Guides · Gear picks
Best emergency lights for a power outage
The first minute of an outage is the darkest. Lights that switch on by themselves get you to the flashlight drawer; lanterns and headlamps carry you through the night.
Photo: Joshua Bartell / Unsplash
By PowerLockdown EditorialUpdated November 1, 20268 min readHow we research
In this guide
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The short answer
The best emergency lights for a power outage are layered. Plug a few power failure lights, such as the Energizer 4-in-1 or Eton Blackout Buddy Swivel, into hallways and bedrooms so they switch on automatically. Then keep a rechargeable lantern for each main room and a headlamp for each person. Skip candles; fire agencies advise flashlights instead.
This page covers the automatic, plug-in side of emergency lighting: night lights that become flashlights, bulbs with batteries inside, and the lanterns that take over once you are up and moving. For a deeper list of flashlights and lanterns alone, see our emergency lanterns and flashlights kit.
At a glance
| Light | Type | Turns on by itself | Power source | Best spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energizer 4-in-1 (38511) | Power failure night light | Yes | Built-in rechargeable | Hallway, child's room |
| Eton Blackout Buddy Swivel | Power failure flashlight | Yes | Built-in rechargeable | Bedside, stairs |
| Feit battery backup bulb | E26 LED bulb, 800 lm | No, press button | Built-in 18650 Li-ion | Kitchen or living room fixture |
| Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 | Lantern, 600 lm | No | USB, solar or crank | Main room |
| Energizer WeatheReady Lantern | Lantern, 500 lm | No | 3 D or 3 AA | Main room, long outages |
| Black Diamond Spot 400 | Headlamp, 400 lm | No | 3 AAA or BD 1500 | One per person |
The picks
Our top two automatic lights have full write-ups: read the full Energizer 4-in-1 review and read the full Blackout Buddy Swivel review.
No. 1Power failure light
Energizer 4-in-1 Rechargeable Power Failure Light Sensing LED Night Light (38511)
Best for: Hallways and bedrooms: a night light that turns itself on when the power fails
- Four functions: light-sensing night light, power failure light, tabletop light, handheld flashlight
- Light sensor turns it on at dusk and off at dawn
- Turns on during a power outage; lift it off the wall to use as a flashlight
- Built-in rechargeable battery (non-replaceable) charges while plugged in
- Fold-up plug
Tradeoffs
- Jasco's page does not list lumens or battery runtime
- Battery is not replaceable, so the light is retired when it fades
No. 2Power failure light
Eton American Red Cross Blackout Buddy Swivel
Best for: A slim plug-in light that comes on automatically and doubles as a flashlight
- 3 bright emergency LEDs plus 1 LED night light
- Turns on automatically when the power goes out
- Rechargeable; stays charged in the wall socket
- Can be used as a flashlight
- 2 x 3.93 x 0.75 in; 2 oz
Tradeoffs
- Eton's page does not list lumens or runtime
- A small handheld light, not a room light
No. 3Battery backup bulb
Feit Electric 8.8W (60W Replacement) A21 LED Bulb with Battery Backup (OM60927CABATG2LEDIRP)
Best for: Keeping a ceiling or lamp fixture usable for a few hours after the power drops
- 800 lumens, 2700K soft white, 90 CRI, 8.8 W
- Up to 3 hrs of emergency light: press the bulb's button when the power goes out
- Embedded 18650 lithium-ion battery charges while the bulb is used normally
- Standard E26 base, A21 shape; 120 V; not dimmable
- Not rated for enclosed fixtures; damp-location rated
Tradeoffs
- Needs a press of the button to switch to battery; it is not automatic
- Three hours is a first-evening light, not a multi-day plan
No. 4Lantern
Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub
Best for: Rechargeable whole-room lantern with a hand-crank backup
- 600 lumens, warm white (3,500K)
- 5,200 mAh / 18.98 Wh Li-ion battery
- Recharge by USB (about 6 hrs), Goal Zero Nomad 10 solar panel (about 6 hrs) or built-in hand crank
- 1 minute of cranking = about 10 minutes of light on low
- USB-A output (5V, 1.5A) to top up a phone
- Runtime: one side on low up to 320 hrs; both sides on high 2.5 hrs
- 1.1 lb (498 g)
Tradeoffs
- Only about 2.5 hours at full brightness on both sides
- Crank gives little light per minute; solar recharge needs a separately sold panel
No. 5Lantern
Energizer WeatheReady Emergency Lantern (360° LED)
Best for: Disposable-battery lantern that runs on D or AA
- Runs on 3 D or 3 AA batteries
- 500 lumens high / 100 lumens low / night-light mode
- Runtime with 3 D batteries: 30 hrs high, 90 hrs low, 500 hrs night light
- USB port to charge a device
- IPX4 water resistance; 1 m drop rated
- Luminous (photoluminescent) switch
Tradeoffs
- You need to stock D or AA batteries
- 30 hours on high means a battery change every few nights of heavy use
No. 6Headlamp
Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
Best for: Hands-free light on AAA batteries or a rechargeable pack
- 400 lumens high / 200 medium / 6 low
- Runs on 3× AAA (included) or Black Diamond BD 1500 Li-ion pack
- Burn time on high: 2.5 hrs (AAA) / 4 hrs (BD 1500); low: 200 / 225 hrs
- IPX8 waterproof (1.1 m for 30 min)
- 86 g with AAA batteries
- Red night-vision mode, lock mode and battery meter
Tradeoffs
- Short runtime on high; use medium or low for long nights
- The rechargeable BD 1500 pack is sold separately
Emergency power outage lights for home: the four types
1. Power failure night lights
These plug into an outlet and charge an internal battery while the power is on. When the outlet goes dead, they switch on. Most also lift off the wall to work as a small flashlight. Jasco says the Energizer 4-in-1 does four jobs: dusk-to-dawn night light, power failure light, tabletop light and handheld flashlight. Eton's Blackout Buddy Swivel uses three emergency LEDs plus a night light LED. Neither maker lists lumens or runtime, so treat them as wayfinding lights, not room lights.
2. Battery backup light bulbs
A battery backup bulb screws into a normal E26 socket and charges while it is used as a regular bulb. Feit's A21 version gives 800 lumens on grid power and up to 3 hours of emergency light. Note the catch: Feit says to press the bulb's power button when the outage starts, so it does not switch over by itself. Put one in the fixture you use most at night.
3. Rechargeable and battery lanterns
Lanterns throw light in all directions and are the best way to light a room for hours. The Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 recharges by USB, solar panel or hand crank, and Goal Zero rates one side on low at up to 320 hours. The Energizer WeatheReady lantern runs on 3 D batteries for 30 hours on high, 90 on low and 500 in night-light mode, which makes it a good long-outage pick if you keep cells on hand.
4. Headlamps and flashlights
A headlamp is the most useful single light in an outage because it leaves both hands free for cooking, the breaker panel or a child. The Black Diamond Spot 400 has a red night-vision mode, a battery meter and a lock mode for storage in a drawer or kit. Its runtime on high is short (2.5 hours on AAA), so run it on medium or low for long nights.
How many lights you need
| Location | Light | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Each hallway and stairway | 1 power failure night light | Lights the way the moment the power fails |
| Each bedroom | 1 power failure light or flashlight by the bed | Something to grab without searching |
| Kitchen or main living area | 1 lantern plus 1 battery backup bulb | Room light for meals and evenings |
| Each person | 1 headlamp | Hands-free light for tasks |
| Garage or utility room | 1 bright flashlight | Breaker panel, garage door release, sump pit |
Placement and upkeep
- 01Plug power failure lights into outlets that are not switched by a wall switch, or they may read a switched-off outlet as an outage.
- 02Put one at the top of every staircase and one near the room where the flashlights live.
- 03Store lanterns and headlamps in the same place every time, and tell everyone in the house where that is.
- 04Twice a year, flip the breaker for a hallway circuit at night and confirm the automatic lights come on.
- 05Check disposable-battery lights at the same time and replace any cells that are weak or leaking.
Rechargeable or disposable batteries
- Built-in rechargeable (power failure lights, bulbs): always charged when the outage starts, but cannot be recharged until power returns unless you can unplug and recharge them some other way. The Energizer 4-in-1's battery is not replaceable.
- USB rechargeable (Lighthouse 600, many headlamps): can be topped up from a power bank, a car or a power station. See how to charge your phone during a power outage for the same charging sources.
- Disposable AA, AAA or D (WeatheReady lantern, Spot 400 on AAA): the simplest choice for a long outage, because a fresh set restores full brightness instantly. Store spares, and see our rechargeable batteries guide if you prefer NiMH cells.
Honest tradeoffs
Power failure lights are small. They help you find your way and find a bigger light; they do not light a room. Battery backup bulbs give real room light, but only for about 3 hours, and only after you press a button. Lanterns and headlamps do the long shift but need someone to turn them on. That is why we suggest a mix instead of a single best light. If you also want to keep a fridge or a CPAP running, size a power station with the BackupPowerAI quiz; lights barely register on it.
For the rest of the night-one checklist, see what to do when the power goes out.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best light for a power outage?
- A mix works best: automatic power failure lights in hallways and bedrooms so you are never in total darkness, a rechargeable or battery lantern for each main room, and a headlamp for each person.
- How does a power failure night light work?
- It plugs into a wall outlet and keeps an internal battery charged. When the outlet loses power, it switches on automatically. Models like the Energizer 4-in-1 and Eton Blackout Buddy Swivel can be lifted out of the outlet and used as a flashlight.
- Are emergency power outage lights rechargeable?
- Most plug-in power failure lights and battery backup bulbs have built-in rechargeable batteries that charge from the outlet or socket. Lanterns vary: the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 recharges by USB, solar or crank, while the Energizer WeatheReady lantern uses D or AA batteries.
- Do battery backup light bulbs turn on automatically?
- Not the Feit model on this list. Feit says to press the bulb's power button when the power goes out. It then gives up to 3 hours of light.
- Did you test these lights?
- No. These are research-based picks based on manufacturer specs and published data. We do not test products.
Sources
- Jasco (Energizer licensee), Energizer 4-in-1 Rechargeable Power Failure Light Sensing LED Night Light (38511), accessed November 1, 2026.
- Eton, American Red Cross Blackout Buddy Swivel, accessed November 1, 2026.
- Feit Electric, 8.8W A21 LED Bulb with Battery Backup (OM60927CABATG2LEDIRP), accessed November 1, 2026.
- U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), Candle Fire Safety, last reviewed April 1, 2023.
- CDC, What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage, reviewed August 26, 2026.
- Ready.gov (FEMA), Power Outages, updated June 4, 2026.
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