Find the right desk lamp
Plain guides to lamp types, bulbs, brightness, and color, so your desk is easy on the eyes and easy to work at.
The guides
Six short guides that cover what matters when you choose a desk lamp.
Lamp Types
Arm, architect, banker, clamp, and more, and what each does well.
Bulbs and Color Temperature
Lumens, Kelvin, and CRI on the box, explained.
Task Lighting
How to light your work without glare or shadows.
LED vs Other Bulbs
LED, halogen, CFL, and incandescent compared.
Budget Tiers
What you gain as you spend more, and what you can skip.
Home Office
A step-by-step way to choose for your desk.
Why use this guide
Plain language. Lumens, Kelvin, and CRI explained without jargon.
Based on published standards. Our numbers come from lighting standards bodies and government energy programs.
No product hype. We explain what features do so you can judge any lamp.
Clear about money. If we ever link to a retailer, we say so.
Free printables
Print them and keep them by your desk.
Setting up a desk?
The home office guide walks you through it in a few minutes.
