Most sewing machines come with their own LED light that covers the needle plate but if you’re doing needlework or you’re hand-sewing or you need additional lights alongside what your machine provides, then it’s time to look for the best sewing lamps.
In this article, I’m only going to cover the options for the best sewing lights but I also wrote a post on the best magnifying lamps for sewing. Check that one out if you want a magnifier and a light in the same lamp.
These options for the sewing lamps are only about lights. No magnifying lens on them. That’s why I decided to make two separate articles to address different needs.
Best Sewing Lamps: Top 8 Picks
I always had the habit of doing my sewing, reading, studying very close to my reading/studying materials or very close to the needle of the machine.
In my case, that was because I needed glasses since I was always big on having proper lighting so improper lighting wasn’t it.
I hope your eyes are properly cared for and that you only require proper lights for sewing and other activities.
We are all aware that improper lightning can cause eye strain and fatigue. It can also make us have a hunched over posture over our work, which can lead to all sorts of problems. That becomes especially apparent during activities like sewing, needlework, reading, and other types of crafts and repair work, especially those that involve smaller pieces or objects.
So, let’s spare ourselves the fatigue and eye strain and see which are the best sewing lamps that can make our work, activities, and hobbies so much more pleasant and easy to do.
1. Enoch Desk Lamp with Clamp: Overall the Best Sewing Lamp
If you’re looking for a desk lamp with a clamp, this is one of the cheapest but also one of the best sewing lamps that you could get.
I love the affordable price and I pretty much like everything about it.
People who use it for sewing love it as well. That’s certainly the main reason for recommending it as one of the best sewing lights.
Design
I like the overall design, this model is quite pretty and it stands out only in the best way.
Some people might not like the clamp design but I must admit that I’m a big fan of it. I like that you can secure it to a place and leave it there safely for when you need to use it. A clamp can ensure great stability.
The sturdy clamp comes with a silicon clamp so you won’t damage your desk or table.
The clam has a 2.2 inches opening. Just make sure that it will fit before buying it.
Moreover, just because this is a clamp desk light that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t ensure a lot of flexibility.
We get 3 flexible sturdy metal joints that let us position the light at different angles and they also ensure that the lamp can cover the entire desk, even if we have a larger work space.
We can rotate the light 360 degrees and the metal swing arm can be 180 degrees adjusted.
The head with the bulb measures 12.5 inches.
The body is composed of two metal arms, each measuring 14.5 inches. It can be extended up to 40.5 inches of height.
Last but not least, Enoch Desk Lamp with Clamp is foldable so you can also take it with you if you’re traveling to quilting camps or to sewing retreats.
It also includes a power adapter that can also be connected to a USB port. In case you don’t have an outlet nearby, just connect it via USB.
LED light
It can produce a brightness of up to 1,100 lumens, which makes it quite powerful.
The power consumption is 14W, which is very good.
Enoch describes the light as being eye-caring, very uniform, no flash, no shadow.
There are 3 color modes to choose from: warm light (3200k), warm white light (4800k), and white light (6500k).
For working, most of us will end up choosing the cool white light, which is measured at 6000k-6500k.
Incredibly, we also get 10 brightness levels, from 10% up to 100%. It can meet the needs of everyone.
There’s also a memory function that will restore the last mode and brightness that you preferred the last time when you used it.
The lifespan is estimated at up to 50,000 hours.
All in all, Enoch Desk Lamp with Clamp is absolutely perfect for a wide array of users: students, artists, designers, nail artists, quilters, sewists, etc.
2. Brightech Litespan 2-in-1 LED Floor & Desk Lamp
If you don’t know whether to get a desk model or a floor model as one of the best sewing lamps, then you have the opportunity to get both in the guise of a single product with a few useful accessories.
The Brightech Litespan 2-in-1 Lamp for crafts, sewing, needlework, reading, etc. is a product that can be used either as a desk or a floor lamp. You get to decide which would be best. I think it’s a very interesting idea that is worth considering.
The price is not the cheapest but it can still be considered pretty affordable. There are certainly much more expensive models that aren’t even a 2-in-1 product.
Design
In order to transform this light into a desk model from a floor model and vice-versa, we only need to remove or add one component to the whole design: a 3 feet leg.
Thus, a simple 3-foot leg is what makes this model so versatile that it can go on any desk/workbench or it can be placed on the floor to illuminate us when we’re working on the couch.
As a floor light, it can achieve a 56 inches height.
As a lamp light, it only measures 20 inches.
The flexible gooseneck remains in either mode, which is awesome. Whether you’re at a desk or you place it on the floor at its full 56 inches height, we can still adjust the bulb at any angle we desire. I like it a lot.
The base measures 8 inches in diameter. It’s good enough that even when the 3-foot leg is attached, it still has great stability.
LED light
It’s a powerful bulb with up to 2,000 lumens brightness. That high brightness only consumes 12 watts.
There are 3 color temperatures to choose from by pressing the button M: warm white at 3000k, cool white at 6000k, and soft white light at 4,500k. The soft white is a combination of cool and warm.
No matter which type you prefer and what brightness you enjoy, the Brightech Litespan can give it to you.
In order to change the brightness level, all you have to do is tap the up and down arrows.
The Litespan smart technology will remember these choices the next time you turn it on.
A small blue LED light remains lit when the light is off.
Lifespan for the bulb is estimated at about 20,000 hours. It’s not the highest life expectancy but it’s decent.
3. Brightech Litespan LED Floor Lamp
When it comes to picking the best sewing lamps, if you’re looking for a floor lamp that’s on the affordable side, then you should check out Brightech Litespan first.
With a price of around $50, we can safely say that this is one of the most affordable floor lamps for sewing, reading, crafts, etc. It’s also called an estheticians’ light for lash extensions but most of us aren’t interested in that latter aspect.
Design
Since it’s a floor model, it comes with an adjustable gooseneck. I love that. It will give you flexibility to position it perfectly no matter where you do your sewing or needlework.
You can bend the gooseneck at whatever angle you want and you can rotate it.
Total height is between 42 and 53 inches, it depends on the angle in which the gooseneck is positioned.
It also has a 9 x 10 inches lamp base.
The head, where the LED bulb is, measures 10 x 7 inches.
You can also choose different colors for the design: havana brown, jet black, titanium silver, white, wood.
The overall design isn’t something entirely impressive. It’s pretty much a classic design of a floor lamp but we’re not buying it for looking pretty. We’re getting it because it’s really bright and it will save up on the electricity bill.
LED light
It is a lamp that shines bright at 2,000 lumens. The light output is impressive.
At the same time, it only draws 12W of electricity. That’s what we call powerful and economical at the same time. I always like that about LEDs.
We also get the dimmable option so light output is adjustable.
In order to dim the lamp, hold down on the power button while the lamp is on. It will run through its brightness gradient. When you’re satisfied, let the button go.
Next time you turn the lamp on, it will turn on at the brightness level you last used.
Unlike other lamps that offer color models, with the Brightech Litespan we only get the option of cool white at 6000k color temperature. Even though it’s cool white, it’s described as natural daylight color light and I like it.
Moreover, we can also choose the soft night light setting that gives off an orange glow. The night light setting is not helpful for sewing, crafts or reading but it’s nice to know that we have the option to use it as a night light, too.
Lifespan is estimated at 20,000+ hours. Even if you use it daily for more than 8 hours per day, it will still last a very long time.
LEDs always remain cool to the touch even after hours of use. There’s no danger of accidental brush-burns, which is another plus for LED bulbs.
4. Daylight UnoLamp Table
This is not a cheap desk lamp but Daylight is not exactly a manufacturer famous for their cheap lamps, whether they’re desk or floor models.
What I would say that Daylight should be famous for is their interesting designs. I must admit that they do the whole minimalist look very well. If you ever visit their website, you can’t help but love how their lighting objects look.
Design
The first thing that stands out about this UnoLamp is the minimalist design.
I must also mention that I love the whole white design. I think it will be pleasant for those using sewing machines because those are mostly white, too. It will blend in the background, while at the same time looking very well on an artist’s or designer’s table.
The base is not exactly very pretty but the head of the lamp is quite nice. I saw a user that mentioned that this lamp was exactly what they needed because this model was able to fit in a small sewing space.
The height of the light can be adjusted a bit and we can get a few different angles but light won’t cover a very big space.
Thus, I recommend the Daylight UnoLamp Table for sewists who don’t need to cover a very large space. It’s actually perfect for those who don’t have a lot of free space on their table.
Although, the manufacturer describes it as being capable of illuminating large areas.
The height is 15.16 inches. As I’ve said, it’s not a big table lamp.
It’s also very light, it only weighs 1 pound.
LED light
It’s a 400 lumens light. It might not seem as the brightest but it actually is. Users certainly describe it as being very bright.
It has only one color mode: cool white at 6000k. It’s exactly what we need so I’m not disappointed that there are no other color modes to choose from.
It has an incredibly low energy consumption, only 6W. That’s impressive.
Even if we only get cool white, we can choose from 4 brightness levels. Just touch the switch dimmer and you can switch between the 4 brightness levels.
The lifespan is 50,000 hours. Daylight takes their LED lights seriously.
Daylight describes it as being perfect for painting, sewing, reading, and crafting. I totally agree and that’s why I believe that it’s one of the best sewing lamps, even though the price might not be comfortable for everyone.
5. OttLite LED Soft Touch Lamp
This is one of the most popular desk lamps for sewists and other types of users with different needs so I thought it was only right to review it as one of the best sewing lamps.
Design
I love the overall design. I would describe it as being minimalist.
We can choose between two colors: white and gray. It’s not often that we see a gray desk lamp model but I love the look. Still, the white color is my favorite.
Overall, this Soft Touch model resembles the design of the Daylight one that I reviewed just above. They also have similar price tags.
The neck is adjustable, we can extend the height from 8 to 18 inches.
The base is stable.
LED light
We get a 450 lumens brightness as its maximum output. It’s quite powerful. It won’t cover a very large surface but it will be enough to cover a sewing machine and the fabrics you’re stitching.
We can choose from 3 brightness levels. There’s a touch sensitive switch to switch between the 3 levels of brightness.
The light is cool white, perfect for a work environment.
There’s also a built-in diffuser for dispersing an even area of light.
It has an estimated lifespan of about 40,000 hours.
6. OttLite WingShade Adjustable Floor Lamp
Since we’ve reviewed a table lamp from OttLite, I thought that it would be nice to review a floor model from this manufacturer, too. After all, their products are really popular when it comes to choosing the best lights for sewing.
This floor model from OttLite will come with a few surprises.
The first is that this is an incandescent light. Given that, the next surprise is a bit obvious: the tube bulb is replaceable.
Design
The design is nothing special. The head is a bit bulky but it doesn’t stand out too much. It’s a decent design, just nothing special.
Since it features an incandescent light, the shade needs to incorporate a bigger tube bulb and that’s why the size of the shade is a bit bigger than with some other LED floor lamps.
On the plus side, the fact that the shade is expansive ensures that it provides a good amount of lightning over a decent surface.
It can reach a maximum height of 62 inches.
However, the adjustable neck means that you can position the shade at a height between 50.75 to 62 inches. It’s adjustable, which is totally expected.
It also features a sturdy base that measures 10.5 x 7.75 inches. It’s overall heavy, weighing 9.92 pounds.
Incandescent light
The OttLite WingShade Adjustable Floor Lamp is an 18W model, which means that it’s the most power-hungry light on this list. They also have a 24W floor model but that one is considerably more expensive than the 18W one.
To make a comparison between floor lights for sewing and crafts, let’s consider that the Brightech Litespan LED Floor Lamp at 2,000 lumens maximum brightness only needs 12W. And it’s also a lot cheaper than this OttLite.
However, the difference is made in the fact that this is not a LED light but an incandescent bulb. Those are a bit more power-hungry than LEDs.
The manufacturer mentions that their engineers and researchers have focused on bringing the power of natural daylight indoors.
It is described as OttLite’s unique daylight illumination that shows colors accurately and details with amazing clarity. It’s also capable of reducing glare and eyestrain.
All that sounds really awesome. And this is an overall bright lamp that can serve the needs of a large category of users.
On the con side, since it’s an incandescent light, there are no color modes to choose from. And there are no brightness levels to adjust. Some might find it a bit too bright.
Replacement bulb
Let’s discuss the major aspect that makes this OttLite 18W Floor Lamp stand out among all these recommendations for the best sewing lamps.
We can actually change the bulb for this one. All you have to do is search for an OttLite 18W Replacement Bulb. The price for the replacement light is pretty decent.
Given this hard-to-find feature, I would say that the OttLite WingShade Adjustable Floor Lamp might spark the interest of a few potential buyers.
It’s hard to find floor models with replacement lights. The large majority don’t offer that. And most models that do are really expensive.
OttLite manages to offer the possibility of replacing the bulb and it does so for a model that’s priced well under $100. That’s what makes this one such a great choice.
On the other hand, the 18W Type B bulb is only rated to last 10,000 hours. That’s because it’s an incandescent light and not a LED. They are expected to have shorter lifespans.
It’s a considerably lower life expectancy than any of the other lamps on this list, whether they’re desk or floor models.
Now, you can see why they included the option of replacing the bulb. So, it’s a lot of good mixed with a bit of a let-down.
Overall, it’s still a great light but I’m more into LEDs than into incandescent lights. Nevertheless, there might be a lot of you who don’t prefer LED lights and want something completely different. This OttLite WingShade Adjustable Floor Lamp 18W is certainly different.
7. Woputne Desk Lamp Clip on Lamp
Another really affordable desk lamp is this one from Woputne Desk Lamp Clip on Lamp.
It also has plenty of reviews from people who have bought it to illuminate their sewing space so it can definitely be considered a wonderful pick for the best sewing lamps.
Most reviews from sewers are totally positive and that’s exactly what I’m looking for.
Design
I absolutely love the design. It’s a bit quirky but it looks really nice.
Clip on lamps are my top choice when it comes to sewing or desk lamps. They’re very easy to use and we can position them wherever we want and how we want.
It can be clamped to any 3-5cm desk, board.
The neck is of course flexible so we get flexibility all around. We have a 360° flexible gooseneck.
It’s easy to move to different spots and the clip on will prove to be a big bonus.
LED light
The Woputne Desk Lamp Clip on Lamp offers 3 modes: cool light, warm light, nature light.
And 10 brightness levels (10%-100%) for each lighting mode. That’s pretty typical but these are all wonderful features to have in the best sewing lamps.
It can be also be set to turn off automatically after 1 minute.
8. Nxone Led Floor Lamp
Let’s end my recommendations for the best sewing lamps with a pretty affordable floor model. I thought that I should find a floor light for crafts, sewing, and reading that’s really fancy and has a very expensive price.
However, why do that when we can review a model that’s affordable, looks really nice, and is very bright? Isn’t that what most of us are looking for? I think it is so let’s see what the Nxone Led Floor Lamp offers.
Design
It has a pretty standard design, representative of the general design of floor lamps for crafts. Even so, it looks really nice and it will fit in whatever home décor you have. I like it.
The good news is that you can also choose between 3 colors: black, silver, and white. We have variety.
The maximum height it can reach is 74 inches, which is really high.
The height is also adjustable. It has a flexible neck, gooseneck design that gives you just the right angle for your sewing space.
LED light
I am disappointed that we don’t get an exact number for lumens but sewists mention that it’s very bright. There are no problems in that area.
We can choose from 4 color temperatures from warm white to daylight. We usually only get 3 color temperatures but the Nxone Led Floor Lamp goes beyond and offers 4 modes.
Brightness levels are adjustable, too, from 5% to 100%.
The remote control has 3 customized models, you can set your brightness and color temperature.
Besides that, it also comes with a memory function to remember your previous settings so you don’t have to adjust everything every single time you turn it on.
Surprisingly for such an affordable model, this Nxone also comes with a remote control with a 32.8 inches range.
Just like many user reviews said, I like everything about this lamp.
Best Sewing Lamps Buying Guide
There are a few types of lamps that you can choose from for your sewing activities or for needlework.
You’ll have to decide which would be the best type of lamp for your activities.
The main types of sewing lights are:
- desk models
- floor models
If you have your sewing machine or you perform your activities on a desk or a workbench, then you’ll prefer a desk lamp that illuminates the surface of your desk.
Floor models work really well for pretty much everyone. You can place them everywhere, whether you’re working at a desk or you’re doing your work in your favorite chair or on the couch.
If you do your work in different spaces and not all of those spaces involve a desk, then you’ll definitely need a floor model as one of the best sewing lamps.
Floor models offer the best variety in terms of placement because for desk models you always need a table/desk/workbench. They’re certainly more limited.
I also reviewed a 2-in-1 model that can be used either as a desk or floor model thanks to the 3-foot leg that comes with it. You can remove it or attach it, depending on the type of sewing lamp you want at the moment.
Brightness levels
LED lights are powerful so you don’t have to worry that you won’t get enough light output. I made sure to select some of the brightest, best sewing lamps.
For some models, you can also get the option to adjust light intensity.
Some will offer 3 brightness level adjustments while others can offer even more variety with 5 brightness levels.
Brightness is measured in lumens.
Some crafts/reading/sewing lights will have a lower brightness of 400-500 lumens, while others will go as far as measuring up to 2,000 lumens in brightness.
Power consumption is measured in watts. You don’t have to worry about any sewing LED lamps needing too much power because the average power consumption is around 8-12 watts. They’re the most energy-efficient.
Features
Under features, we’re looking at adjustable heights and angles.
A flexible gooseneck is essential, especially when it comes to floor models.
Desk models don’t exactly make it a habit of including a gooseneck. There are fewer desk lights that feature a gooseneck but I love a lamp that features one.
Other flexible models that don’t have a gooseneck, will feature metal arms with metal joints that allow users to change angles and height.
In terms of features for the LED light, we will be able to choose from different brightness levels and colors modes (warm white, cool white, and a combination of the two).
Cool white (6000-6500k) is the preferred option for crafts, hobbies, sewing, and working.
Prices
Desk models tend to be cheaper if you’re choosing a very basic model. You can certainly buy a desk lamp as one of the best sewing lamps for as little as $20-$30.
Nevertheless, fancier models will exceed $50. It certainly depends on your budget if you want to get something a lot fancier with interesting features but, overall, they’re quite affordable.
On the other hand, floor lamps for sewing/needlework/crafts and not the simply decorative ones tend to be a lot more expensive.
Floor models that are very good at illuminating our working space will generally cost around $70-$100. Even the most affordable models will have prices around $50 or above.
The cheapest floor lights for sewing on my list are: Nxone Led Floor Lamp, Brightech Litespan 2-in-1 LED Floor & Desk Lamp, and Brightech Litespan LED Floor Lamp.
Lifespan
Nowadays, pretty much all our lights are LEDs. It doesn’t matter whether we’re choosing desk or floor models. All will come with LEDs.
That means two things: long lifespan and lower energy consumption. We win on both fronts even if we have to pay a bit more for our lighting bulbs.
The lifespan of average LEDs can easily register around 20,000-30,000 hours. For example, a 20,000 hours lifespan can translate into about 14 years of use for our best sewing lamps.
Many lights have a rate lifespan of up to 50,000 hours.
A lifespan of 50,000 hours amounts to almost 6 years if you let the bulb on for 24 hrs/day, almost 8 years if it’s on 18 hrs/day, 11.4 years if you keep it on for 12 hrs/day.
Realistically, I would say that we can expect our lights to last 6-10 years without a decrease in light output. That’s still a very satisfying life expectancy for these models we can consider to be the best sewing lamps.
