Best lighting and magnifiers for painting miniatures

Daylight lamps, magnifiers and what 'CRI' means.

Good light is the cheapest upgrade most painters can make: you see colours as they really are, and you squint less. Add magnification if you paint small details or your eyes are tired.

What to look for

Daylight colour temperature, around 5000-6500K, so colours look the same as in daylight.
High colour accuracy: CRI 90 or more if it's listed.
An adjustable arm, so the light comes from in front and above, not behind you.
A magnifier lamp (lens with a light ring) or a head-worn visor for detail work.

Budget

Daylight LED desk lamp Check AmazonAny adjustable LED lamp with a 5000K+ setting and high CRI.
Daylight bulbs Check AmazonSwap your existing lamp's bulb for a 5000-6500K, high-CRI one.

Mid-range

LED magnifier lamp Check AmazonLens and light in one, clamped to the desk.
Head-band magnifier visor Check AmazonHands-free magnification that moves with you.

Premium

Daylight Company lamps Also on AmazonLong-standing craft lighting brand with magnifier models.
- Electra Table Lamp £104.49 at Element Games
- Lumi 51cm Intermediate Level Lighting Solution £113.23 at Element Games
- Lumi 51cm Intermediate Level Lighting Solution (Black Edition) £113.23 at Element Games
- Luminos 65cm Advanced Level Lighting Solution £223.24 at Element Games
- and 2 more on the site: search "Daylight Company magnifier lamp"

From the UK shops we track

Live prices, cheapest shop shown; click for every shop.

Product	Cheapest	Shop
Warhammer Layer: Tau Light Ochre - 12ml Lowest price we've seenLayer paint	£2.14	Gaming Frome
Warhammer Contrast: Warp Lightning - 18ml Lowest price we've seenContrast paint	£3.68	Gaming Frome
Warpaints Fanatic - Diviner Light Lowest price we've seenArmy Painter paint	£2.75	Mighty Lancer Games
Warpaints Fanatic - Inner Light Lowest price we've seenArmy Painter paint	£2.75	Mighty Lancer Games
Warpaints Fanatic Wash - Light Tone Lowest price we've seenArmy Painter paint	£2.99	Zatu
Speedpaint - Blinding Light Lowest price we've seenArmy Painter paint	£3.49	Loaded Dice
Light Green Blue 18ml - Model ColourVallejo paint	£2.37	Goblin Gaming
Light Mud 18ml - Model ColourVallejo paint	£2.37	Goblin Gaming
Light Yellow 18ml - Model ColourVallejo paint	£2.37	Goblin Gaming
Light Grey 18ml - Model ColourVallejo paint	£2.66	Goblin Gaming
Light Orange 18ml - Model ColourVallejo paint	£2.66	Goblin Gaming
Light Turquoise 18ml - Model ColourVallejo paint	£2.66	Goblin Gaming

Tips

Two light sources from different sides reduce shadows from your hand.
Take photos of your models under the same light so colours look right online.

Prices are the cheapest in stock at the UK shops we track, checked every hour; click a product for every shop. Amazon links open an Amazon search; as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. We don't take payment to recommend products.