Best Task Lights Under $50

Task lights are one of those never-go-out-of-style household items. We may have thought they went out of style when we graduated from college and purposely left it in our dorm room — but boy were we wrong. Ever convenient and architectural, task lights are here to stay without breaking the bank. We've found five of the best task lights for under $50.

Whether you're looking for retro, modern or super structural — you can find a task light for well under $50. We browsed through our favorite low-priced retailers and found several task lights that will get the job done and look great while doing it. Here are the best under $50:

• FORSÅ, $29.99 at IKEA
• LED Task Lamp, $39.99 at Target
• FORMAT, $19.99 at IKEA
• Essential Home Swing Arm Task Lamp, $24.99 at Kmart
• Lumian Design LED Desk Light, $39.95 at Amazon

Do you have a good resource for reasonably priced task lamps?

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Comments (12)

Check major furniture stores for their big accessories clearences a few times a year. I bought a set of absolutely beautiful task-style lamps at a laughable fraction of the asking price this way.

This Antique Pewter Pharmacy Lamp at Target is also great--I have it in my own house!

http://www.target.com/Antique-Pewter-Pharmacy-Desk-Lamp/dp/B002S6EOI8

I use this LED desk lamp next to my computer; it works pretty good. http://www.lampsplus.com/products/Black-Foldable-LED-Desk-Lamp__P0160.html

I think the Ikea one listed and their BAROMETER are both very solid but the problem with them are those low watt odd size light bulbs that do not produce enough light, so its a pointless task light.

I like Alvin swing arm lamp with double shade baffle for glare reduction. Art supplies stores or Amazon. For $20 and under it will not be the greatest quality, but it works just fine for me and in a right setting it will look cool.

I bought a really good LED lamp for my dorm room last summer from Bed Bath and Beyond. It was a great buy, if I recall correctly it was about twenty or thirty dollars, and the lamp works great. I know Bed Bath and Beyond always has reasonable prices on their lighting, and always check the stuff they have for dorm rooms. I feel like they actually care for college students and have lower prices on stuff in that area; plus the twenty percent coupons you get online or delivered to your mailbox are very helpful too.

Thanks for posting a budget version of this list!

I second the Target suggestion, my mom has those as her bedside lamps and they're awesome. I inherited an Ott light for my desk that isn't offensive looking, but I really love the vintage look of the Target lights.

I use IKEAs FLYGEL http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20079200 it's very solid but not so flexible. What I really like about it is that it's very high above the desk surface, but still focuses it's light right where I need it.

I am so glad they re-designed that first ikea one. I bought one and returned because it was sooo droopy! it would not stay up. When I was at ikea last I noticed they didn't droop at all so I repurchased and am really glad I did. Love it. Granted, it's just for my home office so I don't knit by it or anything...

I was at Lowe's today and saw this one: http://www.lowes.com/pd_33105-18408-RX-091201-04_4294925668_4294937087_?productId=3259830&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Lamps%2BShades%2BAccessories_4294925668_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_price|0%26page%3D12

$20! :)

I checked out the Target lamp... 1 LED not for good task lighting. Way too toyish in build. I also got the Lumian Design LED Desk Light which is actually listed on amazon for $80 its wasn't bright enough for me at 240 lumens. I ended up with a Beacon by IMG Lighting which was 600 lumens and just a bit more expensive but way way worth it. Hard to describe how much better the light is from this lamp, and it lights up my whole desk easily!