16 of the best portable lights for indoor and outdoor use

Portable lights are one of those things that you didn’t know you needed until you have one. Once you get one, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. I know this because I didn’t have one till recently but once I got one I found it so useful that I bought two more. Yes… really!

Portable lights are so flexible for both indoor and outdoor use. If you’ve got a dark corner that needs lighting up or a bathroom that could do with more light, you can simply move the light to wherever you need it, whenever you need it. I’m using one of mine as a bedside table light because no wires needed. And come the warmer months, they’ll be just as useful outside.

With my new found obsession with portable lights, I thought I’d share some of the best ones out there, with options for every budget.  Most of my picks are dimmable too so you have complete control over the amount of light and the mood you want to create. I’ve picked out 16 of my favourites that all have a simple, minimal aesthetic and a timeless design.

16 of the best portable lights for indoor and outdoor

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1. carrie portable lamp  |  2. sphere adventure portable light  |  3. kizu portable table lamp  |  4. ray table lamp portable  |  5. porta table lamp  |  6. sponge to go outdoor light  |  7. phare LED lamp  |  8. flowerpot portable table lamp  |  9. oloha wireless outdoor lamp  |  10.  meridian table lamp  |  11. ease portable lamp  |  12. kettle take me anywhere LED light  |  13. como portable table lamp  |  14. radiant LED chargeable lamp  |  15. pao portable table lamp  |  16. tense table lamp

As you can see, I’ve picked a range of looks and materials but all these lamps are minimal and timeless in design. Many of the lights come in quite a few different colours and finishes so once you find a light you like, checkout the other finishes too.

Things to consider before buying a portable light

Before you pick a light, it’s worth looking in to the battery life to make sure it works for your intended use. Many of the ones here have a good battery life of around 20+ hours though there are some with just 5-6 hours. Also, some come with their own chargers while others can be charged with a USB. You might also want to consider this as a USB often means that you can charge on the go.

There are some other things to consider when it comes to the design and your usage. Here are a few examples how these lights differ:

A few like the ‘carrie’ (pictured just above) and the ‘ray’ have handles making them very easy to move around.

Light no. 12 called ‘kettle take me anywhere’ (pictured in the middle photo above) comes with an accessory set which includes a tripod stand and a fabric cord. This means that you can turn it in to a floor lamp inside or outside or you can use the cord to hang it from a tree or a wall hook.

Light no.2 – the ‘sphere adventure portable light’ – also has a long strap making it easy to hang up wherever needed or it can be placed on a flat surface too.

Light no.9 called the ‘oloha’ is a bit different because it’s a tiny removable light that sits inside an aluminium bowl so you could use it in an entryway as a catch all with a light.

But overall, they’re all really flexible and can be used pretty much anywhere.

If you’re looking for pendant lights, here are some paper pendant lights that will transform any room.

Please note this post contains affiliate links which means that I may receive a small commission on any sales made. Buying through the links does NOT result in any extra cost to you.