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The 10 Best Work Lights as of June 2026

Updated 18 June 2026 · Reviewed by the Pickarank team · Prices in GBP, subject to change

We compared the best work lights you can buy in 2026, scoring each out of 10 on performance, value, build quality and features. Here are the ten worth your money — with an at-a-glance table and the current best prices.

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Our top picks at a glance

Top pick

DeWalt DCL079 18V Tower

9.0Best area light
Check price on Amazon ≈ £180
Best value

Amazon Basics LED Work Light

7.9Best ultra-budget
Check price on Amazon ≈ £30
Also great

Makita DML811 18V

8.9Best cordless overall
Check price on Amazon ≈ £90

Prices were correct at the time of writing and change often — tap through for today's price on Amazon.

How we ranked these work lights

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

  • Performance (35%) — how well each work light does its core job.
  • Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
  • Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
  • Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

#Work LightsScoreBest forTypeApprox priceAmazon links
1DeWalt DCL079 18V Tower9.0Best area lightCordless tower£180View Price
2Makita DML811 18V8.9Best cordless overallCordless LED£90View Price
3Bosch GLI 18V-19008.6Best for Bosch ownersCordless LED£80View Price
4Stanley FATMAX LED Tripod8.6Best mains tripodCorded tripod£60View Price
5Unilite SLR-27508.5Best rechargeable site lightRechargeable£70View Price
6Sealey LED360 Rechargeable8.3Best 360° lightRechargeable£50View Price
7Ryobi ONE+ R18ALH8.3Best for Ryobi ownersCordless LED£45View Price
8Stanley Rechargeable LED Hand Light8.1Best handheldRechargeable£25View Price
9Draper COB LED Inspection Lamp8.0Best inspection lampRechargeable£20View Price
10Amazon Basics LED Work Light7.9Best ultra-budgetCorded LED£30View Price
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The full ranking

1
Best area light

DeWalt DCL079 18V Tower

9.0Our number one pick.

DeWalt's DCL079 is a powerful cordless area light that extends to nearly two metres and floods a whole room or site with up to 5000 lumens, brilliant for large jobs. It is expensive, but unbeatable for lighting big spaces.

Brightness: 9.4Runtime: 8.8Build: 9.0Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Floods large areas
  • Extends nearly 2m
  • Cordless freedom
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Bulky
Check price on Amazon≈ £180
2
Best cordless overall

Makita DML811 18V

8.9A superb runner-up.

Makita's DML811 is a versatile cordless LED work light with adjustable brightness, a tilting head and the option to run off LXT batteries or mains, ideal for sites and garages. It is pricey bare, but bright, tough and flexible.

Brightness: 8.8Runtime: 9.0Build: 9.0Value: 8.6
Pros
  • Bright and adjustable
  • LXT or mains power
  • Tough build
Cons
  • Pricey bare
  • Battery extra
Check price on Amazon≈ £90
3
Best for Bosch owners

Bosch GLI 18V-1900

8.6Rounds out our top three.

Bosch's Professional GLI 18V-1900 is a bright, robust cordless work light on the Bosch Pro battery system, with multiple mounting options. It is bare-tool priced, but excellent for those already in the Bosch ecosystem.

Brightness: 8.8Runtime: 8.8Build: 8.8Value: 8.6
Pros
  • Bright cordless output
  • Flexible mounting
  • Bosch Pro system
Cons
  • Battery extra
  • Best within Bosch system
Check price on Amazon≈ £80
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4
Best mains tripod

Stanley FATMAX LED Tripod

8.6A standout in the upper half.

Stanley's FATMAX corded tripod light delivers strong, adjustable illumination for workshops and decorating, with a stable tripod and tilting heads. It is corded, but bright, stable and great value for fixed work.

Brightness: 8.8Runtime: 9.2Build: 8.4Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Bright and adjustable
  • Stable tripod
  • Good value
Cons
  • Corded
  • Bulky to store
Check price on Amazon≈ £60
5
Best rechargeable site light

Unilite SLR-2750

8.5A well-rounded mid-table pick.

Unilite's SLR-2750 is a rugged, rechargeable site light with strong output, a long runtime and a power-bank function to charge devices, a tradesperson favourite. It is pricier than basic lights, but tough and genuinely useful.

Brightness: 8.8Runtime: 8.8Build: 8.8Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Rugged and bright
  • Long runtime
  • Charges devices
Cons
  • Pricier
  • Single unit
Check price on Amazon≈ £70
6
Best 360° light

Sealey LED360 Rechargeable

8.3Great value in the middle of the pack.

Sealey's rechargeable 360-degree LED light illuminates all around it, ideal for working in the middle of a space or under a car, with a magnetic hook for hands-free use. It is mid-bright, but versatile and good value.

Brightness: 8.2Runtime: 8.4Build: 8.4Value: 9.0
Pros
  • 360° illumination
  • Magnetic hook
  • Rechargeable
Cons
  • Mid brightness
  • Smaller battery
Check price on Amazon≈ £50
7
Best for Ryobi owners

Ryobi ONE+ R18ALH

8.3A dependable pick if the price is right.

Ryobi's R18ALH hybrid LED light runs off ONE+ batteries or mains and pivots to direct light where needed, a handy, affordable addition for Ryobi owners. It is DIY-grade, but versatile and great value in-system.

Brightness: 8.2Runtime: 8.4Build: 8.2Value: 9.0
Pros
  • ONE+ or mains power
  • Pivoting head
  • Affordable
Cons
  • DIY-grade
  • Modest output
Check price on Amazon≈ £45
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8
Best handheld

Stanley Rechargeable LED Hand Light

8.1Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

Stanley's rechargeable handheld LED light is a compact, bright torch-style light with a magnetic base and hook, perfect for car repairs and tight spots. It is small-area only, but cheap, handy and rechargeable.

Brightness: 8.0Runtime: 8.2Build: 8.2Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Compact and handy
  • Magnetic base and hook
  • Rechargeable
Cons
  • Small coverage
  • Lower output
Check price on Amazon≈ £25
9
Best inspection lamp

Draper COB LED Inspection Lamp

8.0A budget-friendly option worth a look.

Draper's COB LED inspection lamp is a slim, bright rechargeable light ideal for engine bays and cupboards, with a hook and magnet for hands-free use. It is basic, but excellent value for close-up inspection work.

Brightness: 7.8Runtime: 8.2Build: 8.0Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Slim and bright
  • Hook and magnet
  • Cheap
Cons
  • Close-up use only
  • Basic build
Check price on Amazon≈ £20
10
Best ultra-budget

Amazon Basics LED Work Light

7.9Rounds out our top ten.

The Amazon Basics corded LED work light offers a lot of brightness for very little, a cheap and cheerful option for occasional tasks. It is basic and corded, but for the price it lights the job.

Brightness: 8.0Runtime: 8.6Build: 7.6Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Cheap and bright
  • Simple
  • Corded reliability
Cons
  • Basic build
  • Corded only
Check price on Amazon≈ £30
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Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the work lights in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the DeWalt DCL079 18V Tower, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Makita DML811 18V and Bosch GLI 18V-1900 are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best work lights without overthinking it, the DeWalt DCL079 18V Tower is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £180

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