Work, work, work! Well, we all have to work at something. Sometimes we work at hobbies, crafts, or repairs besides the secular job that pays our living expenses. If we are working on some sort of after hours project of our own, we likely need lights to see what we’re doing.
How a LED Work Light Can Benefit Your Working Environment
With most physical forms of work, the ability to clearly see what we’re doing is important. When I was using quartz lamps, I always had to be very careful of where I placed the lamps because of the danger from high heat.
Another issue with quartz lights was how easy it was to burn out of break the bulb. After an hour or more of being on, accidentally kicking the light could break the bulb. LED’s don’t have those problems, so I am very happy to have LED work lights as a choice.
Since they are very efficient, using several LED work lights becomes a great option. With the durability of LED lights, transporting them is also easier to deal with.
Different Types Of LED Work Lights
There isn’t much variation to be found in the type of LED work lights. Some basic differences would be how powerful the light is, whether it is a single light or multiple lights, and how they are mounted.
How I Found The Best LED Work Lights
So, what should a person look for when shopping for the best LED work lights?
- Brightness: Hey, that’s why I’m looking for a work light in the first place. I need to flood whatever I’m working on with a good amount of light.
- Sturdiness: A work light needs to be heavy duty to survive the rigors of shop life or also for travel.
- Mountings: Having the ability to go on a tripod stand and on the floor
- Weather rating: Preferably I want a LED light that can withstand outdoor conditions
- Variable power levels: Some will have this feature, many don’t.
- Portability: Its great if a light covers the above features, but it too needs to be portable on the job.
Top 5 Best LED Work Lights for All Uses + Reviews
1. Makita DML805 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless LED Light (Editors Pick)
Makita DML805 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless LED Light Specifications
Lumens: 750
Voltage: 230
Battery Life: 10 hours
Life Span: 50,000 Hours
Price: Click here to find latest price
Makita DML805 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless LED Light Review
Coming in first on my best LED works lights is the mighty Makita DML805 cordless work light. I have been using Makita products for years and I am still yet to be disappointed which makes me keep coming back.
One of the first things that made me take notice of this unit was the ability to run off a battery or on AC power (battery and charger are sold separately which I opted for). When running on battery power, the light can last for up to about 10 hours on the low power mode, around 4 or 5 hours on full power which was great for a full days work.
In operation, it runs on either battery or the via the 230 volt cord. Unfortunately you can’t charge the battery by plugging in the lamp, instead having to charge via the standard 18V Makita charge station.
When it came to the LED’s, they provide a lot of brightness using the 750 or 450 lumen options. I found this more than adequate for lighting a large living area and even some outdoor work at night. If you were to pair two of these lights together, you would get some serious coverage!
Setting this light was a breeze using the mounting stand which tripods out to 58″ (this is also an extra) and the built in handle on top of the lighting unit. This allowed me to quickly unplug and reposition in no time!
Overall this LED work light was easily my number one pick as it crossed off all my necessary features and then some. I have had hundreds of hours of use from this light and I’m sure there will be hundreds more. Highly recommended!
2. PowerSmith PWL2140TS Dual-Head LED Work Light
PowerSmith PWL2140TS Dual-Head LED Work Light Specifications
Lumens: 4000
Voltage: 120
Battery Life: NA
Life Span: 50,000 Hours
Price: Click here to find latest price
PowerSmith PWL2140TS Dual-Head LED Work Light Review
Next up on my list is very bright PowerSmith PWL2140TS which has an outstanding daylight color rendition. This kit comes with two lamps and a tripod mount which is adjustable to about 4 ½ feet tall. One thing I really liked about the lamps was the ability to adjust them from 30° down and 90° up which allowed me to focus the light on any source.
While the lights have their own separate on/off switches, you can’t separate them from each other, since the cord attaching them together isn’t removeable. In other words, mounted on the tripod or light bar, these lights are as far apart as they can be. To make up for this, there is a 9ft cord which gives a lot of manoeuvrability.
Unfortunately there is no battery option available for this unit, but thats understandable considering the low price point. But again, this light makes up for it in other ways. I was thoroughly surprised to find out that this LED work light is IP65 rated which makes it great for any outdoor project.
Overall I was very comfortable with this light kit and will easily recommend it as one of the best LED work lights for use in most shops, garages, construction sites, DIY jobs and other work areas.
3. Ustellar 100W LED Work Light
Ustellar 100W LED Work Light Specifications
Lumens: 10000
Voltage: 120
Battery Life: NA
Life Span: 50,000 Hours
Price: Click here to find latest price
Ustellar 100W LED Work Light Review
This compact work light has some very nice features that firmly put in on my list of best LED work lights. Being waterproof (IP65 rated) is pretty cool. How they were able to make this in an AC powered unit is by sealing the on/off switch and the lamp itself.
Speaking of AC power, that means it needs a cord. To maintain the water resistant construction, the manufacturer included a very long built in cord. 25 feet in length. No need to worry about the plug ends of an extension cord getting wet. I found 25 feet to be more than enough to move this work light around to anywhere on my garage floor.
The floor mount stand it comes with tilts all the way up to shine off of the ceiling for lighting up the maximum area possible. Being as bright as it is makes that position a viable choice in many rooms. The mount is sturdy and has a very comfortable carrying handle. Overall a great unit!
4. VonHaus Two-Head LED Work Light
VonHaus Two-Head LED Work Light Specifications
Lumens: 10000
Voltage: 120
Battery Life: NA
Life Span: 50,000 Hours
Price: Click here to find latest price
VonHaus Two-Head LED Work Light Review
Moving onto the next unit on my list is this very bright and versatile work light which is similar to the above PowerSmith work light described above, but with everything turned up a notch.
The tripod is taller, too. About 6 ½ feet tall. Sometimes it’s nice to have the lights up high and shining down on my work area. Having a taller tripod, I would have liked having a longer cord. As it is, at maximum height, the cord only has about two feet more in length.
Up against a wall, next to a wall socket, and it’s not an issue. You will need and extension cord to set up the lights in the middle of a room, though.
As for the LED lamps, they are well sealed against incidental moisture and dust, but this work light is not water proof. Besides being well sealed, I like that the LED’s make for a very slim profile light housing. That makes transport and storage easier too. Overall a great unit for ultimate light!
5. Ustellar 50W LED Work Light
Ustellar 50W LED Work Light Specifications
Lumens: 10000
Voltage: 120
Battery Life: NA
Life Span: 50,000 Hours
Price: Click here to find latest price
Ustellar 50W LED Work Light Review
This is the lower power, smaller version of the Ustellar waterproof work light reviewed above. The power level is switchable form high to low and is plenty bright for most smaller work areas. The cord is about 16 feet long, and maintains the water resistant construction of this work light.
Being lower power and smaller also lowers the price point of this work light. A person could use several of these work lights spaced around a room, some tilted up at the ceiling, others with the light angled straight on. That would provide a good amount of illumination for a medium sized work area.
Nonetheless the great unit for those who would like to still receive a lot of light while not forking out too much.
Is it normal to get excited about work lights?
Sure it is! These new type of work lights are a fantastic option for a hobbyist or a workman on just about any job. The main reason for looking at these lights is the LED bulbs.
Efficiency is a positive factor in favor of LED bulbs, too. Power usage is extremely low for the brightness level of these work lights. The color of LED work lights is pleasant and natural as well. There are a lot of plusses to consider when looking at LED working lights to replace your old halogen work lights.
The best LED work lights are a good value. Besides the efficiency of power usage, these work lights are easy on the pocket book when purchasing them in the first place. TO be honest, I don’t think I’ll be going to quartz halogen bulb lights. I am sold on this new breed of LED work lights.