5 Best Work Lights of 2025

Whilst many battery-powered tools are both convenient and inconvenient in equal measure, this Makita DML805/2 LED Work Light can run off either battery or mains power, making it useful in many different situations.

This portable work light takes standard Makita 18 V batteries, which are interchangeable with other Makita tools. When used with a 5.0 Ah battery, it can achieve approximately 8 hours running time, and the work light is exceptionally bright.

There are two power settings or either 750 or 450 lumens. Customers have reported than the 750-lumen setting is sufficiently strong enough to flood a room of approximately 10 x 3 m.

No battery or charger come included, but, as mentioned, this work light can also be powered off the mains. This may be necessary because there’s no battery available, the battery has run out, or battery life needs to be conserved, and it’s a useful and functional feature.

The angle of the LED work light can easily be adjusted by loosening two threaded knobs on either side of the lamp. When tightened again, they hold it securely in place.

Whilst the overall function of this work light is excellent – based on its power, battery life and versatility – there are a few problems with its design as well.

Unfortunately, the power cord is not removeable when running off battery power. Instead, it needs to be stored at the back of the work light when not in use. Whilst there are some small clips to hold the cable in place, it isn’t the neatest or easiest solution.

Also, the battery isn’t automatically charged when the lamp is plugged in – it needs to be removed and charged separately.

Nevertheless, based on its performance, this is still the best LED work light available. It’s bright, long-lasting and adaptable – just make sure the power cable doesn’t become a hazard.

If you want to continue working outside after the sun goes down, this Olafus 50W LED Work Light provides a powerful, bright light that will cause you to forget the darkness outside

With 60 LEDs, it can produce up to 5000 lumens of white light when set to high power. This is sufficient to adequately light a garage, or floodlight a reasonable area outside. Even on its low-power setting, of 2500 lumens, there is sufficient light to work on less-intricate jobs.

The LED work light can be swivelled through 360° on its vertical axis, and 180° on the horizontal axis, making it simple to angle as required. Overall, the lamp can cast at a 120° beam angle, covering a large percentage of area inside sheds and garages.

However, there are some limitations as to where this LED work light can be placed because it only has a 2-metre power cable. It relies on mains power and is therefore not a truly portable work light. Although it can be paired with an extension cable, this can be an inconvenient solution when trying to avoid trailing wires in low-level lighting.

This work light is IP65 rated, meaning it is water resistant. This is useful when working outside, although it should be noted that the rating only refers to the lamp – not the plug (as always, electricity and water don’t mix). With such a short power cable, if there is moisture near the work light there will likely be moisture near the plug as well which somewhat negates the benefits.

Overall though, this is the best LED work light if you want something particularly bright. It will be able to greatly extend the amount of time that can be spent working outside in a shed or garage, especially when the sun sets early in the winter months.

One of the easiest work lights to carry with you, this Edasion 20 W LED Rechargeable Work Light measures just under 16 x 16 x 30 cm (including the frame). Whilst this is compact in itself, it’s also simple to remove from its base, creating a flatter, more portable work light.

It uses an integrated, rechargeable battery that can be charged from either mains power, or the charging port of a car if you’re away on your travels. Given its size, and versatility when it comes to charging, this is one of the best work lights to use on leisure trips and when working away from home.

The battery lasts for approximately four hours, delivering 3000 lumens of light (there’s only one power setting), making it a useful tool to have around when camping, fishing, BBQing or working. It’s also good to keep in the car, just in case.

If the work light needs to be carried, the handle is sufficiently padded and comfortable, and it’s lightweight at 1.38 kg. It also has a IP65 water resistance rating, meaning it shouldn’t be affected by rain.

This work light can be rotated through 360°, as well as tilted, and casts light at an angle of 120°. The angle adjustments are made by simply unscrewing and retightening a couple of thumb screws.

Overall, this is a very practical and useful light. It’s the best LED work light if you want something that can be used for work as well as leisure activities. It comes with all of the cables required for both mains and car charging, and can even be hung by its looped handle – a useful feature when used on outdoor trips.

Rechargeable batteries don’t always have a good run time, but the FLOWood 10W USB Portable LED Work Light achieves approximately 5 – 8 hours from full charge, making it useful for an array of jobs.

This work light also has a small surprise up its sleeve, given that it can be used as a power bank to charge mobile phones. Of course, this will drain battery from the light itself, but could be invaluable in an emergency when camping or positioned far from a power outlet.

The downside to this work light’s impressive battery life is its charging time: it can take around 4.5 hours to get it back to full charge. However, it charges via USB, meaning there are a lot of different power sources it can be charged from.

As a small, portable, cordless work light, it’s a good option to have in the toolbox. It measures just 19 x 16 x 6 cm and is relatively ‘handheld’ – the size of the LED light itself isn’t as big as some of the others on this page, but it sufficiently illuminates for doing jobs nearby.

There are three different settings to choose from: flash, 500 lumens, and 1000 lumens. Naturally, on the lower power mode, the work light’s battery lasts for longer. It’s necessary to scroll through all of the options each time, until you reach the one you want, as there’s only one button.

This LED work light also has a small handle, that doubles as a stand, keeping the overall size down. And, in terms of robustness, this work light has an IPX4 waterproof rating, meaning it’s resistant to splashes, and a chunky build with rubberised corners.

Overall, this is the best LED work light if you want a versatile option with good battery life. Not only does it work as a powerful, small lamp, but it can also be used as an emergency charger if necessary.

It’s only really let down by its long charge time – waiting for 4.5 hours won’t always be practical.

When there’s no easy place to hang or place a work light, the Faithfull PowerPlus Sitelight Twin Stand offers a viable solution. This freestanding work light consists of two 500 W lamps, which can be individually adjusted, mounted on a metal stand.

The telescopic stand allows the height of the lighting rig to be adjusted between 78 – 183 cm, and the light angle can be altered in order to direct the bright light in different ways.

Having the work lights lifted off the floor can help prevent shadows caused by objects blocking the light, making it easier to see clearly when working.

As well as being useful for DIY, these are some of the best LED work lights for hobbyists as they’re suitable for a range of different applications, from plastering and painting to photography.

When not in use, the lights can easily be stored back in their packaging, meaning they can be protected and don’t have to take up a lot of room.

In terms of durability, they probably not going to stand up to a lot of gruelling work in tough conditions (such as a commercial worksite); however, they’re a reasonable bargain if you want standing LED work lights that don’t need to be moved around often.

As there’s no IP rating, they aren’t protected against dust or moisture, which is another reason why they may not suit professional use. They can also get quite hot, so adjusting them once they’ve been on for a while won’t be possible.

In some instances, having the two lights on might feel excessive – they combine to make a very bright light source. However, it’s not possible to only use one lamp at a time. They are both connected to the same 2-metre power cord with no way of controlling them individually.