light source: LED / Candle

4. Vont 2-Pack LED Camping Lantern

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  • Material: Aircraft-grade materials
  • Light source: LED

5. BRS Outdoors Gas Lantern

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  • Material: Glass and Aluminum
  • Light Source: Gas flame

6. JHY DESIGN Decorative Metal Candle Lantern

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  • Material: Metal and Tempered Glass
  • Light source: Candle / LED

Best Candle Lantern

1. UCO Candlelier Deluxe Candle Lantern – Editor's Choice

Highlights

  • Material: Aluminum
  • Light source: Wax candle

Pros

  • Burns three 9-hour candles
  • Spring-loaded candle holder
  • Heatshield
  • Can heat food and water
  • Good source of light
  • Protective glass shield
  • Durable

Cons

  • Wax can leak in some cases

A reliable candle lantern design can be beneficial for a quality backpacking or camping trip. Such a crafty accessory can be useful on so many levels when you’re in the great outdoors – and this UCO Candlelier design is the perfect example. This quality camping accessory comes from a reliable brand from Seattle, Washington – the very heart of the outdoors lifestyle – and the wealth of hands-on experience is perfectly reflected in the design. Made with a lightweight but very durable aluminum frame, this lantern holds 3 candles on spring-loaded candle tubes. The light can be enjoyed through a tough glass chimney which is useful both for protection and reduced dissipation of heat.

This lantern is not only efficient as a traditional light source – the combined heat of 3 candles can be used to slowly heat a small amount of water or a small meal. This can be done with a small heatshield on top: this lantern can produce up to 5000 BTU’s of heat. It burns elongated 9-hour candles, and you can fully adapt to your needs: burn 1,2, or all 3 candles for the desired effect. And no need to worry – the spring-loaded design keeps your candle always at the optimal height. This modern, highly versatile design makes this lantern one of the best choices on the market.

Who Should Buy This Product?

Do you value the experience of traditional and slow-paced backpacking and camping? No need to worry about batteries, gas, or solar power: this old-school candle lantern does the job just as well.

2. Runner Up – TAKE ME Solar Outdoor Lantern

Highlights

  • Material: Plastic + glass
  • Light source: LED

Pros

  • Uses just 1 solar-powered battery
  • Lasts from 6 to 8 hours on a single full solar charge
  • Realistic flickering LED light
  • Durable
  • Stylish and cute decor
  • A safe option for the home

Cons

  • The light could be brighter

Candle lanterns can also be enjoyed for their decorative value in addition to their practicality. If you are not the budding outdoors adventurer, that is no reason why you too can’t appreciate some of that classic shimmering candle lantern light in your garden. This solar-powered design doesn’t rely on wax candles and open flame: instead, it utilizes a trusty and simple LED light. As such, it is a great decorative accessory for your garden and can yield quite a bit of warm yellowish light in the evening. The LED lights in the candle have a flickering design for the ultimate candle representation.

This lantern runs on batteries that are powered by the built-in solar panel – the lights turn on automatically at dusk and can provide up to 6 hours of warm light. The lantern housing is made from tough decorative plastic, with the classic glass shield on all four sides. Its flat bottom makes it suitable for use on any flat surface, and the added carry handle can allow for hanging as well. Either way, you have it, this Take Me LED lantern is a superb, nostalgic decoration piece for every home and garden.

Who Should Buy This Product?

If you enjoy that to spend your evenings lounging in the garden or on the porch, this flickering LED candle lantern is the perfect way to make your experience even more magical. And best of all – it is powered by the sun!

3. Customer’s choice – Vela Lanterns Morrocan Style Candle Lantern

Highlights

  • Material: Iron and Glass
  • Light source: LED / Candle

Pros

  • A fantastic choice of colors
  • Durable build
  • Creates a soothing and warm ambiance
  • Big door for easy access
  • Stable on flat surfaces
  • Stylish home decoration

Cons

  • Weak lights might not give off the desired effect

A classic candle lantern can quickly transform your living room, bedroom, garden, or porch into a magical, fantasy setting that is soothing and inviting. Vela Lanterns offers this traditional Morrocan-style candle lantern, that is superbly elegant yet mystical, and can easily transform any room’s decor. Its frame is made from iron and is wrought into a flowing and elegant shape full of curves and exotic decorations. But the show-stopping feature is certainly the 6” high colored glass panels on each side: they come in a variety of colors, and each one can flood your room in a magic ambiance.

The light source is accessed via a large door on the side – you have the complete choice of what that source will be. For a traditional feel, you can burn tea lights and small candles with a wide base. But for a safer option, you can use small LED candles and tea lights. This candle lantern has a flat base that is stable on any flat surface and also features a small round hook for suspended decorations. This stunning lantern can give your room a special flair with its enigmatic and vibrant lights.

Who Should Buy This Product?

For all of you who enjoy cozy, mystical, and boho decor vibes in your home, this classic Morrocan-styled candle lantern can be the ideal solution. And best of all – you can choose the type of light to pair it with!

4. Best for camping – Vont 2-Pack LED Camping Lantern

Highlights

  • Material: Aircraft-grade materials
  • Light source: LED

Pros

  • IP44 water resistance
  • Super tough
  • Small size
  • Foldable
  • Extra bright LED light
  • 360-degree coverage
  • Lightweight
  • Great for emergencies

Cons

  • Requires quality batteries for the best light
  • Can be too bright in small spaces (e.g. tent)

The term “candle lantern” has evolved to welcome a variety of lanterns that follow the same established design and has the same features even though they might not include candles in their actual form to work. Original candle lanterns were very efficient for campers and backpackers – and the modern version is even better! This LED candle lantern is perfected for camping and can be a great boost in every aspect. Instead of the classic candle, this lantern features 30 high power, super-bright LEDs. They are arranged in a 360-degree pattern to provide light all around you.

Powered by classic AAA batteries, this lantern can provide up to 90 hours of consistent light. What is more, it is perfectly designed for outdoor use: a tough shell made with aircraft grade materials is virtually indestructible and can survive most bumps and drops. Even so, it is sufficiently lightweight and compact. The lantern can be compacted centrally for easy carrying. If that was not enough, the lantern features an IP44 water resistance rating and is entirely weatherproof – making it ideal for every outdoor escapade!

Who Should Buy This Product?

Every outdoor enthusiast, adventurer, hiker, camper, and backpacker can benefit from having this super bright, reliable LED candle lantern in their kit. Of course, it can also be reliable for home use, providing bright light in your garage or workshop, as a backup when the power is out.

5. Best for backpacking – BRS Outdoors Gas Lantern

Highlights

  • Material: Glass and Aluminum
  • Light Source: Gas flame

Pros

  • Compact and easy to fit anywhere
  • Adjustable flame size
  • Tough materials
  • Simple design
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Requires a bulky gas canister
  • Must be used in an open area because of carbon monoxide fumes

Hikers and campers are always on the lookout for compact, easy to carry, but reliable accessories and this traditional style gas lantern perfectly fits the bill. Its dimensions and practical features make it ideal for backpacking adventures. The first thing you will notice about this lantern is its size: it is super compact and fits into the palm of your hand. As such, it will be easy to carry wherever you go. This design is quite simple and straightforward. The lantern is meant to be attached to a gas can and lit manually. A small valve helps you control the strength of the flame, depending on the brightness you require.

The flame is protected by durable glass on all sides, while the base adaptor is made from tough aluminum. These basic features make this lantern good as an emergency backup source of light, or a nifty little addition to your backpacking kit. However, don’t hope for a bright beacon of flooding light – or a viable source of heat- but for emergencies and short trips, this backpacking lantern won’t disappoint.

Who Should Buy This Product?

For those of you on the lookout for a simple, quick to use and nifty little camping lantern, this old school design can be a viable solution. Easy to fit in your backpack, it is good to have as a backup on any occasion.

6. Best indoor candle – JHY DESIGN Decorative Metal Candle Lantern

Highlights

  • Material: Metal and Tempered Glass
  • Light source: Candle / LED

Pros

  • Rustic gold brushed metal look
  • Stained glass gives off a warm light
  • Works with a variety of light sources
  • Good for indoor and outdoor use
  • Can be used as wedding decor

Cons

  • Only one color/style available

Candle lanterns are a fantastic way to bring some much-needed coziness and elegance into your home. A bedroom or a living room can receive a major romantic and relaxing facelift with the addition of one of these classy lanterns. JHY DESIGN offers one of the loveliest lanterns on the market, designed just for such a purpose. The elaborate casing is made from tough metal with intricate and stylish finishing touches and carved designs. The four sides of the lantern are protected with tempered glass with a light, soothing amber color. When a candle is placed within, the light that emanates creates a distinct hygge atmosphere that also adds a vintage and mystical touch to your home.

You have the option of what lights you choose: the lantern is good for small tea lights and cone candles, but also for LED candles as well. The base features four small legs for ample stability on any flat surface, and there is also an added ring for hanging. This design makes it ideal not just for your home – but for an outdoor setting as well. Light up your patio in a stylish, vintage manner with this great lantern design.

Who Should Buy This Product?

If you appreciate vintage elegance and swirling, stylish elements, this classic candle lantern will suit your taste. Bring a warm touch of magic into your home with this timeless design!

What Types of Candle Lanterns are There?

The candle lantern design goes far back in time – at one point, such lights were the only viable lighting method. Today, however, with a variety of modern solutions, they are often overlooked in their traditional functional form. Nevertheless, they continue to be a great option in many circumstances- and the modern innovations have brought on such changes to the original design that there are now candle lanterns available for every type of use, whether it’s to add an interesting piece of decor to your living space or to have a trusty electricity-free source of light to keep on hand for unforeseen occasions.

Candle lanterns for backpacking and camping boast a variety of features that make them a viable and efficient outdoor accessory. They are durable and compact, and quite easily carried in your standard hiking backpack. These designs can utilize traditional wax candles or, more commonly, powerful LED lights. Either way, they are very useful. If you opt for an old-school candle lantern, you can utilize it not only for light – but for warmth as well. And you can maybe even heat some water or food on it as well. LED outdoor candle lanterns might not be a source of heat, but the light they provide can be an important asset in the wilds. The choice is entirely up to you – if you want to go old school, you can, but if you need something convenient to light your way, LEDs are your best bet.

On the other hand, there are decorative candle lanterns that are designed for casual home use. These designs are the unmistakable vintage touch in every classy household: stained and colored glass and elaborate, swirling furnishings will make them an irresistible element of your home. Utilizing both LED and traditional candles, decorative lanterns are perfect for patios, porches, gardens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms. Simply put – they are perfect for every area of your home. And their warm, soothing light will bring a whole new level of coziness into your family home, whether it’s real flame or the many LED options available.

Best Candle Lanterns

Candle lanterns have many uses, and as such, come in many, many different designs. From compact and portable LED candle lanterns designed for hiking and camping, to intricately designed ornate, vintage-looking candle lanterns that are meant to be a part of the decor more than anything else. Whichever option you’re looking for, though, we’ve got you covered – these are our choices for six best candle lanterns on the market today.

Bottom Line

Candle lanterns are great for a variety of uses. From outdoor to indoor decoration to handy camping accessories – they can be practical, beautiful, or both. Depending on your needs, you can find the exact design that will work best for you and your unique preferences, whether it’s candle lanterns for real flaming candles or a modernized design that utilizes the advantages of LED lights. Spruce up your home and bring a dose of vintage coziness, or simply improve your next camping trip with a reliable source of heat and light- there’s a well-designed candle lantern for each occasion and situation.

In an effort to help you find the best match for your unique needs as fast as possible, we’ve selected six of the best candle lanterns on the market, each chosen for its outstanding qualities and with a specific use in mind – from decorative to practical, and everything in between.