It is almost always the first question people ask about a cordless lamp, and a fair one. If there is no plug, how long before the light goes out? The honest answer is that it depends, but not in a vague way. Once you understand what shapes battery life, you can predict it confidently and choose a lamp that suits the way you actually live.
The short answer
Most quality cordless lamps give you somewhere between several hours and a couple of days of light per charge, depending entirely on how bright you run them. At a gentle, warm setting the Ilumina offers up to around 15 hours and the Pino up to roughly 12. Used the way most people use an evening lamp, dimmed and atmospheric rather than blazing, a single charge comfortably carries many owners through a week of cosy nights.
What changes how long it lasts
- Brightness. This is the big one. Running a lamp at full power drains it far faster than a soft glow. Turn it down and the hours multiply.
- Colour temperature. Some lamps draw a touch more power at certain settings, though the difference is small next to brightness.
- How you use it. A lamp lit for two hours an evening lasts far longer between charges than one left on all day.
How often will I really need to charge it?
For typical evening use, think weekly rather than daily. Many people settle into a simple rhythm: a top-up over the weekend, much as you might charge a set of headphones, and the lamp is ready for the week ahead. Keep it bright for long stretches and you will charge more often. Either way, a quick USB-C top-up is painless.
How to charge it, and keep the battery healthy
- Charge over USB-C using a standard phone-style cable.
- Top it up before it runs completely flat rather than always draining it to zero.
- If you are putting a lamp away unused for a long time, give it a partial charge first rather than leaving it empty.
Will the battery wear out over time?
Like any rechargeable device, a cordless lamp uses a lithium battery, and all lithium batteries lose a little capacity over years of use. In everyday terms this is not something you will notice for a long while, and treating it kindly, as above, helps it stay at its best for longer.
Frequently asked questions
How long do cordless lamps last on one charge?
Anywhere from several hours to a couple of days, depending on brightness. At a warm, dimmed setting the Ilumina reaches up to around 15 hours and the Pino up to roughly 12.
How often do I need to recharge it?
For a couple of hours of evening use, roughly once a week for many people. Brighter or longer use means charging more often.
How do ECLARA lamps charge?
Over USB-C, using the same kind of cable as most modern phones and devices.
Browse lamps built for real evenings in our cordless table lamps collection.