The 7 best night lights for kids, adults & everyone in between

Night lights have come a long way. While there are still simple models that help you navigate dark hallways at night or provide light for kids who may not want to sleep in complete darkness, there are tons of multipurpose night lights out there that can enhance your sleep.

Today, night lights for kids and adults often pull double duty as lamps, alarm clocks and white noise machines. Some night lights even incorporate ambient light sensors, apps and smart connectivity to help you wake up on time and get more restful sleep.

But which night light is right for your (or your child’s)  bedroom? Read on and get a look at our top recommendations for the best night lights. Whether you’re on a tight budget or looking for the ultimate bedside table companion, we’ve got you covered.

Read more: Find the best gifts for new parents

Which one suits you best?

Our top pick overall

Hatch Restore Personalized Sleep Solution

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$129.99 at Target

Best for toddlers

Precious Moments Stegosaurus Dinosaur LED Nightlight

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$32.99 at Kohls

Best for kids

Projectables Northern LED Night Light Motion

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$9.59 at Target

Best adult night lamp

Wake Up Light Rise with Wood Nightlight

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$25.00 at Target

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Our top pick overall

Hatch Restore Personalized Sleep Solution

$129.99

$129.99 at Target

Specifications

• Suitable for: All ages

• Dimensions: 6 H x 7 W x 2.75 D in

Pros & Cons

• Completely customizable for your sleep routine

• Includes a speaker

• Built-in clock

• Setup can be complex

• Connecting it to WiFi can be challenging

If you want a night light that will help you get more restful sleep, this product from Hatch is the best option. With this night light, you can create a customized sleep-wake routine that will help you get more refreshing sleep. Using the companion app, you can change the sounds, brightness and color temperature of the alarm feature to help you wake up on your terms.

At night, this night light will gently pulse with colors of your choice, and it also includes a speaker and a large library of sounds to help you fall asleep.  Equipped with a built-in clock, it also has an alarm function and serves as a reading light, making it the ultimate bedside companion.

Best for toddlers

Precious Moments Stegosaurus Dinosaur LED Nightlight

You save $8.25 (20%)

$32.99$41.24

$32.99 at Kohls

Specifications

• Suitable for: All ages

• Dimensions: 5 H x 6 W x 3 D in

Pros & Cons

• Easy to move and transport

• Cute dino design will charm kids

• Fits on just about any bedside table

• Ceramic body won’t hold up to abuse

• Changing batteries can be inconvenient

Lots of toddlers don’t like sleeping in total darkness. So why not set them up with a cute, comforting stegosaurus companion? This dinosaur-shaped night light is our top choice for toddlers and young kids who may still be a bit afraid of the dark.

The ceramic body of the dinosaur is partially transparent, allowing a gentle glow from the LED light to shine through. This night light is battery-powered with two AAA batteries, unlike some other picks on this list. Because of this, it’s a particularly good choice as a travel night light, or if your child doesn't have an easily-accessible power outlet in their room.

Best for kids

Projectables Northern LED Night Light Motion

$9.59

$9.59 at Target

Specifications

• Suitable for: All ages

• Dimensions: 2.5 H x 2.75 W x 2.25 D in

Pros & Cons

• Unique nebula projection 

• Ambient light sensor for automatic operation

• 30,000-hour bulb life

• May not be suitable for wall outlets with tight clearance

• Somewhat dim compared to some other models

If your little one loves space, this projector night light from Projectables is an excellent choice. It uses LEDs and a projector to bring the Northern Lights into your child’s room, lighting it up at night with gentle, subtle color patterns. 

It plugs directly into any wall outlet, taking just seconds to set up. An ambient light sensor turns it on automatically at night and off in the morning. The LED bulb is long-lasting, energy efficient and cool to the touch too, making this totally safe for toddlers and kids of all ages.

Best adult night lamp

Wake Up Light Rise with Wood Nightlight

$25

$25.00 at Target

Specifications

• Suitable for: Teens and adults

• Dimensions: 4.08 W x 6.1 H x 2 D in

Pros & Cons

• Sleek and modern design fits into any decor

• Includes multiple adjustable brightness settings

• Easy-to-love price tag

• No snooze feature

• Wake-up light can’t be set separately

Night lights aren’t just for kids and this product from Target is proof of that. It’s our pick for the best overall adult night light and it’s good for teens and preteens too. It has an adjustable brightness feature that lets you dim the light at night and turn it all the way up in the morning to help you wake up. 

At full brightness, the light is easily bright enough to let you read at night making it perfect as a reading lamp. This night light also has a clock and alarm feature, so you don’t have to rely on your phone to wake you up in the morning. The alarm will definitely wake you up, though some buyers complain that it’s a bit too loud, so it’s a good option for heavy sleepers.

Best color night light

Philips Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light

$219.95

$219.95 at Philips

Specifications

• Suitable for: Adults

• Dimensions: 8.8 H x 8.6 W x 4.7 D in

Pros & Cons

• Sensors for temperature, noise and light levels

• Includes alarm clock

• Companion app is free and easy to use

• High price point

• Complex setup

If money is no object, this model from Philips is our top choice for the very best night light. It’s pricey, so it’s not the best for kids, but it has a truly unbeatable set of features that help you get more from your nightly rest. It functions as a night light to help you find your way around your room in the dark, but that’s only the beginning.

This night light includes a full suite of Philips AmbiTrack sensors that detect temperature, humidity, noise, and light levels. Using the companion app, you can get insights about your sleep environment, and find ways to enhance your sleep space. The SleepMapper app also lets you customize your sleep and wake-up experience, set sunrise and sunset times, and more.

This night light also includes the ability to wake up to music, nature sounds, or even your favorite local FM radio stations. The touch display makes it easy to choose your brightness levels, color temperature and set your daily alarm. Overall, it’s a truly impressive package that includes tons of ways to customize your experience.

Top portable model

2-Pack White LED Auto On/Off Night Light

$11.98

$11.98 at Lowes

Specifications

• Suitable for: All ages

• Dimensions: 3.5 H x 2.1 W x 1.6 D in

Pros & Cons

• Comes in pair

• Automatic on/off with ambient light sensor

• Bright, clear light helps nighttime navigation

• May be too bright for some bedrooms

• Light level is not adjustable

If you need a simple and portable night light that can be moved from room to room, this is the best night light for the job! Built by GE, this night light uses a simple LED bulb to provide the illumination you need in your bedroom, bathroom, hallway, or anywhere else in your home.

Ambient light sensors recognize light levels and turn the night light off automatically during the day, which helps save power. With their slim design, this night light will fit just about anywhere. Each pack also comes with two night lights, which gives you more value for your dollar.

Best budget option

Always-on LED Plug-In Night Light 2-Pack

$5.44

$5.44 at Walmart

Specifications

• Suitable for: All ages

• Dimensions: 6.5 H x 3.63 W x 1.5 D in

Pros & Cons

• Budget-friendly

• Energy-efficient

• Ideal for any outlet in your home

• No ambient light sensor 

• May be too dim for some applications

If you’re on a budget and need to invest in some cheap night lights, this set of two GE night lights is a good option. They’re the least expensive on this list but still provide a soft, white light glow that’s ideal for hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms, and other areas of your home.

This night light uses an LED bulb for energy efficiency. However, because it’s a cheaper model, there is no ambient light sensor. That means they stay on 24/7, and there’s no way to turn off the night light when you plug it in. This is fine in most cases, but is still something to keep in mind while you’re selecting the right night light for your home.

What to look for in a night light

There are a lot of night lights out there, and it’s sometimes hard to figure out which one may be right for you or your little one. Confused? Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for the best night light for your needs.

• Battery or wall plug: In most cases, a plug is preferable to a battery, since you likely won’t be moving your night light much. But if you often travel with a night light for yourself or for your kids, a battery-powered product may be a better option. You may also need a night light with a battery if there aren’t any convenient plugs near your nightstand or your child’s bedside table.

• Energy efficiency: Pretty much all of the best night lights these days use LED bulbs, which are very energy efficient. You’ll spend pennies per year to use a night light. However, if you are energy-conscious, look for a night light that has an ambient light sensor. These types of night lights will turn on automatically when it’s dark, and turn off when it’s light.

• Clocks and alarms: Some night lights also feature clocks and alarms with various sounds to help you wake up. If you prefer to use a more old-fashioned alarm clock rather than your phone, one of these night lights may be a good choice. Advanced models may also increase their illumination gradually in the morning, becoming quite bright when it’s time to wake up. This can be useful if you sleep in a very dark room or have trouble waking up in the morning.

• Extra features: You name it, and there’s probably a night light that has it. Some models have Bluetooth speakers, temperature sensors, and even the ability to connect to a phone app for detailed sleep insights or automatic light scheduling. These bells and whistles are definitely not essential for a great night light, but add some extra functionality to night lights that some people may enjoy.

Which models are our favorite?

There are a lot of night lights out there. Whether you’re shopping for children’s night lights or a night light for yourself, the products we listed above are a great choice. But what’s the best overall choice? Here’s what we think.

• Wake Up Light Rise with Wood Nightlight: It’s affordable and includes both a wake-up light and a loud alarm function. It’s also very modern and fits in with most decor.

• Projectables Northern LED Night Light Motion: It’s affordable, fun and provides comforting light in your little one’s nursery or bedroom as they fall asleep. It’s an especially great choice if your child likes space!

• 2-Pack White LED Auto On/Off Night Light: This is our choice for those who prefer simplicity. This night light provides plenty of ambient light, turns on and off automatically, and is extremely energy efficient.

Prices updated on 07/25/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.