Reading before bed is a great way to relax. But achieving the right balance of light can be tricky. We want to illuminate the text without disturbing sleeping partners, kids, or roommates. A warm light that is not too bright is also better, as it helps you feel drowsy. Special reading lights may be the answer. They come in a surprisingly wide variety of shapes and sizes, but all will light up your page, not your whole room.
I've tested a library of reading lights over the last year, tucking into tomes as blissfully unaware partners slept, and these are the very best reading lights for bookworms. There are several kinds of clip-ons, wearable lights, and a bedside lamp among our picks, as well as a tempting alternative to book lights.
Avid readers will also want to check out our other reading guides, like the Best Gifts for Book Lovers, Great Tech Books, Best Science Fiction Books, and Best Kindles.
Updated July 2025: We added lights from Mighty Bright and Lexon, added the newer Kindle Paperwhite, and a Withit light we don’t recommend.