18 Best Office Lighting Options For Optimal Productivity [2023]

The fluorescent lights overhead flicker, casting a harsh, cold light that makes you think of a hospital operating room instead of a dynamic hybrid workspace. It’s hardly the atmosphere to inspire creativity and productivity — and you decide that things need to change.

While it’s often overlooked, office lighting can affect everything from an employee’s mood and morale to their health and productivity. In fact, recent survey data suggests office lighting can have notable impacts on employee satisfaction, alertness, comfort, and safety.

Fortunately, we’re here to combat this issue, exploring the best office lighting as of 2023.

Quick Summary

• Poorly designed lighting in the workplace can negatively impact employee well-being, productivity, and morale.
• To choose the optimal office lighting, consider factors like bulb type, color temperature settings, brightness, computer placement, and natural light sources.
• For ideal office lighting, aim for a brightness level of 300 lux, a color temperature of 3500K–5500K, and a combination of ambient and direct lighting.
• 18 lighting products we recommend for different types of office environments.

Ready to learn how office lighting can increase productivity and give your hybrid employees a reason to come into the office?

Let’s begin.

The 18 Best Office Lighting Products

The “best” office lighting depends on where you’ll install it and what you’ll use it for.

Let’s take a look at the different products available in the market today to help you find the perfect lighting for your needs.

Best Lighting for Small Spaces

When you have a hybrid workspace where hot desking is the norm, you may have a smaller-than-average office space. If so, you’ll need focused lighting that’s compact, easy to use, and customizable to suit multiple needs.

A monitor light could be a great choice in a small space since it’s small but provides direct and adjustable lighting. Or, if you prefer diffuse lighting, you could install office ceiling lights instead. And for more focused lighting, clip-on lights (aka adjustable clamp lamps) are an option.

Where to Find It:

Here are a few good options for lighting for small spaces:

• BenQ ScreenBar Monitor Light
• Drosbey 36W Dimmable LED Flush Mount Ceiling Light Fixture
• LEPOWER Clip on Light

Best Energy-Saving Office Lighting

Lights can run for long periods and can therefore become a significant expense for office-based companies. This means you’ll want something that will last as long as possible.

Leading the energy-saving pack are Smart LED bulbs, which are known for their adjustable brightness settings and durability. CFL lights are a great choice, too, although they’re slightly less efficient than LEDs.

When choosing the perfect type of lighting for you, consider the light quality, installation requirements, and product lifespan. Aim for lights with certifications like Energy Star.

Choosing wisely will give you not only excellent lighting but also lower operating costs and a more sustainable workspace.

Where to Find It:

• Sengled Color-Changing Smart Bulb
• Sengled White Light Smart Bulb
• SLEEKLIGHTING 13Watt T2 Spiral CFL GU24

Best Dimmable Office Lighting

If you have more than one person using a desk — a common occurrence in hybrid offices — you’ll want dimmable lights that can adapt to various work situations to ensure consistent eye comfort.

Top choices include Smart Starter Kits with LED bulbs and adjustable brightness for customizable, energy-efficient lighting.

Dimmable desk lamps offer targeted illumination — ideal for tasks that require precision. Or you could also go for dimmable Smart LED Light Strips for a dynamic ambiance and color-changing functionality while using a minimum amount of space.

Key factors to watch for when it comes to dimming ability are brightness levels, ease of use, and smart technology. Opt for models with flicker-free technology and compatibility with different dimmer switches.

Where to Find It:

• Philips Hue White LED Smart Button Starter Kit
• Uplift E7 Desk Lamp
• DAYBETTER LED Smart Light Strips with App Control Remote

Best Office Lighting for Eye Strain Prevention

The best office lighting options for eye strain prevention offer a variety of lighting modes, adjustable brightness levels, and customizable color temperatures to tailor the light to specific needs.

A combination of direct lights, like those provided by desk lamps, and task lights can provide the ultimate comfort for those using hybrid workspaces.

We love the Brooklyn Aura Task Light, which not only has a three-level tap control and LED bulb rated for 50,000 hours of continuous light, but also a smartphone dock with Qi wireless charging capability.

Where to Find It:

• Lepro Lightweight LED Desk Lamp
• Brooklyn Aura LED Task Light
• SIN&MI Eye Protection LED Desk Lamp

Best Lighting for Virtual Meetings

The right lighting can make all the difference in your virtual meetings, giving you great visibility and a polished look.

Lume Cube is the best in the business. Its Video Conference Lighting Kit offers adjustable brightness, can run for up to 14 hours, and snaps on easily with a suction design. Plus, it comes with a universal computer mount and a USB-C adapter so you can charge and light up at the same time.

Or you might like the Panel PRO 2.0 — it’s compact, portable, packed with 263 LED lights, and even has Bluetooth control.

If you’re looking for something a bit more budget-friendly, the Neewer USB LED Video Light is also a fantastic option, letting you adjust the brightness level to suit your needs.

Where to Find It:

• Lume Cube Video Conference Lighting Kit
• Lume Cube RGB Panel Pro 2.0
• Neewer LED Light Panel

Best Overall Office Lighting: Top 3 Desk Lights Every Hybrid Office Needs

Proper lighting conditions enhance productivity, reduce eye strain, and support employee health. The following three desk lights are every office worker’s dream.

The BenQ e-Reading LED Adjustable Desk Lamp offers a wide illumination range, adjustable color temperature and brightness, and an auto-dimming mode. It’s ideal for large desks or dual monitor setups.

You could also go for the LumiCharge II, which offers multiple light color modes and brightness levels. It doubles as a charger, with a built-in phone charging dock and wireless charging pad.

The Dyson Solarcycle Morph™ desk light has built-in brightness sensors that automatically adjust light levels based on your age, the task you’re doing, and the time of day.

You can’t go wrong with these three!

Where to Find It:

• BenQ e-reading LED Desk Lamp
• Lumicharge II
• Dyson Solarcycle Morph

Why Is the Right Office Lighting Important?

In order to thrive and be productive in the workplace, employees need to be comfortable. The right office lighting can create an environment that’s more conducive to working.

Poorly designed workplaces can lead to a range of employee health complaints, which can negatively impact employee well-being and overall productivity. In fact, recent survey data cites lighting as a common trigger factor for migraine sufferers.

Poor lighting can create an unpleasant work environment and deter hybrid employees from leaving their comfortable home office setup to come into the office.

How to Choose the Best Office Lighting

While standards for international lighting do exist, they’re not set in stone and function more as best practice recommendations than law.

To choose the best office light fixtures for your team, it’s still better to understand what good lighting is and the elements that you need to create the best outcome for your scenario.

Make sure to check out the following variables before you change your office lights:

• Type of light
• Artificial lighting vs natural lighting
• Bulb type
• Color temperature settings
• Brightness options
• Cost and budget
• Computer placement

Types of Lighting

Ever walked into a room and felt instantly alert and focused or relaxed and calm without really knowing why? Chances are the room’s lighting had a lot to do with it!

There are four different types of lighting you can use in your hybrid office. Direct light is ideal for precision work, as it casts a focused beam where it’s needed. Then there’s indirect light. Imagine the subtle glow of a room lit by a fireplace — soothing and relaxed.

Direct-indirect light is a combination of the first two; it’s your all-rounder, providing task lighting and softly diffused ambient light. Lastly, you could opt for shielded light, which offers glare-free, evenly distributed illumination.

The most comfortable office lighting is one that combines all four of these types.

Artificial Light vs Natural Light

Natural sunlight, with its balanced tones, offers warm lighting and supports a positive mood, productivity, and health by regulating circadian rhythms. Unfortunately, however, it isn’t always accessible — and when it is, it can cause computer glare.

Artificial light, on the other hand, can be quite a cool light. Thanks to smart technology, it’s adjustable in intensity and color and can now simulate natural light, boosting alertness and sociability.

Used strategically, especially in windowless workspaces, artificial becomes a healthful productivity tool. It’s best to use LED lights that are around 4000K/4500K and 1000–1500 lumens.

Bulb Type, Color, and Temperature

The best bulb type, color, and temperature for an office depend on the purpose of the space and the desired atmosphere. Here are four different bulb types and how they perform in an office setting:

Fluorescent bulbs: Often produce harsh lighting, can cause eye strain and headaches, and are typically used in commercial and industrial spaces.

LED bulbs: Can be used to mimic natural daylight, with a color temperature of around 4000K/4500K.

Incandescent bulbs: Can be too warm and yellow for an office environment.

Halogen light bulbs: Emit a bright, white light and can be too harsh for an office environment.

Brightness

How bright is too bright for office lighting? When is lighting too poor?

OSHA standards recommend the amount of light in an office to be at least 300 lux for maximum effectiveness, productivity, and health.

Cost

With bulbs often running for over 14 hours a day, lighting consumes around 18% of electricity in buildings — making cost a major factor when considering the design of your office lighting.

Install motion sensors, timers, and dimmers to reduce cost and gain more control over your electricity consumption.

Computer Placement

Here are some ways that computer placement can impact office lighting:

• Glare: Positioning the computer screen perpendicular to the windows and using anti-glare filters can help reduce glare.
• Reflection: Moving the screen away from direct light sources and using matte screens can help reduce reflection.
• Lighting level: Balance the brightness of the computer screen with the ambient lighting in the room to avoid eye strain. The recommended amount of light for an office is at least 300 lux, and the best color temperature is between 3500K and 5500K, with 4000K being the most recommended.
• Positioning: Position your screen at eye level, with the user a comfortable distance away.

Improve Your Office’s Productivity With a Well-Lit Workspace

There’s a lot to consider when choosing the best lighting for offices — and sometimes, you might feel like you’re groping in the dark.

But remember, lighting is more than just fixtures and lumens. It’s about creating a workspace that allows your team to work safely, comfortably, and productively.

Of course, lighting isn’t all that impacts your team’s ability to perform. Beyond an ergonomic work environment, they also need the right processes and tools for effective hybrid workplace management..

OfficeRnD Hybrid is easy to set up and use, well-integrated, and reliable hybrid workplace management software. It’ll positively impact your workplace by, boosting collaboration, and allowing you to track and measure adoption, retention, and resource utilization in a cost-efficient way.

So if you’re ready to maximize your team’s productivity above and beyond office lighting, why not start for free with OfficeRnD Hybrid? No credit card, required, no strings attached.

FAQ

What Type of Lighting Is Best for an Office?

For a typical office, the best type of lighting is a combination of widely dispersed light sources and direct task lighting. The brightness level should be at least 300 lux, and the color temperature between 3500K and 5500K — with 4000K being ideal.

What’s the Best Office Lighting for the Eyes?

The best office lighting for the eyes has a minimum brightness level of 300 lux and a color temperature of 3500K–5500K, and it includes a combination of ambient and direct lighting.

Is a Desk Lamp Better Than a Floor Lamp?

Both desk lamps and floor lamps can be effective for office lighting, and the choice between them depends on personal preference and the workplace’s specific needs.

What is the Best LED Light for Office Work?

The best LED light for office work offers a balance between brightness and comfort, typically falling within the 4000K to 5000K color temperature range. This ensures clear visibility without causing eye strain. Additionally, adjustable brightness settings and a high Color Rendering Index (CRI) are essential for accurate color perception and adaptability to various tasks.

Are LED Lights Better for Office?

Yes, LED lights are preferred for offices because they are energy-efficient, have a longer lifespan, and provide consistent, flicker-free illumination, reducing eye strain and fatigue during prolonged work.

What Color Light is Best for Office Space?

For office spaces, a neutral white light in the 4000K to 5000K color temperature range is ideal. It promotes alertness, supports concentration, and offers accurate color representation, making it suitable for a productive work environment.

What is the Best Light for a Dark Office?

For a dark office, it’s essential to choose a bright LED light with a high-lumen output. Opting for a neutral to cool white color temperature (4000K to 5000K) can simulate daylight, enhancing visibility and focus. Additionally, consider layering with task lighting to address specific work areas and reduce shadows.