10 Best Table Lamps: A university student’s favourite table lamps

As all students would know, a study lamp is one of the most critical study essentials. With late-night cramming sessions and endless piles of homework, the right lighting can make all the difference. Trust me, my table lamp has seen me through several national exams and countless evening spent studying.

So, what should you look out for when picking your perfect lamp? First off, adjustability is key. Whether it’s tweaking the brightness or changing the light temperature, having control over these factors is actually imperative to your health, both by preventing eye strain and maintaining your circadian rhythm.

A flexible lamp arm is another game-changer, allowing you to direct light exactly where you need it. And let’s not forget CRI—Color Rendering Index. The CRI is a nifty little metric that tells you how accurately a lamp displays colors compared to natural light. Higher CRI means your lamp will make colors look truer and more vibrant, which is especially important if you’re an arts student.

Ready to light up your study space? Here’s a rundown of the best lamps that blend functionality with style, ensuring you’ve got the perfect lighting for every late-night essay and early-morning class.

10 Best Table Lamps in Singapore

*Information accurate as of time of writing.

IKEA LÖVMÅNAD Work Lamp, $15

Best Basic Table Lamp

The LÖVMÅNAD Work Lamp from IKEA is a great budget-friendly option at just $15. It’s a minimalist, geometric lamp in black that adds a sleek, modern touch to any space. With a base diameter of 12 cm and a height of 30 cm, it’s compact yet functional.

The lamp features a basic design with a shade diameter of 11 cm, making it a cute and simple addition to your desk or nightstand. With a maximum power of 5.2 W, it’s ideal for those who want a straightforward, affordable lighting solution without any frills.

While the light bulb is sold separately, IKEA recommends using an E14 globe opal white LED bulb for the best results.

Order the LÖVMÅNAD Work Lamp starting from $15 from IKEA.

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SOUNDTEOH LED EYE CARE TABLE LAMP DL-238, $140

Best Eyecare Study Lamp

The SOUNDTEOH LED Table Lamp DL-238 is a great choice if you’re looking for a lamp that offers excellent visual health benefits without completely breaking the bank. Despite its steep price, it’s the most affordable option among lamps with such a range of adjustable functions.

With 800 lumens of brightness from its 10W LED bulb, the DL-238 provides ample light for tasks like reading or working. It features five color temperature modes, ranging from warm white (2700K) to cool daylight white (6500K), allowing you to adjust the light to suit different activities and sync up with your circadian rhythm. The lamp is also dimmable, perfect for both digital and analogue activities without causing any eye strain. This flexibility helps in creating a comfortable and healthy visual environment. 

The lamp also includes a touch control panel for easy adjustments to brightness and colour temperature, enhancing usability and convenience. Its compact design (5.5 x 5.5 x 14 inches) and light, so it fits neatly on desks, nightstands, or side tables, making it a versatile and easily portable addition to any space.

If you’re seeking a lamp that prioritizes visual health by offering a range of features, all while at an affordable price, the SOUNDTEOH DL-238 is a solid choice.

Order the LED EYE CARE TABLE LAMP DL-238 starting from $140 from Best Denki.

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FortyTwo Rusta Table Lamp (Black), $39.90

Best Traditional Style Study Lamp

Unlike most other lamps in the list, the Rusta Table Lamp combines a traditional design with modern functionality, making it a stylish and classic addition to any contemporary home. At a practical price, this lamp features an old-school gooseneck shape that allows you to adjust and position the light exactly where you need it. 

With a cord length of 140 cm, it’s flexible enough to fit various setups, whether on your work table, study desk, or coffee table. The lamp requires an E27 bulb (not included), with a maximum wattage of 20W. For easy operation, it includes a simple button-type on/off switch.

Made from steel and aluminum, the Rusta lamp is both durable and stylish. Note that this lamp needs to be assembled upon purchase. It’s designed for indoor use only and should be placed on a level surface away from direct sunlight and heat. If you’re looking for a functional, retro desk lamp with a no-fuss setup, the Rusta is a great choice.

Order the Rusta Table Lamp starting from $39.90 from Fortytwo.

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Nitori LED DESK LAMP DX-SX20, $34.90

Best Rechargeable and Portable Study Lamp

This USB rechargeable lamp is the go-to for anyone who needs portability and flexibility. Whether you’re moving it around the room or taking it with you on the go, the fact that it’s cordless makes it incredibly convenient. You can fold it into a compact size, which is perfect for slipping into a bag when you’re on the move.

It also has the adjustable features of any mid-range lamp, for a relatively cheap price. The Nitori LED DESK LAMP offers continuous dimming and lets you adjust the light color in three stages, ranging from a warm light bulb color to a neutral white. With a maximum brightness of about 1200 lux at 26 cm, it’s bright enough for most tasks, and the touch switch makes adjusting the settings super easy. Just tap to change the light color or press and hold to tweak the brightness to your liking.

Another neat feature is the built-in stand where you can place your smartphone — great for keeping your phone in view while you work or study for timers or digital notes (but not great if you’re easily distracted).

Order the Nitori LED DESK LAMP DX-SX20 starting from $34.90 from Nitori.

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Best Denki GLOXON LAMPS DL331 LED SMART DESK LAMP, $161.10

Best Smart Table Lamp

At $161, the GLOXON LAMP’s steep price comes with smart features that no other lamp has. The GLOXON DL331 LED Smart Desk Lamp is a sleek, minimalist choice for those who want a modern look with advanced controls, but unlike the BenQ MindDuo 2 kids study lamp, is less kid focused and more targeted towards adults and older kids.  

One of the standout features is its motion-sensing control, which is super convenient for hands-free use. Just like the MindDuo 2, it has an ambient light sensor that adjusts the brightness based on your surroundings, making it a great option for people who want a smart, adaptive lighting experience. The DL331 also offers a cool white light at 4000K, which is comfortable for long study or work sessions, and a high CRI of 98, meaning colors appear incredibly accurate under this light—perfect for anyone who needs true color representation.

The adjustable arm with a 180-degree swivel head gives you plenty of flexibility to direct light exactly where you need it. However, compared to the MindDuo 2, which has seven adjustable color temperatures, the GLOXON DL331 is more limited in its lighting options. If you’re looking for versatility in color temperatures and lamps targetted toward younger kids, the MindDuo 2 might be a better fit, especially for kids who need different lighting for various activities.

Order the GLOXON LAMPS DL331 LED SMART DESK LAMP starting from $161.10 from Best Denki.

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BenQ MindDuo 2 Kids Study Eye-Care Lamp, $399

Best Focus Study Lamp for kids

$399 for a lamp would seem like overkill to most, but the MindDuo 2 Kids Study Lamp is a game-changer for parents who want to ensure their kids have the best possible environment for homework or reading. One of its coolest features is the 30-minute break reminder, which not only helps to protect your child’s eyes by giving them a gentle nudge to rest after half an hour of work, but increases focus through the pomodoro study technique. 

What really sets this lamp apart, however, is its smart detection system. Thanks to a passive infrared sensor, the lamp automatically turns on when your child sits down and switches off three minutes after they leave. No more worrying about them leaving the light on all night or during the day—it’s a fantastic way to save energy while making life a bit easier.

Safety is another big plus. The lamp is built with a concealed light source and a front canopy to make sure your child isn’t staring directly into the light, which helps reduce glare and discomfort. Plus, with its compact size (36.4 cm high, 44.4 cm wide, and 44 cm in diameter), it fits easily on any desk without taking up too much space.

The MindDuo 2 also offers seven adjustable colour temperatures, which is perfect for adapting to different activities. Whether your child needs a cool light to focus or a warm light to relax, this lamp has them covered. It’s designed to work with the body’s natural rhythms, so the lighting feels just right, no matter the time of day.

Order the BenQ MindDuo 2 Kids Study Eye-Care Lamp starting from $399 from BenQ.

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Baseus Smart Eye Rechargeable Folding Reading Desk Lamp, $49.50

Best Space Saving Study Lamp

I think this lamp would be useful especially to art students, or anyone who works with large areas of analogue projects. 

With a small base of 7.5 cm by 4.5 cm, this lamp doesn’t take up much table space, which is a lifesaver if you’re working on A1 or A0 sized projects. Furthermore, with a radiant greater than 95 CRI, it ensures that the absolute true colours of your project are being displayed, preventing any unwanted shocks through the changing of colours under different lights.

Furthermore, despite its small size, the lamp emits light evenly over a large rectangular area, ensuring each corner of your desk is illuminated. It’s also foldable, making transporting it to school easy. 

Other interesting features include a light sensor, which can automatically turn the lamp on or off depending on your surroundings, and helps with visual strain. There are also three colour temperatures, ranging from white to warm, depending on your needs.

Order the Smart Eye Rechargeable Folding Reading Desk Lamp starting from $49.50 from Baseus.

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Xiaomi Mijia Smart LED Desk Lamp, $26.90

Best Minimalist Study Lamp

At an affordable price of $26.90, and with the option of adjusting to three different lighting levels, this lamp is well worth its cost. 

Its thin and angular design makes it stand out amongst other lamps that have bulbs or thick LED strips. Additionally, if your vibe is minimalist and post-modern, this lamp is the right fit for you. 

Apart from three lighting intensities, the lamp arm can be vertically adjusted to up to 218°, but cannot be folded all the way down. Should you want a lamp that can be folded into half for easy transportation, check out the Nitori LED DESK LAMP DX-SX20 or Baseus Smart Eye Rechargeable Folding Reading Desk Lamp.

But if you’re using your lamp exclusively at home, the light intensity and adjustable arm is all you’ll really need from a lamp. Combined with its stylish design and affordability, I would rank this as the best overall lamp choice.

Order the Mijia Smart LED Desk Lamp starting from $26.90 from Xiaomi.

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Ebbe Macaron Color Adjustable Desk Lamp, $78

Best Colourful Study Lamp

Maximalism is trendy again, and I’m all for the bursting personalities displayed all throughout people’s homes. If you’re into pops of colour throughout your furniture, you might be interested in the Ebbe Macaron Desk Lamp.

Coming in five adorable colours, pink, green, white, black, and blue, these petite and charming lamps are 15cm by 15cm in diameter, and 35cm in height. Its size makes it great for smaller tables and kids, but for those who prefer having all their notes sprawled out, this lamp may be too small to sufficiently light everything.

As cute as these lamps shades are (get it?), the colours are still a little dull, so those whose rooms are decked out in pastels may find that these shades aren’t a perfect fit.

Also, do note that bulbs are not included!

Order the Macaron Color Adjustable Desk Lamp starting from $78 from lightingshop.com.sg.

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OYEARS Modern Industrial Desk Lamp for Reading LED, $110

Best Industrial Style Study Lamp

For homes with a more industrial style, dominated by natural materials and harsh lines, the OYEARS Modern Industrial Desk Lamp might be the best choice. With its sleek design, minimalistic form, and metallic finish, this lamp exudes the stylistic features of an industrial interior. 

With a 40cm by 20cm base, and 56cm in height, this lamp is big enough to cast a wide illumination, and will still fit onto a desk of any size. With the ability to rotate 270° horizontally and 45°vertically, it’s convenient to adjust to any angle you’d need. 

Not only that, but it comes in gold with black accents, and black or white with gold accents. The range of options allow for one’s personal preferences to shine through, whilst ensuring that it’ll match the interior of any room with its classic colour palette. The black and gold lamp would fit perfectly with the rest of my black metal interior, and stands as my personal favourite.

Order the Modern Industrial Desk Lamp for Reading LED starting from $110 from ubuy.com.sg.

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