How We Tested the Night Lights

The Spruce editors took their time researching today’s best night lights, selecting a dozen to try out in a real-life setting. First, we carefully inspected the appearance, material, power source, battery life, bulb type, and light warmth of each product. Next, we placed the lights all throughout a house, including in a bedroom, child’s room, guest room, bathroom, and hallway.

After putting them to the test overnight, we evaluated the lights based on design, effectiveness, features, durability, and overall value, then awarded a score from 1 to 5 (5 being the best; 1 being the worst) in each category. The products with the most impressive performance across all categories were ultimately chosen for this roundup.

What to Look for in a Night Light

Childproofing

If you’re planning to keep the light in a baby or toddler’s room, you may want to skip corded options (or make sure to keep it far from their reach). Battery compartments should have screws to protect them from kids’ curious fingers. Some smartphone-compatible alarms, like the Hatch Rest, also have a “Toddler Lock” setting so little ones can’t override your preferences.

Power Source

Some lights plug into the wall while other lights are cordless and use only batteries. A USB charger can be a handy feature, as can battery backup on wall-powered devices (if the power goes out, your settings will be preserved).

Extra Features

Bluetooth compatibility can be handy, but if your home has dead zones for mobile reception, it might not be ideal. Some night lights also offer motion detection so that it automatically turns off when no one is near, or dusk-to-dawn operation so it automatically turns on when the room isn’t otherwise lit. If you don’t have a dedicated alarm clock or a white noise machine, those additional features in a night light could come in handy, as well.

Style

“When selecting a lighting style for your home, the most important consideration is the style of the home itself,” says Fendy Castillo, Gómez’s partner at Nemai Studio. “After you decide what style works best with your home, you must determine whether you will use it as general ambient lighting, task lighting, or accent lighting.” Night lights are primarily functional, but with the right design and a warm glow, they can enhance the ambiance of a space.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This story was written by Theresa Holland, a freelance commerce writer specializing in lifestyle, sleep products, and kids’ gear. Our editors researched today’s standout night lights and sent her home with a dozen to try out in a real-life setting. She carefully inspected, tested, and evaluated each product, and then consulted Lina M. Gómez and Fendy Castillo of the Decorist design duo Nemai Studio before landing on the final picks. As a toddler mom, Holland is familiar with various types of night lights and time-to-rise gadgets and keeps a Hatch Rest+ in her child’s bedroom. Holland has been contributing to The Spruce since 2019, where she covers home goods, lighting, and interior decor. You can read more of her bylines on MyDomaine and Verywell Family.

Additional reporting was contributed by Bianca Pineda, a commerce writer specializing in bedding, bath, and home decor content for The Spruce.

What Is The Spruce Approved?

Here at The Spruce, we want to ensure we fully stand behind every product we recommend and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally, we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut.

Top 3 night lights for adults Synthesized by BSS news