Working on anything that involves tiny details can be hard on your eyes. That is why many people who do detail work, such as jewelers, use magnifying lamp, a magnifying glass with light. This is probably one of the most important tools for anyone who works with design, precision assembly, arts and crafts, etc. They can even come in pretty handy for a home office.
A magnifying lamp has two purposes: to provide light directly to what you are working on; and to give you a magnified view of your work. Using one of these lamps will help to prevent eye strain, and reduce vision fatigue.
These lamps can be found with three types of lighting: fluorescent; halogen; and LED. Fluorescent lighting will shine a cool light with no shadows, and brings out the clarity in what you are viewing. A halogen lamp will give a warmer light, and it heats up faster. LED lamps give you less lighting, but it is likely that you will never have to replace the bulb.
No matter what you are working on, you need to have good lighting. Not only does it help you to see better, it reduces the risk of straining your eyes. These lamps can even come in handy in the kitchen when you are trying to read recipes, or if you just need additional light to work with. They are also great in the office. A lot of workplaces have indirect lighting, which gives off a lot of shadows. The shadows can be eliminated with magnifying lights.
Best Magnifying Lamps 2020
Using a magnifying lamp is easy. It is like using a magnifying glass with a light, but without having to hold them in your hands. They are not too bright, so you don’t have to squint, and you can use both eyes when looking through the magnifier, just as you would if you were wearing a pair of glasses. The lens should be positioned in a way that keeps what you are working on in focus. Your eyes should be about 8-10 inches from the glass.
Having this type of lamp is also going to help you stay in a comfortable position. You won’t have to hunch over to get closer to your work to see it better. You will be able to remain in an ergonomically correct position. This means that not only does using one of these lamps help to prevent eye strain, it also helps to prevent strain on your back and neck.
Today we are going to discuss some of our favorite magnifying lamp. These reviews are meant to help you choose the best magnifier lamp for your needs. We also recommend that you continue reading after the reviews and check out the buyer’s guide so you can learn more about what to look for in magnifier lamps.
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1. Effect Heavy-Duty LED Magnifier Lamp with Metal Clamp
This architect-style magnifier lamp has a long reach, so you can move it around to get the light you need on anything you are working in. It has a powerful, five-inch, three-diopter glass magnifier that enlarges objects by up to 175 percent. No matter what you are working on, you are going to see it perfectly when you use this lamp.
You can easily move this lamp around. It is completely portable, and it has a heavy-duty clamp that can be attached and detached easily. The metal clamp attaches to just about any work surface, and there is a locking pin that keeps it from lifting or tipping.
This lamp uses fluorescent lighting technology. The bulb gives you a vivid view, without any glare. The effect is more like natural daylight. This is a bright, full spectrum, circling LED magnifying lamp. The lamp turns on and off easily with a switch that is right on the shade.
You can easily adjust the arm of this lamp to direct it at anything. It has a 48-inch reach, and is ideal for all of your hobbies, including sewing and crafting. The two and a half inch opening on the metal clamp makes it easy to attach to most desktops, counters, and other surfaces. If you need to move to another area, you can just detach it and take it with you.
A lot of lamps are hot to the touch, so you can’t move them until they cool off. This lamp generates almost no heat whatsoever, even after having been on for several hours. Not only does this help prevent burns, it also keeps the glass on the light from getting foggy.
Some lamps will not hold their positions well. As long as you keep this lamp properly maintained, it will always stay in the position you put it in. You just need to make sure that you keep the joints oiled, and that you tighten the bolts in the arm with a wrench. The wiring isn’t tight, so it will hold up to a lot of movement as you readjust the arm.
| Pros | Cons |
| 48-inch reach arm easily adjusts | None |
| Heavy-duty clamp can be mounted just about anywhere | |
| bright LED lamp provides glare-free lighting | |
| Lightweight and well-balanced |
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2. LED Lighted Magnifier and Desk Lamp
This magnifier lamp has a high power spot lens. You will have no trouble whatsoever seeing anything that you are working on, even the tiniest of details. This is great for jewelers, crafters, and designers who need to see those tiny little details while they are working.
The rowelighting LED magnifying desk lamp uses LED lighting technology, and has two ultra-bright LED lights. This is going to give you more than enough shadow-free lighting to work with, and it will help to eliminate shadows in an office that has fluorescent lighting with a lot of shadows.
This lamp is completely portable. Not only is it lightweight and easy to move, it has two types of power sources. You can use the AC/DC adapter which is included with the lamp. Or, you can power it with three AA batteries which you have to purchase separately. This means that you can even use your magnifying light when there is no electricity.
The neck is flexible, so you can adjust it to any position and direct it right where you need the most light. The lens is made from crystal clear acrylic, and is four inches in diameter. This is a 5X spot lens, so you know it is going to be more than bright enough for all of your close-up lighting needs.
This is the ideal lamp for anything that requires you to see things up close. Many people enjoy using this lamp for reading, and it is also great for use in the kitchen for reading recipes. If you need to inspect something up close, this magnifying light will let you see details that you would never notice with the naked eye.
You want to keep your workspace clear so you can spread your stuff out and work. This lamp has a small footprint. It is just 5.5 inches by 7.75 inches by 12.5 inches. It is guaranteed to give you the light and magnification you need, and comes backed by the Carson limited lifetime warranty.
| Pros | Cons |
| Bright LED lighting is ideal for all situations when you need extra lighting | Some customers report the light isn’t bright enough for their needs |
| Flexible neck lets you adjust the lamp to any position | |
| Two sources of power so you can use it anywhere | |
| Backed by a limited lifetime warranty |
Home Lighting Exterior >>
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3. Brightech SuperBright LED Magnifier Floor Lamp
– Editor’s Choice
Anyone who has vision problems, including macular degeneration and aging eyes, can benefit from using this lamp for anything that they are working on, reading, etc. The super bright LED Magnifier Floor Lamp has bright embedded LED lights that you can direct to whatever you need additional light on.
Some clients claims that this is the “brightest reading lamp on the market”, and we think they just might be right. This is a professional quality LED floor lamp that has the largest lens you can get in a magnifying floor lamp. The lens is made of real diopter class, and has a 15-inch or more focal range.
You get a nice, bright, white light with this lamp, unlike others that cast a more yellowish light. This means that you will see things as they truly look and colors will be as they should. This is the ideal lamp for anyone who does arts and crafts and needs to see things in detail, especially if they are painting small details. This light mimics natural daylight.
One of the great things about LED lighting is its longevity. You can expect this light to last for at least 20 years, and you will never have to replace any bulbs. You can’t say this about lamps that use halogen or fluorescent lighting. Also, unlike other similar lamps, you don’t have to insert any lens. The whole piece of glass is just one huge magnifier.
The three-diopter lens gives you a 3X magnification, making it ideal for reading fine print, crafts, doing puzzles, and a whole lot more. The lens is approximately 6.5 inches wide by 4 inches high. You can move it around to any position, and you simply look through the lens the same way that you would a regular magnifying glass.
It is always best to have light behind and above your head while you are working. With this being a floor lamp, will get just that. You can move the lamp around to make sure it is in the ideal position, and the height can be adjusted up to 55 inches. The head swivels from top to bottom, and it will stay wherever you put it so you always have light directed just where you need it.
| Pros | Cons |
| Gooseneck is easy to adjust to any position | None |
| Can be as tall as 55 inches, or as low as 24 inches | |
| LED lighting stays cool to the touch | |
| Comes with a three-year limited warranty |
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4. LED Magnifier Lamp with Clamp
Here is another popular LED magnifying lamp. This LED Magnifier Lamp with a clap offers daylight-bright, energy saving LED lighting with 3X magnification. This white lamp is attractive, and will look great in any room. It is ideal for reading, working on puzzles, crafting, and a whole lot more.
The color temperature of this light is 6000K, so you have a cool, white light that lets you see every detail in sharp focus. The brightness is 570 Lumens. One thing to keep in mind about this lamp is that you only get one level of light. There is no dimmer switch.
The LED lighting takes a total of 6 watts of power, and it will keep going for up to 100,000 hours. You won’t have to get a new magnifying light for at least 20 years. There are 30 miniature LED lights working together around the lens, which is tinted a pale emerald color. You get plenty of light, but the lamp won’t produce any heat, so it will always be cool to the touch, no matter how long you are using it.
The flexible neck makes it easy to pivot the light in any direction. You don’t even have to loosen any bolts or tighten knobs to adjust it. The lamp stands 38 inches tall, and is easily mountable to just about any work surface. It will not come loose until you want to move it, and it is lightweight and portable, so you can take it from room to room. It is also great for your desk at the office.
Some magnifying lamps are made using plastic magnifying sheets pasted onto regular glass. These lamps are made using genuine diopter glass, and there is a three-inch diameter lens that gives you nearly two times the magnification. There is a total of 30 LED lights embedded into the lamp, so you get plenty of bright, white light over your work area.
This is the ideal desk lamp for anyone who has vision problems, including macular degeneration and vision loss caused by aging. If you are at a point where you need to wear reading glasses to see fine details, the magnification and lighting will allow you to do that without having to put on a pair of glasses.
| Pros | Cons |
| Bright white light mimics daylight | Some users find the power cord too short |
| 3X magnification lets you see fine details close up | |
| Bulbs will never need to be replaced | |
| Energy-saving LED lighting uses only 6 watts of power |
- 5. Bright LED Magnifier Lamp – X-Large Lens
This magnifying desk lamp is completely adjustable, and it is easy to move when you need to use it in a different room. It will clamp to just about any table or desk in just a couple of minutes. This slender lamp is white-gray in color, and doesn’t take up too much space on top of your work area. The adjustable neck can be pivoted in any direction.
You will enjoy more clarity to reading, crafting, puzzles, and more with the three-diopter lens that is three inches in diameter. This lamp has been designed for those who have eyesight issues do to aging, and it provides 3x magnification.
Many lamps will overheat, and you can’t touch them, adjust them, or move them around until they cool off. This is not an issue with this magnifying light. This LED light is only nine watts, and it stays cool, even after having been in use for many hours. It offers 1200 lumens, and is meant to be used in 110V electrical outlets.
All Brightech lamps are guaranteed to be free of manufacturer defects. Each lamp comes with a three-year warranty. So, if you are unhappy with this lamp for any reason whatsoever, you can return it for a full refund.
| Pros | Cons |
| Bright LED light | None |
| Can be clamped to any table or work surface | |
| Thousands of hours of use without replacing bulbs | |
| Long-lasting lifetime |
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6. Bright LED Magnifier Floor Lamp — Highly Recommend
No matter what you are working on, you are going to see it in incredibly fine detail. You will never miss anything again when you are using this magnifying table/floor lamp. It has been created for those who have vision loss related to aging, as well as those who are suffering from glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Like all LED lamps, you don’t have to worry about this lamp overheating. It uses just nine watts of power, and it will stay cool even after several hours of use. It will never generate any heat, and you can touch it without fear of burning your fingers.
This lamp is professional quality. It is a 90-LED lamp that has a 1.75X magnifier. The lens is actually made from real diopter glass. Other lamps use lenses that are made from cheap glass covered with a plastic magnifier. As with all Brightech products, you can be sure it is a quality product, and it is backed by a three-year warranty.
| Pros | Cons |
| Professional quality, 90-LED with 1.75 magnifier | None |
| Lens is made with genuine diopter glass | |
| Stays cool to the touch, making it safe for everyone | |
| Enjoy the long-lasting lifetime LED |
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7. LED Magnifier Lamp with Wheels- Extra-Large 7 Lens – 5-Diopter
This magnifying desk lamp has an extra-large, rectangular glass lens with five-diopter magnification. It is 56 ultra-efficient, and has individual SMD (surface mount diode) LED bulbs that produce a light that is bright yet pleasant. It puts out less than nine watts of power, and offers 680 lumens. This is more than enough light for anything that you are working on or reading.
You won’t have to worry about going out and buying another magnifying lamp for several years. The LED lights will shine brightly for at least 100,000 hours. This means that you won’t need any other lamp to work with for at least 20 years. Just think about how much money you are going to save on light bulbs and other lamps!
This lamp has a heavy-duty clamp system. It can easily be connected to any desk or tabletop, as well as other work surfaces up to two and a half inches thick. The clamp isn’t going to dig into any wood, so your furniture won’t be damaged. It won’t even dig into wood, so you don’t have to worry about it leaving any marks.
Other lamps need springs for adjustment and to hold them in place once you have them positioned. This lamp has a 36-inch, triple-joint arm that can be easily adjusted with a light touch. It will hold steady in any position you place it in. You can easily adjust it to just about any position in just a couple of seconds, so you won’t have to interrupt your work to move the light around.
The power switch is located right on top of the lamp head, so it is easy to turn on and off. The power cord is six feet long, so you have plenty of room to move this magnifying lamp around without having to search for a closer power source. This is a premium-grade lamp that is going to be ideal for using any time you need to have additional lighting and to see things closer up.
If you are at a stage in your life where you can’t see things close up as well as you could in your younger years, this lamp is going to be a great investment. You can use it for reading, arts and crafts, using recipes while cooking, and a whole lot more.
| Pros | Cons |
| Triple-joint arm has an internal cantilever system instead of springs | Light tends to flicker, which can be annoying |
| Brighter light than other lamps sold at similar prices | |
| Large magnifier for a better view | |
| Heavy-duty construction for many years of use |
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8. LED Reading Magnifier Adjustable Floor Lamp
This Magnifier Floor Lamp gives you just the right amount of cool light, and helps to make it a lot easier to see what you are doing without putting any strain on your eyes. This is the ideal type of lamp for reading, crafting, doing crossword puzzles, etc. It helps to give you a larger field of vision, so you will see even the tiniest of details.
The lens is five inches in diameter, and has a 2X magnification, along with a 6X inset to really get in close on those fine details. There is nothing you won’t see perfectly when you are using this magnifying lamp. It offers 12 LED lights that are free of glare, and will last for thousands of hours. You won’t be replacing this lamp any time soon, that’s for sure.
The Magnifier Floor Lamp is totally stable, and the stationary base supports it in any space. You can move it around as you need it to make sure that the light shines exactly where you need it. There is a flexible gooseneck that lets you position the head perfectly.
You can even use this lamp during a power outage! Not only does it have an AC/DC adapter, it also can be used without being plugged in. You just need to get three alkaline D batteries. These are not included, so you will have to buy them separately. If you suffer from poor vision due to aging or macular degeneration, or you just don’t want eyestrain when working without the proper lighting, this is the ideal lamp for you to use.
You will never need to replace the bulbs. This lamp has 12 LED lights that you can expect to last upwards of 100,000 hours. No heat is emitted from LED lighting, so they are safe to touch. This is a great type of lamp to have in a child’s room, because they won’t burn their fingers on it. Turning it on and off is easy with the button that is right on top of the magnifier.
This lamp is 53 inches tall, and weighs just 12 pounds. You can easily move it around, and even take it from room to room. You could even take it outside to use, without needing to worry about dragging along an extension cord.
| Pros | Cons |
| 2X magnification with a 6X inset | Pole separates from the base, making it awkward to move around |
| Cool to the touch and safe to use for several hours at a time | |
| Flexible gooseneck allows for multiple positions | |
| 12 LED lights provide bright, glare-free light |
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9. LED Magnifier Floor Lamp with 4-Wheel Rolling Base
This LED magnifying lamp offers warm white and daylight cool color temperatures. The advanced LED technology makes it a great lamp to have around for a multitude of uses, any time you need to shed additional light on any subject.
The flexibility of this lamp allows you to be able to have it in just about any position, so you can always have light just where you need it. You will never be in the dark while you are working again, and you will be able to see everything in close detail.
You can also move this lamp around from room to room more easily than you can other lamps, because it is on a rolling base with four wheels. The base has an open circle design, so it will roll easily on any surface, even carpeting. The base is 3.5 inches tall, and the lamp itself stands 79 inches in height.
The three-diopter lens is three inches in diameter, and it will bring everything into clear focus. This lamp has been designed for those who have aging eyes, and it is a professional quality, 90-LED lamp that casts more than enough light for reading, working on projects, and a whole lot more.
Like all of the other LED lamps we have discussed today, you never have to worry about burning your fingers if you accidentally touch the lens, and the lamp head will never get hot. LED lighting is cool, and it only emits nine watts. Even if you use it for hours on end, it is not going to overheat. It also doesn’t give off that glare that you get from regular incandescent light bulbs.
This lamp comes with the Brightech three-year warranty. If you are unsatisfied with the lamp for any reason, you can return it for a full refund.
| Pros | Cons |
| Enjoy bright LED lighting | None |
| Three-diopter lens brings the finest details up close and personal | |
| Lamp head and lens are cool to the touch | |
| Three-year manufacturer warranty |
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10. Natural Daylight Magnifier Floor Lamp
If you are looking for a magnifying floor lamp that offers a full spectrum of bright, white light that looks more natural than other lighting, the Natural Daylight Magnifier Floor Lamp is a great option to consider. It offers more natural light than other comparable magnifying floor lamps, and it gives you the best contrast and clarity.
This is the ideal lamp to use when you are reading, especially newspapers and magazines that have fine print. As we age, it usually becomes necessary to wear reading glasses. What we could see close up a few years ago must be a bit further away now. The magnifying lens in this lamp will bring everything nice and close, and you won’t miss a single detail.
This lamp has an 8 X 10 inch, 3X magnification shade that has built-in LED lights. These energy-efficient bulbs will provide you with loads of natural lighting for thousands of hours. Chances are that you aren’t going to need a new magnifier lamp for at least 20 years.
Even though LED lighting doesn’t get hot to the touch, there is still a convenient handle on the shade. This allows you to easily move the head around to direct the light to exactly where you need it. There is no heat, so you won’t burn your fingers by touching the lamp head, and you can even put your hand right on the lens without feeling any heat.
The white light is a lot easier on the eyes than the yellow light you get with incandescent light bulbs. You are going to enjoy working on anything with little to no eye strain, because you will have more than enough light to work by and details will be magnified so you can see them without squinting. This is a great lamp to have if you have any vision troubles, and it is ideal to have if you want to prevent or at least delay age-related vision issues.
The gooseneck is adjustable, so you can have light directed wherever you need it. If you work in an office and you want additional lighting because of the shadows fluorescent lighting tends to cast, this is a great choice.
| Pros | Cons |
| 8X10 inch, 3X magnification shade | Too much glare for users with cataracts |
| Adjustable neck lets you direct light anywhere | |
| Pure, natural looking white light is easy on your eyes | |
| Great contrast and clarity |
Magnifying Lamp Buyer’s Guide
So, you have seen our 10 favorite magnifying lamps. Now, it is time for us to talk about all of the things you need to know about this type of lamp. There are loads of terms you are going to hear while you are searching for just the right magnifying lamp. Today we are going to tell you what these terms mean.
One of the first words you will hear is diopter. Basically, this is the curvature of the lens. The more curvature, the thicker the lens is, and the more magnification it will offer, with a higher diopter number. When you want to know the magnification level of any lens, all you need to do is divide the diopter by four, and add one. For instance, if it is a three-diopter lens, it is a 1.75X magnification, meaning objects viewed through the lens will seem to be 175 percent larger than normal. If you have a five-diopter lens, you will have 2.25X magnification, so objects will appear 225 percent larger.
Another term you will hear is focal length. This is the distance from the lens to the object you are viewing. Focal length is important if you need a lot of space to work, but you still need to see things in close detail. The farther away the lens is from the object, the greater the focal length. It is difficult to find the perfect balance with any lamp, so just remember, if you need to have a large focal length, you will have to sacrifice on magnification.
Now we need to talk about field of view (FOV). This is the size of the area that is being magnified and is in focus beneath the lens. The higher the level of magnification, the smaller the field of view. So, the closer the lens is to the object the smaller the field of view will be.
One of the biggest benefits of using any of the lamps we have looked at today is that you can use them hands-free. You won’t have to hold a magnifying glass while you work, which means that you will have both hands free for whatever you are working on. When working on arts and crafts, electronics, etc., this is pretty much essential.
Our Final Thoughts
The final thing we need to discuss is electrostatic discharge (ESD). It is important that you choose a lamp that is ESD-safe. This means that it is not going to discharge a lot of static electricity that can be extremely damaging to the electrical circuit boards in your home. It is not harmful to people or animals, but it can wreak havoc on your electrical system. Magnifiers that are ESD-safe have polymers that are applied to the lenses and dissipative paints on the metal. The electrical layout is done in a way that there is as little electrical discharge as possible.
We hope that we have armed you with the information you need to be able to purchase a magnifying lamp that is going to suit all of your needs, from reading to cooking to crafting and much more.
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