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Desk lamps for small desks

How to get good light without giving up desk space.

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Measure first

Measure desk depth and width, and the thickness of the desk edge if you might use a clamp. Note what sits on the desk already: monitor, laptop, books.

Desk depth and width.

Measure before you choose a lamp.

Edge thickness.

Needed if you might use a clamp.

What is already there.

Monitor, laptop, and books all take space.

Space-saving mounts

  • Clamp lamps grip the desk edge and use no surface space.
  • Monitor light bars sit on top of a screen.
  • Wall-mounted arms free the whole desk if you can mount to the wall.

Clamp.

Grips the desk edge and uses no surface space.

Monitor light bar.

Sits on top of the screen.

Wall-mounted arm.

Frees the whole desk if you can mount to the wall.

Light heads that fit narrow desks

A slim head or bar lights a strip of desk evenly. On a shallow desk, an arm that reaches forward from the back corner keeps light in front of you.

Brightness for close range

On a small desk the lamp sits close to your work, so you may need less output. Dimming matters more than maximum brightness.

FAQ

A clamp lamp or monitor light bar.
If it clamps or wall-mounts, often yes. A large weighted base uses a lot of a small surface.

General information, not medical advice. See an eye care professional about eye strain or vision concerns.

Clamp or base?