Table Lamps Price Comparison 2026

A table lamp is rarely just a light source — it's one of the quickest ways to change the feel of a room without redecorating. Whether you're after a reading lamp for the bedside table, a statement piece for the living room, or a focused desk light for working from home, the range on offer is genuinely vast. We've tracked 620 products across this category, with prices spanning from 7 £ to 153 £, and the spread tells an interesting story about how the market is structured.

EGLO dominates the mid-range and entry-level end, accounting for a significant chunk of the most-compared products — and for good reason. Their lamps consistently sit below the median price while offering solid build quality and wide bulb compatibility. At the other end of the spectrum, Louis Poulsen and Ideal Lux cater to buyers who treat lighting as interior design, with average prices that reflect genuine craftsmanship rather than brand inflation. Faro sits in an interesting middle ground: a large catalogue with an average price well above the median, suggesting a focus on decorative and architectural styles rather than everyday utility pieces.

One thing worth noting: the majority of table lamps in this category use either an E14 or E27 bulb fitting, which means switching to LED is straightforward and affordable. If you're comparing two otherwise similar lamps, always check whether the listed wattage refers to an incandescent equivalent or an actual LED draw — the difference in running costs over a year is not trivial. For smart lighting enthusiasts, a handful of models here are compatible with dimmable LED bulbs, though dedicated smart lamps are better explored in their own category.

Aesthetically, the category splits fairly cleanly between functional lamps (clean lines, neutral finishes, chrome or white bases) and decorative pieces (fabric shades, ceramic bases, statement silhouettes). The sweet spot — where design and value genuinely meet — tends to sit around the 36 £ mark. Below 22 £, you're mostly looking at basic utility lamps or heavily discounted clearance stock. If ambience matters to you, it's worth stretching the budget slightly. For complementary options, floor lamps and decoration lighting are natural companions to explore alongside table lamps when layering light in a room.

How to Choose the Right Table Lamp

With prices ranging from 7 £ to 153 £ and styles covering everything from minimalist Scandi to ornate traditional, picking the right table lamp is less obvious than it looks. The three questions that actually matter: where will it live, what will you use it for, and what bulb fitting does it take? Everything else follows from there.

Bulb fitting: E14, E27, or integrated LED?

E27 (the larger screw fitting) is the most versatile — it's the standard for most living room and bedroom lamps, and compatible bulbs are widely available at every price point. E14 (small screw) is common in slimmer, more decorative lamps and works well for lower-output ambient lighting. Integrated LED lamps skip the bulb question entirely but mean you replace the whole lamp when the light fails — fine for budget pieces, less ideal for premium ones. If you're buying a lamp above the 36 £ mark, we'd strongly recommend choosing one with a replaceable fitting rather than an integrated LED module.

Light output for the intended use

A bedside lamp and a desk reading lamp have very different requirements. For ambient or mood lighting, 200–400 lumens is plenty — equivalent to a 25–40W incandescent or a 4–6W LED. For task lighting (reading, working, crafting), you want at least 600–800 lumens, ideally from a lamp positioned to avoid glare. Colour temperature matters here too: 2700K (warm white) suits relaxed spaces; 4000K (neutral white) is better for concentration. Most lamps in this category don't specify colour temperature, so check the bulb compatibility and buy accordingly.

Dimmability — worth paying for?

Not every lamp supports dimming, and even fewer include a dimmer switch. If you want variable brightness, check two things: that the lamp's socket is rated for dimmable bulbs, and that you're using a compatible LED (not all LEDs dim smoothly). Dimmable setups genuinely transform a bedroom or living room — the ability to drop from reading brightness to a warm glow is one of those features you don't miss until you have it. Budget lamps under 22 £ rarely support dimming; it becomes more common from the mid-range upwards.

Base stability and shade proportions

This is the criterion most buyers overlook until a lamp topples over. A heavy ceramic or metal base is far more stable than a lightweight plastic one — relevant if you have children, pets, or a habit of trailing cables. Shade proportions also affect how the lamp looks in situ: a wide shade on a short base floods the immediate area with light but looks squat; a tall, narrow shade creates a more focused beam and a more elegant silhouette. Neither is objectively better — it depends on the table height and the room's ceiling height.

Finish and longevity

Chrome and brushed nickel finishes look sharp but show fingerprints and can tarnish in humid rooms (bathrooms aside, even kitchens can be problematic). Matte black and white powder-coated finishes are more forgiving day-to-day. Fabric shades — linen, cotton, polyester — diffuse light beautifully but attract dust and can yellow over time, particularly with incandescent bulbs. If the lamp will sit in direct sunlight, avoid fabric shades in pale colours. For longevity, a metal or glass shade will outlast fabric by years, though the light quality is harder and less warm.

• Budget picks (From 7 £ to 22 £) : Mostly EGLO and Versa utility lamps — functional, no-frills, and perfectly adequate for a spare room or hallway. Don't expect premium finishes or dimmability at this end. Some Paladone novelty lamps also appear here. Fine as a stopgap; less satisfying as a long-term buy.
• The sweet spot (From 22 £ to 36 £) : This is where the value genuinely stacks up. EGLO's Carlton and Bradford ranges sit here, alongside Paulmann and Pauleen options. You get proper E27 fittings, more considered designs, and finishes that hold up. A solid choice for bedrooms and living rooms without overspending.
• Design-led mid-range (From 36 £ to 48 £) : Faro and Ideal Lux start appearing here, alongside more distinctive EGLO models. Expect better materials — ceramic bases, linen shades, brushed metal — and more attention to proportions. Worth the step up if the lamp will be a focal point rather than background furniture.
• Premium and designer (Over 48 £) : Louis Poulsen territory, plus the upper end of Faro and Ideal Lux. These are lamps you buy for the design as much as the light. Louis Poulsen in particular commands a significant premium — justified for those who care about Scandinavian design heritage, harder to justify purely on functional grounds. Check John Lewis and Heal's for price comparisons before committing.

Top products

• EGLO 97773 table lamp E14 40 W White (EGLO) : The most-compared lamp in the category for good reason — it's a no-nonsense utility lamp at a genuinely low price. Don't expect any design flair, but as a functional bedside or desk lamp it does the job reliably.
• EGLO Bradford table lamp E27 Black, Transparent (EGLO) : One of EGLO's more considered designs — the black and transparent combination works well in contemporary interiors. The E27 fitting gives you maximum bulb flexibility. A strong mid-range buy that punches above its price point.
• EGLO Roncade table lamp Chrome, White (EGLO) : The chrome and white finish looks more expensive than it is, making this a smart choice for living rooms or hallways. Sits just below the median price and offers noticeably better aesthetics than EGLO's entry-level range.
• Faro 29307 table lamp E27 100 W White (Faro) : Faro's premium positioning is on full display here — this is a lamp you buy for the design, not the spec sheet. The 100W E27 rating gives plenty of headroom for a bright LED. Worth comparing prices carefully before buying, as retailer margins on Faro vary widely.
• EGLO Carlton 2 table lamp E14 Black, White (EGLO) : A reliable mid-range pick with a classic black and white combination that suits most interiors. The E14 fitting limits bulb output slightly, so better suited to ambient lighting than task use. Good value and widely available across UK retailers.

Related categories

• Floor Lighting
• Ceiling Lighting
• Wall Lighting
• Suspension Lighting
• Decoration Lighting
• Smart Lighting
• Mood Lighting
• Night-Lights
• Spotlights
• Strip Lights