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Garage work lights are a necessity for anyone who spends time in their garage. Whether you’re working on your car, doing some home improvement projects or just looking for a place to put your tools and hobby stuff, the right light can make all the difference.
In this post we will take a look at various types of garage work lights and explain the pros and cons of each type so that you can make better purchasing decisions.
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A garage work light is a portable, permanent or temporary lighting fixture that you can use in your garage or carport to create better visibility for whatever task you are performing. Some of these lights have bases so they can be installed on the ceiling and remain stationary throughout their lifespan. Others allow you to safely suspend them from above using cables attached to hooks or rafters.
Although we have included some here, for a more thorough search check out our best work light for mechanics for more on the best models to use under the hood and car.
These are the most common type of garage work light. They feature an adjustable arm that attaches to a clamp which can be attached to any stable surface, like your car’s hood or fender, for instance. These lights typically have rubberized grips so they won’t scratch or damage whatever you attach them to and some models even come with safety locks so they won’t accidentally detach.
These are the most powerful auto work light available, thanks to their construction and LED technology. The light bars themselves come in numerous shapes (square or rectangular) but typically run on DC current that is converted into AC using an inverter inside the unit. These garage work lights can be mounted to the wall or ceiling and provide a much brighter light than other garage work lights.
These are similar to portable spotlights with an AC cord so that can be plugged into any standard outlet. They typically come with two hooks for suspending them from rafters or beams in your garage space but some models even include built-in stands as well as clamps for attaching them to surfaces like car hoods and trunks. Drop lights typically offer less options (and power) than light bars and clamp varieties and many of these products also use halogen bulbs which produce high amounts of heat when used continuously over long periods of time.
This is a variation of the drop light garage work lights mentioned above with one important difference: it can be lowered and raised from or to its housing mounted on your garage ceiling. These models typically have an AC cord so they need to be plugged into a standard outlet but they also come in larger sizes than other types which means more output, brightness and light coverage.
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| 80W 12,000 Lumen Temporary Corded Work Light |
| Essential LED temporary work lights at commercial and industrial grade. Heavy duty stainless steel cage housing adds extra durability and protection when operating in busy jobsites with successful ETL approval. |
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BEST TEMPORARY HANGING |
Powered by batteries or rechargeable power packs, these garage work lights are great for small jobs where you don’t need a lot of light. They usually come with either LED bulbs that produce low amounts of heat and consume less energy over time or halogen which can get quite hot while in use but provide more intense illumination than LEDs.
Also called garage work lamps or freestanding lights, these are the most basic type of garage light you can buy. They typically come with a clamp on one end and an adjustable arm that allows you to direct the light output in almost any direction. These types of garage work lights typically provide less illumination than other options but they do offer more power and versatility than drop lights.
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| Samyoung Rechargeable 3000 Lumen Work Light |
| Dual sources of light: uses COB (flood beam) 12 hrs run time from battery + XPG (spot beam) LED light source, outputting a total of 3000-lumens. Robust design, light weight and easy to move and store. Waterproof to IP65 Rating so can be used in the rain or wet conditions. |
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Best Budget |
These garage work lights feature built-in stands so they can be placed right on top of any flat surface without having to worry about clamping them down anywhere. Some table top models even have adjustable necks so you can change the height at which they point while others remain stationary throughout their lifespan unless moved manually by hand. Most table top units also offer multiple levels of brightness via touch controls located on the base itself rather than on the light itself.
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| Stanley 7000 Lumen Tripod Work Light |
| With practical 8-ft long power cord for safe and easier use, this adjustable aluminum tripod with telescopic shaft extends to 6’-6” overall height. Multi-directional LED heads rotate 165° and pivot 90°. Compact design aids in storage & transportation. |
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Dependable Brand |
These garage work lights are similar to table top variety but they feature taller bases and don’t require flat surfaces on which to rest. They typically come with adjustable necks so you can adjust the angle at which light is pointed while others operate like traditional floor standing lamps where you need to manually move them around depending on how much or little illumination is required for a given task. Floor standing tripod models also offer touch control pads located near their base instead of all over their bodies, making it easier to turn them off when not in use.
If you need more power, portability and brightness than other garage work lights can provide then it’s time to consider portable garage lighting systems. These are typically larger units that come with several LED bulbs or halogen lamps in one package so they produce a lot of light while staying cool enough to touch after prolonged periods of use. But the main selling point of portable garage lights is their ability to be moved from one area to another with ease, so you can focus on a given task without having to worry about manouvering several different lamps in order to complete the job.
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| Magnetic Work Light 1200 Lumen Rechargeable |
| Rechargeable work light with strong magnetic hold, adjustable and rechargeable. Very bright 1200 lumens for close up work. |
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Magnetic Work Light |
These are typically very inexpensive garage work lights that have LED bulbs built in to the front of their frames so they can be used for a wide variety of tasks. As you might imagine, these folding or collapsible models come with arms that allow them to fold up when not in use and then unfold into position quickly without any tools required for assembly. Typically designed with a magnetic base so they can be attached to metal surfaces when needed.
When it comes to garage work lights, the brightness of each unit is measured in lumens which tell you how many units of visible light can be produced by that lamp. The more powerful a garage work light is the brighter its output will be and therefore easier for you to see what’s going on where illumination is concerned. However, too much brightness can be a bad thing in some cases. For example, if you use garage work lights to inspect your vehicle’s engine or any other sensitive part of the car then it might make things difficult for you when working on tight spaces where there isn’t much room to maneuver around.
When choosing garage work lights consider portable garage lights and how mobile your choice needs to be. If you’re one of those people who prefers to work on their vehicles outside the garage, then portability becomes a crucial feature in any garage work light. You don’t want something too big or bulky that takes up valuable storage space when not in use and you surely don’t need an electrical cord holding it back from getting everything done without having to take it apart and set up each time you want to use it.
If you’re working on your car inside the garage then try to find a garage work light that’s compact and lightweight. After all, it needs to be moved around from area to area with ease so you don’t have to worry about tiring yourself out when trying to focus on doing one task at hand instead of three or four different ones.
The majority of garage lighting is now LED. It’s energy efficient, long lasting and certainly now bright enough for all your needs. It’s dimming/”>dimmable and even color tuneable, so if you are replacing an older halogen or fluorescent model then there really is no need to worry as LED is a superior successor for all garage applications.
Garage work lights are an investment and the last thing you want is to purchase one that takes up hours upon hours of your time just trying to wire it up or assemble. So, look for garage work lights with user-friendly features like quick switch on/off buttons or easy mode selection so you can get started right away without any hassle.
Garage work lights are used for a number of purposes, from hanging the car up to washing it down. So they need to be sturdy enough to withstand being dropped or banged about and have an IP rating so that you can rest assured knowing your garage light won’t short out if exposed to elements such as moisture or dust.
A garage work light is powered by either mains or battery power. Mains is the more convenient option as you don’t have to worry about running out of charge, but if your garage doesn’t have any sockets then it might be a good idea to go with one that runs on batteries instead so you can take advantage of cordless operation
It’s important to make sure garage work lights come with a warranty of at least two years. If you purchase one and it doesn’t last as long as expected because the manufacturer didn’t put enough effort into making something durable like they should have, then that’ll give you an opportunity to seek out another model or get your money back without too much fuss.
Our best garage work light selection has the top choice for many of the popular types.
Best Magnetic Portable Work Light: Anylight LED 1200lm Magnetic Base
Best Tripod Portable Work Light: Stanley 7000 Lumen Tripod Light
Best Portable Garage Light: Samyoung Rechargeable 3000 Lumen
Best Corded Garage Light: 80W Portable Corded Light 12,000 Lumens
The best garage work light for you will depend on your individual preferences and needs, but we’ve done the hard part of finding some great recommendations to suit any budget or space constraints.
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