Lighting · Explainer · 4 min ·
Lamp boxes list lumens, but what matters when you read is lux: how much light reaches the page. The same bulb can feel bright or dim depending on distance, shade and beam.
Slide the lamp, brightness and distance in the little planner to see how a few centimetres change your reading light, then measure your own seat before you buy.
Affiliate links, marked sponsored. Examples that match this guide, not tested reviews. Prices checked 4 Oct; every shop is on each product page.
A small cordless lamp with a warm glow. It suits a bedside table or shelf for mood, but at 150 lumens it is a soft light rather than a full reading light, so keep it close to the page.
150 lm · 3000 K · Cordless, 25 cm
A floor lamp with a soft uplighter plus a separate tilting reading arm, each with its own switch. Measure the ceiling height and the clear floor beside your chair first.
3000 K · Dimmable · 180 cm tall
A portable battery lamp that moves between sofa, desk and bed, with adjustable warm to cool light. Check the 35 cm height against your side table and where your eyes sit when seated.
370 lm at 2700 K · Battery · 35 cm tall
