8 Best Lighted Magnifying Glasses of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on Jan 03 2024

Lighted magnifying glasses can make intricate crafting tasks like embroidery, jewelry-making, and sewing much easier. If you’re a regular crafter, it can help prevent eye strain and make the whole process more enjoyable. Lighted magnifying glasses can also be lifesavers if you need more illumination and magnification while you read.

Finding the best lighted magnifying glass to meet your needs can be a time-consuming task. We’ve made that easier with this list of reviews of the best lighted magnifying glasses. We’ve also included a buying guide to help you know what features to look for.

Read on for our recommendations.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated in 2024)

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Fancii LED Handheld Magnifying Glass	Distortion-free magnifying lens Shatterproof acrylic lens Lightweight design	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Marrywindix Handheld Magnifier	3X magnification for the large lens 45X magnification for small lens Two LEDs for the large lens	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Brightech Magnifying Lamp	Hands-free magnifying glass Available in 1.75X or 2.25X 6-watt LED lights	CHECK PRICE
		BearMoo Handheld Magnifier Glass	High clarity with crystal glass lens 3X magnification on large lens 45X magnification on small lens on handle	CHECK PRICE
		SeeZoom Lighted Magnifying Glass	Lightweight design Scratch-resistant lens Three ultra-bright LED lights	CHECK PRICE

The 8 Best Lighted Magnifying Glasses 

1. Fancii LED Handheld Magnifying Glass – Best Overall

The Fancii LED Handheld Magnifying Glass is our choice for best lighted magnifying glass overall because it offers multiple magnifier levels: 2X, 4X, and 10X. It has a clear, distortion-free magnifying lens and a comfortable ergonomic handle to make it easy to hold. The acrylic lens is shatterproof to reduce the risk of breaking. The design is lightweight to make it easier to use without fatigue. It also has super-bright LED lights and a simple button switch to turn the light on and off.

The battery cover on this magnifying glass is difficult to remove, which can be frustrating.

2. Marrywindix Handheld Magnifier – Best Value

The Marrywindix Handheld Magnifier is the best lighted magnifying glass for the money because it has a large lens with 3X magnification and a smaller lens with 45X magnification. The smaller lens has magnification strong enough to be used as a jewelry loupe. Each lens has LED lights, with the larger lens having two. It has a switch to turn the light on and off. The handle is a comfortable ergonomic shape to reduce hand fatigue.

The light on the magnifying glass is short-lived, however. The switch for the light also doesn’t work properly on some of the magnifiers we tried.

3. Brightech Magnifying Lamp – Premium Choice

Our premium choice is the Brightech LightView Magnifying Lamp because it’s hands-free and has 6-watt LED lights. It can be used as either a table lamp or a clamp lamp, where you can attach it to a work surface of your choice. The height of the lamp can be adjusted between 6 and 16 inches tall, which makes this magnifier versatile and useful for a variety of tasks.

This is one of the pricier options on the list, however, and doesn’t have as high of magnification as some of the other magnifying glasses.

4. BearMoo Handheld Magnifier Glass

The BearMoo Handheld Magnifier Glass is another lightweight option that’s easy to hold. It’s less than 8 inches long, so it can easily fit inside a bag for travel. The crystal glass lens has high clarity, so you’ll be able to see with ease. The large lens has 3X magnification, and the small lens on the handle has 45X magnification for the smallest details. The magnifier also has three LED lights to make it easier for you to see. The handle is ergonomic for your comfort.

The LED lights on this magnifier don’t last long, though. The battery compartment is also poorly designed because it’s difficult to access and open.

5. SeeZoom Lighted Magnifying Glass

The SeeZoom Lighted Magnifying Glass is an exceptionally lightweight option, weighing only 4.6 ounces. This reduces arm fatigue. The large lens has 3X magnification, and the small lens on the handle has 45X. The lens is also scratch-resistant, so it’s quite durable. The magnifier also has three bright LED lights to help you see even in low lighting.

The LED lights on this magnifier don’t seem to last long. They start to flicker before the batteries should be depleted. The lights are also poorly positioned on the magnifier. They tend to cast a glare instead of illuminating the magnified text or object.

6. Unimi UM-GL01 Magnifying Glass

The Unimi Magnifying Glass offers three different magnification levels. The large lens has a 2X magnification, the inner spot lens has 4X magnification, and the small lens on the handle has 25X magnification. The lenses are made of shatter-resistant crystal acrylic for durability. It has a lightweight design to reduce arm fatigue and comes with three bright LED lights so you can see with better clarity.

The light switch on this magnifying glass can get stuck, and it won’t let you turn the lights off. The LED lights also don’t last long. This could be due to the battery compartment being flimsy and easily breaking.

7. Carson LM-20 Lighted Magnifier

The Carson DeskBrite200 Lighted Magnifier is a great option if you need a magnifier that can stand on your desk or work table like a lamp. It has a large lens with 2X magnification and a spot lens with a 5X magnification. The magnifier has an adjustable, flexible neck so you can move it closer to whatever you need to be magnified. The lens is made of durable, crystal-clear acrylic. It also has LED lights that are powered by either an AC/DC adapter or three AAA batteries.

The two LED lights aren’t powerful enough to fully illuminate whatever you need to be magnified, so you’ll need to have another light source. The cord for the lights is also inconveniently short. The flexible neck isn’t that durable and bends out of shape easily.

8. Tomshine LED Lighted Magnifying Glass

The Tomshine LED Lighted Magnifying Glass is a dimmable magnifier lamp so you can adjust the brightness level of the lights to your liking. It has both 3X and 10X magnification on a flexible gooseneck that clamps to your desk.

Although the magnifier and lights work well, the clamp and flexible gooseneck do not. The arm is not strong enough to hold the weight of the magnifier. You have to keep the gooseneck in a certain position for it to work. The clamp isn’t strong enough to hold the lamp either. It slips off desks easily and scratches any surface. Lastly, the charging options do not always work.

Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Lighted Magnifying Glass

When researching the best lighted magnifying glass, there are important things to consider.

Magnification and Lens Size

When you see an “X” after a number, that signifies how many times the lens magnifies. An average magnifying glass will make objects look two or three times bigger, so you’ll see it written as 2X or 3X.

It’s important to realize that the magnification level affects the lens size. So with a smaller magnification like 2X or 3X, the lens will be fairly large, 4 inches or so. As you go up in magnification, the lens size will shrink. A 10X magnifier, for example, is very small. It’s usually around ½ of an inch, so it wouldn’t be a good fit if you need the magnifying glass to read a book.

Lenses that are 5X and 6X are a good choice for the average user because they have higher magnification without being too small.

Focal Distance

Another aspect of a magnifying glass that’s affected by the magnifier level is the focal distance. This is the distance you’ll have to hold the magnifying glass from whatever it is you need to see better. As magnification goes up, the focal distance decreases.

So, if you have a 10X magnifier, you’ll have to hold it only an inch or so from whatever you want magnified. A 2X magnifier, though, can be held as far as 5 inches away and will be more forgiving about the exact distance. The larger the magnification, the more clarity you’ll lose if you hold it too far away.

Text Magnifiers

Text magnifiers are used to enlarge text. They’re designed to be laid flat on the page so you can read the text more easily.

Hands-Free Magnifiers

Hands-free magnifiers are great for crafting and hobbies because they allow you to see intricate tasks without having to hold onto the magnifying glass. They are available on a stand or mounted on a visor that fits over your eye.

Conclusion

Our best overall choice is the Fancii LED Handheld Magnifying Glass because it offers multiple magnifier levels: 2X, 4X, and 10X. It’s also shatterproof and lightweight and features a comfortable, ergonomic handle.

Our best value choice is the MarryWindix Handheld Magnifier because it has two magnification levels: 3X and 45X. The strong magnification level of the smaller lens is suitable for a jewelry loupe. The magnifier also has LED lights for each lens.

We hope that our reviews and buying guide for the best lighted magnifying glasses have helped you find a magnifier that best fits your needs.