The cordless table lamp market has exploded. What was once a niche product for restaurants is now a mainstream home lighting choice — and with dozens of options from $30 to $600, choosing the right one matters.
This buying guide cuts through the marketing noise. We will walk you through every specification that actually matters, the ones that don't, and the questions most buyers forget to ask until it's too late.
Why Go Cordless in 2026?
The case for a rechargeable table lamp is simple: freedom. No cords means you can place a lamp anywhere — a dining table centrepiece, a dark corner with no outlet, a patio, a nightstand without a cable dangling behind the bed.
Modern cordless lamps have caught up to their wired counterparts in every way that matters. LED technology delivers warm, dimmable light. Lithium-ion batteries last days or weeks per charge. Materials range from injection-moulded plastic to handcrafted brass and crystal glass.
The only thing they can't do is replace a high-output desk lamp or a room's main overhead light. For accent, ambient, dining, and mood lighting, cordless is the better choice.
Battery Life: The Most Important Spec
Battery life is the single most important number on any cordless lamp. It determines how often you charge, where you can realistically use the lamp, and how annoying (or invisible) the charging routine becomes.
What the Numbers Actually Mean
Manufacturers always quote battery life at the lowest dimmer setting. This is standard industry practice, so compare like-for-like. A lamp rated "109 hours" at minimum brightness might run 20-30 hours at full brightness — still excellent, but different from the headline number.
How Much Battery Do You Need?
| Use Case | Minimum Battery | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedside / nightstand | 10 hrs | 20+ hrs | Charge weekly |
| Living room accent | 15 hrs | 30+ hrs | Forget about it for days |
| Dining table (home) | 15 hrs | 20+ hrs | Charge between dinner parties |
| Restaurant / nightly use | 40 hrs | 60+ hrs | Charge once or twice a week |
| Hotel / commercial | 60 hrs | 80+ hrs | Minimise operational overhead |
For home use, 20 hours is the sweet spot — charge once a week and never think about it. For restaurants and hotels, 60+ hours means charging becomes a twice-weekly routine rather than a nightly one.
Serholt Battery Comparison
| Lamp | Battery Life | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue | 109 hrs | Restaurants, hotels, statement pieces |
| Aira | 94 hrs | Long-runtime home and commercial use |
| Vega | 94 hrs | Dining rooms, sculptural accent |
| Shelby | 91 hrs | Classic interiors, bars, nightstands |
| Asteria | Up to 34 hrs | Cafes, boutiques, iconic design |
| Cassia | 20 hrs | Everyday home use, side tables |
| Asteria Mini | Up to 12 hrs | Compact accent, nightstands, travel |
Brightness and Colour Temperature
Colour Temperature (Kelvin)
This is the second most important spec — and the one most budget lamp buyers ignore until they unbox a lamp that turns their dining room into an operating theatre.
- 2700K (warm white): The gold standard for ambient and accent lighting. Flatters skin tones, makes food look appetising, feels intimate and inviting. This is what candles approximate and what quality restaurants use.
- 3000K (neutral warm): Slightly brighter feel, still warm. Good for living rooms that double as workspaces.
- 4000K+ (cool/daylight): Clinical, energising light. Great for offices and bathrooms. Terrible for dining tables, bedrooms, and mood lighting.
Our recommendation: Buy 2700K for any lamp that will be used for ambiance, dining, or bedroom lighting. All Serholt Collection lamps use 2700K LEDs.
Dimming
A lamp without a dimmer is a lamp you'll eventually regret buying. The ability to adjust brightness — from reading level down to a subtle glow — is what makes a cordless lamp versatile.
Look for:
- Multi-step touch dimmers (3 or 4 levels) — the standard on quality cordless lamps
- Stepless/continuous dimming — premium feature, allows any brightness level
- Avoid: Single-brightness lamps with no dimmer option
Materials and Build Quality
This is where the price gap between a $40 lamp and a $400 lamp becomes obvious.
Budget ($30-80)
Injection-moulded plastic housings. Functional but feel lightweight. Suitable for casual use where aesthetics are secondary.
Mid-Range ($100-250)
Mixed materials — often plastic with metal accents or painted finishes. Better build quality, more design options. The Cassia ($249) and Asteria Mini ($179) sit in this range with premium aluminium and steel.
Premium ($300-600)
Handcrafted from brass, crystal glass, aluminium, and high-grade polymers. These are design objects that happen to also be lights. The Avenue ($579) uses a crystal glass diffuser with hand-finished brass. The Shelby and Vega ($479 each) combine aluminium precision with Nordic design heritage.
The material test: Pick up the lamp. Does it feel substantial? Does the finish feel intentional, not painted-over? Quality materials age gracefully. Plastic yellows.
Charging: USB-C Is the Standard
In 2026, every cordless lamp worth buying charges via USB-C. If a lamp uses a proprietary charging cable, micro-USB, or a charging pad that costs extra, pass.
Charging Options
- USB-C cable (included): Standard for 1-2 lamps. Plug into any USB adapter.
- Charging base: A dedicated cradle. Convenient for a single lamp that lives in one spot — just place it on the base when not in use.
- Multi-lamp charging station: Charges 5-10 lamps simultaneously. Essential for restaurants and hotels. Our Charging Station handles 10 lamps at once.
- Charging cart: A mobile station on wheels. Charge and transport lamps to tables. Our Charging Cart is built for hospitality operations.
For home use, the included USB-C cable is all you need. For commercial use, invest in a charging station or cart — the operational efficiency is worth it.
Design Considerations
A lamp is a visible object in your space. Unlike an outlet-bound lamp hidden against a wall, a cordless lamp often sits centre-table where everyone sees it. Design matters more.
Height and Proportion
- Under 30cm (12"): Intimate, doesn't block sightlines across a dining table. Ideal for restaurants and dinner parties.
- 30-45cm (12-18"): Versatile. Works on side tables, consoles, and nightstands.
- Over 45cm (18"): Statement piece. Better for floor-adjacent or wide surfaces.
Light Distribution
- Downward-facing shade: Creates a pool of light. Best for task areas and intimate dining.
- Globe/diffuser: Distributes light in all directions. Best for ambient lighting across a room.
- Upward glow: Bounces light off the ceiling. Softens the room.
The Asteria is a classic downward-diffuser design. The Avenue uses a crystal glass diffuser for 360-degree glow.
What to Avoid
- No dimmer: A fixed-brightness lamp is a one-trick lamp. Pass.
- Micro-USB or proprietary charging: Outdated. USB-C is universal.
- No stated colour temperature: If the listing doesn't mention Kelvin, the light is probably cool white. Ask before buying.
- Battery under 10 hours: You'll spend more time charging than enjoying.
- No warranty: Quality cordless lamps carry at least 1-year warranties. Serholt offers 2 years on all made-to-order lamps.
For Restaurants and Hotels
If you're outfitting a commercial space, the buying criteria shift:
- Battery life over 60 hours — you need lamps that last a full working week on a single charge
- Commercial charging solutions — a 10-lamp station or mobile cart is essential for efficient operations
- Premium materials — lamps in a restaurant get handled by staff every day. Plastic won't survive. Brass and aluminium will.
- Consistent colour temperature — every table should glow the same warm 2700K
- Trade pricing — volume orders from Serholt include dedicated account management
Read our restaurant table lamp guide for venue-specific recommendations.
The Bottom Line
The best cordless table lamp is the one that fits your use case:
- Best value for home: Cassia ($249) — 20 hours, 3 colours, USB-C, touch dimmer
- Best for bedside: Asteria Mini ($179) — compact, 12 hours, iconic design
- Best all-rounder: Shelby ($479) — 91 hours, handcrafted, timeless design
- Best for restaurants: Avenue ($579) — 109 hours, crystal glass, commercial-grade
- Best iconic design: Asteria ($349) — the disc lamp, 34 hours, three finishes
Start with battery life. Then colour temperature. Then materials. Everything else is personal taste — and that's the fun part.
Browse the full rechargeable table lamp collection to see every option side by side.
