It’s no secret that LED has quickly taken over the construction industry to displace halogen, metal halide, and other lighting options. Choosing the best LED work light can be a chore with so many options, though. We got our Pro team together and asked them what LED work lights they lean on in a variety of applications. Man, did they come up with a list!
Best Corded LED Work Light on a Stand
Festool Work Light SYSLITE DUO-Set w/Tripod
When you’re gunning for a more premium LED stand light, few options are as refined as the Festool Syslite DUO work light. More than just 5000K color temperature, Festool diffuses this light perfectly to eliminate hotspots and artifacts that can cause you to see something other than the exact color you’re putting on the walls. While it’s dialed in for painting applications, it’s also just a fantastic LED work light.
You can use the Syslite DUO on its own (DUO-Plus), but it’s much more effective with the optional tripod (DUO-Set). Setup is easy and you’ll be able to cast its 8,000 lumens in 180° from 59″ to 79″. At $485, this light might break the bank, but we like its refined color temperature and ease of setup.
LED Area Lights
Southwire ProLight 360 LED Industrial Light Kit
When you need bright light on an area and don’t want to limit yourself to floor level lighting, check out the Southwire ProLight 360. This area light gives you 15,000 lumens in 360° with an industrial level build quality. Short in stature, the ProLight 360 includes magnets, a hook, and a floor stand to give you a variety of mounting options. It’s also tripod compatible. I like this one primarily as an overhead light on interior jobs with the versatility to light up outdoor areas when I need it.
Additional Highlights
- 50,000-hour bulb life
- 40 Ft. lighting range
- 5000K color temperature
- Ability to use 180° of lighting or all 360°
Specifications
- Model: Southwire ProLight 360° 111508
- Power Source: 120V
- Number of LED Chips: Not listed
- Maximum Lumens: 15,000
- Number of Settings: 2 (180° or 360°)
- Height: 24″
- Width: 7″
- Weight: 13.5 lbs
- Price: $495
- Warranty: Southwire warrants their products will be free of defects from materials or workmanship
Southwire Wobblelight V3 Self-Righting Jobsite Lighting
You can’t have a Best LED Work Light list that doesn’t include a Wobblelight, right? Southwire’s V3 LED Wobblelight puts out 15,000 lumens of area lighting that’s great for indoor or outdoor use. It directs light in 360° and softens it with a diffuser, making it an excellent safety lighting solution for job sites. Of course, it’s primary feature is that self-righting design. No matter how clumsy your crew might be, the Wobblelight will keep coming back for more.
- 75 Ft. lighting range
- Integrated handle and power cord
- Hoisting or hold down point
- On/off switch and power indicator
- 50,000-hour lamp life
- IP55 rating
- cUL tested
Specifications
- Model: Southwire Wobblelight V3 LED 111303LED
- Power Source: 120V
- Number of LED Chips: Not listed
- Maximum Lumens: 15,000
- Number of Settings: 1
- Height: 32″
- Width: 20″
- Weight: 31 lbs
- Price: $499
- Warranty: Southwire warrants their products will be free of defects from materials or workmanship
LED String Lights
Southwire LED String Lights
Southwire breaks away from the mold with their LED String Lights. Available in 50′ or 100′ strings, each light casts 700 lumens down and another 100 lumens up. There’s a light every 10′ and you can daisy chain up to 1000′ of lights together to give you the coverage you need. With a design that can handle outdoor use, Southwire LED String Lights are IP65 rated.
Additional Highlights
- Delivers Total 8000 Lumens with 100′ String & 4000 Lumens with 50′ String
- No bulbs/lamps to replace
- UL 1088, FCC/ICES Certified, ROHS
- 5000K color temperature
- 50,000-hour bulb life
Specifications
- Model: Southwire 7165SW
- Power Source: 120V
- Number of LED Chips: not listed
- Maximum Lumens: 8,000
- Number of Settings: 1 (no power switch, just plug them in)
- Length: 100′
- Weight: 16.43 lbs (100′)
- Price: $184.15
- Warranty: 1 year
LED Bay Lights
Milwaukee RADIUS LED 70w Temporary Site Light
Making the change to LED for your temporary lighting needs is even easier with a couple of bay light options. Milwaukee’s Radius LED temporary site lights are prewired with 120V AC plugs, but it’s a simple switch if you need to run anything from 120V – 277V on your job site. Once you have the lights set, you’ll benefit from 7700 lumens that reduce energy use by some 30% over standard bay lights. If you do happen to damage it, the polycarbonate lens is replaceable.
Additional Highlights
- 50,000-hour bulb life
- 3900K color temperature
- No On-Site Maintenance
- Accepts Most Sizes of Romex and MC Cable
- Reusable and Universal Strain Reliefs
- Integrated Hang Cable
- Integrated Spring Loaded Cable Retention
Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2155-AC
- Power Source: 120V to 277V
- Number of LED Chips: 1
- Maximum Lumens: 7,700
- Number of Settings: Hardwired to switch or 120V plug
- Height: 13.75″
- Width: 6.5″
- Weight: 7.15 lbs
- Price: $199
- Warranty: 5 years limited
Southwire 78W Temporary LED Low Bay Light
Southwire has a solid option for a low bay light. Their 78-watt units put out 8200 lumens of 5000K light. The die-cast aluminum housing gives way to a more traditional metal cage style of protection for the LED. Once you locate your install points, getting the lights up is easy with the integrated spring-loaded hang hooks.
Additional Highlights
- 50,000-hour bulb life
- 5,000K color temperature
- 120° beam angle covers a large area reducing the number of fixtures needed in that area
- 120Vac to 277 Vac 50/60Hz input voltage
- Available with Hardwire
Specifications
- Model: Southwire T50079
- Power Source: 120V & 277V
- Number of LED Chips: 1
- Maximum Lumens: 8,200
- Number of Settings: Hardwired to switch
- Height: 12″
- Width: 8″
- Weight: Not listed
- Price: ~$125
- Warranty: 1 year
Specialty LED Work Lights
Festool Inspection Light
When your goal is a creating a perfect finish for your clients, the Festool Inspection Light is the way to go. It has a non-marring shell with a narrow profile to cast light across a wall, ceiling, or other flat surfaces. Its 1500-lumen, 5000K output will show even the tiniest flaws that you’ll want to smooth out.
You can make the process of finding and fixing those flaws easier by going with the STL 450 Set. It comes with a tripod for the light that helps you adjust to any angle. It’s a must-have for one-man crews and a great way to keep your apprentice engaged with something other than holding a light for you.
Additional Highlights
- 5000K color temperature
- IP55 rating
Specifications
- Model: Festool STL 450
- Power Source: 120V
- Number of LED Chips: Not listed
- Maximum Lumens: 1500
- Number of Settings: 1
- Weight: 3.31 lbs
- Price: $300 (light only), $510 (with tripod)
- Warranty: 3 years
Find a Festool dealer.
Best LED Work Light: Cordless Recommendations
Cordless LED Flood Lights
Makita 18V LXT Lithium‑Ion Cordless/Corded 20 L.E.D. Flood Light
Moving away from corded LED work lights gets us into a whole new level of versatility. Starting with highly portable options, Makita’s 18V LXT model gives you up to 750 lumens to work with along with a 450-lumen mode when you don’t need full power. The light is dialed in to give you a full day’s runtime on high if you’re using a 5.0 Ah battery. If you have a power source close by, you can also plug the light in. Where many hybrid lights just give you a plug for an extension cord, Makita gives you some cord to work with if you have an outlet close by.
Additional Highlights
Specifications
- Model: Makita DML805
- Power Source: 18V LXT Lithium-Ion
- Number of LED Chips: 20
- Maximum Lumens: 750
- Number of Settings: 2 modes
- Estimated Runtime: 8.5 hours (high)/17 hours (low) with a 5.0 Ah battery
- Length: 8-3/8″
- Weight: 6.1 lbs
- Price: $109.99
- Warranty: 3 years
Milwaukee M12 Compact Flood Light
The big deal about Milwaukee’s M12 Compact Flood Light is how versatile its mounting options are. It sits stable on any flat surface. From there, a spring-loaded clamp allows you to hang it on a variety of different objects. It also has magnets in the base if you’re working around steel.
The light puts out 1000 lumens on high with 500-lumen medium and 250-lumen low modes. Expect 4.5 hours of runtime on high if you have Milwaukee 6.0 Ah M12 packs.
Additional Highlights
- TrueView lighting color
- Limited lifetime warranty on the LED
- Impact resistant, withstands 9 ft. drop
- Low battery indicator alerts users when the battery is nearing end of charge
Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2364-20
- Power Source: Milwaukee 12V Battery
- Number of LED Chips: 5
- Maximum Lumens: 1,000
- Number of Settings: 3
- Estimated Runtime: 4.5/10/20 hours with a 6.0 Ah battery
- Height: 5.5″
- Length: 7.5″
- Width: 5.75″
- Weight: 2.19 lbs
- Price: $79.00
- Warranty: 5 years limited
Bosch 18V LED Work Light
Bosch packs a lot in an LED work light that’s small enough to almost move into the personal lighting category. It slides on top of any Bosch 18V battery and gives you 420 lumens. The small size is perfect for tight or close spaces.
The light is most stable sitting on the battery and you can also flip its rubber strap around to hang on a nail or wrap around a stud. You can give the throw a little bit of adjustment between spot and flood with a diffuser that slides over the lens. Perhaps the best news for Bosch users is that this is just a $49 addition to your toolbox.
Additional Highlights
- Aluminum heat sink
- Five positions to pivot the light
- Sheath with hook and loop strap included
- Color temperature and LED life not listed
Specifications
- Model: Bosch GLI18V-420B
- Power Source: 18V Battery
- Number of LED Chips: 3
- Maximum Lumens: 420
- Number of Settings: 5 angles
- Estimated Runtime: Up to 13.5 hours with a 6.0 Ah battery
- Height: 6.0″
- Length: 6.0″
- Width: 3.0″
- Weight: 0.7 lbs
- Price: $49.00
- Warranty: 1 year limited
Bosch 18 V LED Floodlight
Bosch’s GLI18V-1900 has the size of other lights that give you somewhere around 1000 lumens. It does that… on low. In high, you’ll get 1900 lumens from the single LED chip. What makes this model stand out from the rest is its aluminum housing. LED lights certainly don’t have a reputation for running hot, but what little heat this puts out will dissipate more efficiently. Of course, the housing is also more durable than plastic.
Additional Highlights
- Up to 10 hours of runtime on a 6.0 Ah battery
- Swiveling stand offers 120° adjustment and five positions for adaptable setup
- Threaded for tripod use
- Color temperature and LED life not listed
Specifications
- Model: Bosch GLI18V-1900N
- Power Source: 18V Battery
- Number of LED Chips: 1
- Maximum Lumens: 1,900
- Number of Settings: 2
- Estimated Runtime: Up to 10 hours on a 6.0 Ah battery
- Height: 11.5″
- Length: 2.8″
- Width: 7.4″
- Weight: 3.5 lbs
- Price: $99.00
- Warranty: 1 year limited
DeWalt 1000 Lumen Rechargeable Area Light
DeWalt departs from the current trend in cordless LED work lights by giving you a 1000-lumen rechargeable option that doesn’t require a power tool battery. The battery in this light is integrated and the system can run on it or while it’s plugged in and charging. That’s a great feature for the long term since you’ll still be able to use the light after the battery reaches the end of its service life.
It’s tough, metal housing and rubber overmold give the DWHT81422 an IP67 rating, making it one of the most job site-ready lights on our list.
Additional Highlights
- Up to 9 hours runtime at 500 lumens or 4.5 hours at 1000 lumens
- Versatile mounting with surface clamp, powerful magnets, and tripod attachment
- Survives our repeated 3.3 ft. drop test
- IP67 dust and water resistant
- Color temperature and LED life unlisted
Specifications
- Model: DeWalt DWHT81422
- Power Source: Integrated lithium-ion battery or 120V AC
- Number of LED Chips: 1
- Maximum Lumens: 1,000
- Number of Settings: 2
- Estimated Runtime: 4.5 hours (high), 9.0 hours (low)
- Length: 13″
- Width: 8″
- Weight: 5 lbs
- Price: $119.99
- Warranty: 3 years limited
Ryobi 18V ONE+ Hybrid LED Color Range Work Light
Ryobi is hardly a newcomer to the cordless LED work light scene. They bring another innovative option to their DIY and Pro users with a 1200-lumen Color Range light. This one allows you to adjust the color temperature between 2700K and 5000K to see how your work will look in different lighting conditions.
Ryobi sticks with their M.O. by keeping this a hybrid model. You’ll be able to use it with a One+ 18V battery or by connecting an extension cord.
- 2700K – 5000K
- Over 24-hour of runtime using a ONE+ high capacity lithium-ion battery
- High (lumen output 1200), medium (lumen output 700), low (lumen output 100)
- Compatible with all 1/4 in. x 20 tripod mounts
- 360° light head rotation
- Multiple hanging options
Specifications
- Model: Ryobi P795
- Power Source: 18V Battery
- Number of LED Chips: 8
- Maximum Lumens: 1, 200
- Number of Settings: 3
- Estimated Runtime: Over 24 hours on low (no data for medium and high)
- Weight: 2.6 lbs
- Price: $79.98
- Warranty: 3 years
Ridgid Hybrid GEN5X Cordless Folding Panel Light
Ridgid brings a folding light design to the table that gives you the ability to direct its 2500 lumens all the way around to 360° when you need it. You’ll have much greater control over the lumen output using the light’s dial instead of 2 or 3 push-button modes. When the light isn’t in use, it closes up to protect the lenses.
You have hybrid power options, so this is an option for you even if you don’t have Ridgid 18V batteries.
- p to 14 hours of runtime with a 5.0 Ah battery
- On-board tripod mount-easily mount the unit to the Ridgid universal tripod
- Temperature control electronics-protects LED from overheating and keeps the light cool to touch
- Color temperature and LED life not listed
Specifications
- Model: Ridgid R8694221B
- Power Source: 18V Battery
- Number of LED Chips: 48
- Maximum Lumens: 2,500
- Number of Settings: Numerous dial settings
- Estimated Runtime: Up to 14 hours on low with a 5.0 Ah battery
- Height: 10.75″
- Length: 10.5″
- Width: 7.88″
- Price: $99.00
- Warranty: Lifetime service agreement
LED Stand Lights
DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Tripod Light Kit
DeWalt’s tripod light gives you up to 3,000 lumens of white light on a collapsible stand that extends up to 7′. It’s a much easier package to transport to and from the jobsite than most stand lights. Quick clamp-style latches make adjusting the height simple while a trigger on the handle releases the legs to extend or collapse.
Additional Highlights
- Natural white LED provides accurate color visibility, long lifespan, and stays cool to the touch
- Three brightness settings to customize workspace illumination (1000 – 3000 lumens)
- Tough shroud protects light head and withstands job site conditions
- Color temperature and LED life not listed
Specifications
- Model: DeWalt DCL079R1
- Power Source: 20V Max Battery
- Number of LED Chips: 1
- Maximum Lumens: 3,000
- Number of Settings: 3
- Estimated Runtime: Over 11 hours on low with a 6.0 Ah battery
- Height: Up to 84″
- Width: 9″ (collapsed)
- Weight: 16 lbs
- Price: $329.00
- Warranty: 3 years limited
Milwaukee M18 ROCKET Dual Pack Tower Light w/One Key
When your work takes you outside the relative comfort of interior or fair-weather jobs, you need a light that can stand up to the elements. Milwaukee gives you that with their 5400-lumen Rocket Dual Pack Tower Light. Worried about a rainstorm or even a hurricane? This light is IP67 rated and fully submersible up to one meter.
It’s also One-Key enabled, so you have light controls even if you’re working alone.
Additional Highlights
- TrueView output
- 5’5 Extension, collapses to 22″
- Up to 26 hours of runtime
- 7 second setup
- Dual Battery Design: Use one or two batteries
- 3 leg positions: stowed, Tripod, 180 degrees
- 3 output modes for optimal brightness and runtime: 1600, 3100, or 5400 lumens
- Lifetime LED warranty
Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2120-22HD
- Power Source: 18V Battery
- Number of LED Chips: 24
- Maximum Lumens: 5,400
- Number of Settings: 3
- Estimated Runtime: 7 hours (high), 12.5 hours (medium), 26 hours (low) with two 9.0 Ah batteries
- Height: 10.6″
- Length: 5’5″
- Width: 7.1″
- Weight: 18.95 lbs
- Price: $899
- Warranty: 5 Years (Tool), 3 Years (Battery), Lifetime (LEDs)
LED String Lights
Ryobi 18V ONE+ Hybrid LED Cable Light
Ryobi’s LED Cable Lights combine three 500-lumen individual lights in a line to give you more versatile placement for lighting up small spaces. You have 10′ of cord between each light and a cord wrap to reel in the excess when you don’t need that much.
Ryobi sticks with hybrid power sources, so you can use any One+ 18V battery or an extension cord to deliver light. They’re perfect for lighting up a workbench, back porch, pergola, or wrapping around whatever’s convenient on the job.
Additional Highlights
- Multiple hanging options with integrated heavy duty metal handles
- Variety of mounting options for the power base
Specifications
- Model: Ryobi P785
- Power Source: 18V Battery
- Number of LED Chips: 3
- Maximum Lumens: 1,500
- Number of Settings: 3
- Estimated Runtime: 3 hours (high), 6.5 hours (medium), 15 hours (low)
- Height: 7″
- Length: 13.5″
- Width: 4″
- Weight: 3.5 lbs
- Price: $99.00
- Warranty: 3 years
LED Area Lights
Milwaukee M18 RADIUS Site Light/Charger w/ ONE-KEY
Milwaukee packs just about everything you could want in a cordless LED work light with the Radius Site Light. 360° with 9,000 lumens is enough to light up a large space. You’re able to turn 180° of the lights off when you don’t need full 360°.
Two battery bays help double the runtime and yes, they will charge them when you have the Radius plugged in. If you’re running AC power, you’re able to daisy chain multiple lights to increase your coverage. From there, Milwaukee One-Key gives you tracking and controls.
Additional Highlights
- TrueView light quality
- High-impact polycarbonate lens
- Low battery indicator
- 9000 lumens (high), 4800 lumens (medium), 2500 lumens (low)
- IP54 rating
Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2150-20
- Power Source: 18V Battery
- Maximum Lumens: 9,000
- Number of Settings: 3
- Estimated Runtime: Up to 14 hours on low
- Height: 31.30″
- Length: 14.0″
- Width: 20.28″
- Weight: 27.10 lbs
- Price: $599
- Warranty: 5 years limited
LED Specialty Lights
Milwaukee M12 Underhood Light
If your job or hobby keeps you under the hood of a vehicle, you’ve got to give the Milwaukee M12 Underhood Light a shot. With 1,350 lumens, Milwaukee’s FinishGuard hooks extend up to 78″ to grab hold of the hood without damaging the finish.
This is one of the areas where Milwaukee’s TrueView color justifies its place on your team. It’s critical to make sure you can see wire colors correctly and a light (or heavy) coating of engine grime doesn’t helps matters. At least the light won’t be working against you as well.
Additional Highlights
- 2x more gripping surface for maximum hold
- Rotate, slide, remove and hang light bar for added flexibility and versatility
- Light bar with stainless steel hook
- Sturdy aircraft aluminum frame
- Impact and chemical resistant lens
- Lifetime LED warranty
Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2125-21XC
- Power Source: 12V Battery
- Maximum Lumens: 1,350
- Number of Settings: 2
- Estimated Runtime: Up to 4 hours on high, 8 hours on low with a 4.0 Ah battery
- Height: 8.97″
- Length: 47.51″
- Width: 3.96″
- Weight: 4.63 lbs
- Price: $249
- Warranty: 5 years
Milwaukee M18 Utility Bucket Light Kit
Milwaukee specifically targeted linemen with the development of their M18 Utility Bucket Light. Power outages happen often enough, but hurricanes, tornadoes, and winter storms bring havoc to the power grid. Linemen have the often unappreciated job of getting it back up no matter what time of day it is or what the weather looks like.
The bucket light checks off 3 key boxes for linemen: a bright, long-casting beam, weather protection, and a spring-loaded clamp to attach directly to the side of a utility truck bucket. The two lights pivot and swivel to direct light exactly where you need it in spot, flood, or combination modes. If your company runs bucket trucks at night, you need this light.
Additional Highlights
- 2500 Lumens with 500 yard beam distance
- Patented spring loaded bucket clamp for all bucket sizes
- IP56 rating
- Spot mode: 6hrs with M18 High Demand 9.0 Battery
- Spot/Flood mode: 4hrs with M18 High Demand 9.0 Battery
- Flood mode: 4hrs with M18 High Demand 9.0 Battery
- Low Battery indicator alerts users when the battery is nearing end of charge
- TrueView High Definition output
- Limited Lifetime LED warranty
Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2122-22HD
- Power Source: 18V Battery
- Number of LED Chips: 10
- Maximum Lumens: 2,500
- Number of Settings: 3
- Estimated Runtime: 4 hours (flood or flood/spot), 6 hours (spot)
- Height: 13.7″
- Length: 8.5″
- Width: 13.1″
- Weight: 10.5 Lbs
- Price: $1,049.00
- Warranty: 5 years limited
