Work lights: every type, five stores
Husky and Milwaukee are our top two and we run both, from a 14,000-lumen area light to a pen light. Here is when to use each type, and the comparison with Home Depot and Walmart prices plus buttons for Lowe's, Acme and Amazon.
Before you buy
Battery platform or rechargeable: you need both
Battery platform (M18, 20V, ONE+): runs on your tool packs, more light, longer runtime, one charger covers everything. Run out of packs and the light goes out.
Rechargeable (USB or built-in battery): small, cheap, lives in your pocket or on your hat, always ready. Less light, and it shares nothing with your tools.
Under the house: a 7 ft tower will not stand up in a crawlspace. You work with neck, hat and magnetic lights, and leave an area light at the access hole for the way out. Add a fan and it is a different job.
Which light for which job
★ We own itTower light
Best for: A whole room, driveway or trench at night; 7 ft up means no shadows
Not for: Crawlspaces and attics; it will not stand up in there
360° site light
Best for: Hang it or stand it in the middle of the room: even light on all four walls for drywall and paint
Not for: Throwing light far; it spreads, it does not reach
Flood light
Best for: Pointing a lot of light at one wall, a trench or a car
Not for: Tight spaces where it blinds you
Plug-in area light
Best for: Cheapest lumens per dollar when there is an outlet; leave it on all night
Not for: Wet areas and jobs with no power yet
Pop-up / folding light
Best for: Folds flat in the truck, pops open on a floor or ladder
Not for: Hanging overhead
Tripod light
Best for: Head height light you can aim; the Husky detaches to use as a handheld
Not for: Windy outdoor jobs on light stands
Rafter / hanging light
Best for: Hooks or magnets on joists, rafters and pipes: attics, garages, under the house
Not for: Lighting a big open yard
Lantern
Best for: Set it down anywhere and light the space around you; doubles for power outages
Not for: Spotting something far away
Stick / underhood light
Best for: Inside cabinets, under sinks, under a hood, along a crawlspace pipe
Not for: Lighting a room
Flashlight and pen light
Best for: Inspections, panels, reading labels and serial plates; a pen light lives in your pocket
Not for: Working with both hands
Neck / collar light
Best for: Hands-free light that points where your chest points: crawlspaces, attics, panels
Not for: Long throw; it is a close-up light
Hat-mounted headlamp
Best for: Light goes where you look; clips to a hard hat or cap
Not for: Team work facing each other; you blind your partner
Tower and 360° site lights
| Model | Type | Brightness | Power | Home Depot* | Walmart* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee M18 ROCKET 2131-20 ★ We own it | Tower | 2,500 lm | M18 battery or AC | $249 We paid $150.30 each (we own 4) | $229 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 ROCKET 2136-20 (with charger) | Tower | 6,000 lm | M18 battery or AC | $499 | $598.69 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M12 ROCKET 2132-20 ★ We own it | Tower | 1,400 lm | M12 battery or AC | Check price › | $162 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 RADIUS 2145-20 | 360° | 4,400 lm | M18 battery or AC | $299 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 RADIUS 2144-20 | 360° + flood | 2,200 lm | M18 battery or AC | $159 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Home Depot and Walmart online prices checked October 22, 2026; they change daily and can vary by store. Lowe's only shows a price after you pick a store, and Acme Tools and Amazon can't be read automatically, so use their buttons to compare. "Our receipt" is what we paid at Home Depot.
Flood and area lights
| Model | Type | Brightness | Power | Home Depot* | Walmart* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husky 14,000 lm LED Hybrid Area Light ★ We own it | Area | 14,000 lm | Hybrid | $109 (we paid $98.10) | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Husky 10,000 lm LED Area Utility Light ★ We own it | Area | 10,000 lm | Plug-in | $99.98 (our receipt) | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Husky 5,000 lm Portable K40188Y | Area | 5,000 lm | Plug-in | $49.97 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 ROVER 2368-20 triple panel ★ We own it | Flood + area | 4,500 lm | M18 battery or AC | $199 We paid $124.53 | $169.98 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 ROVER 2366-20 | Flood | 4,000 lm | M18 battery or AC | $179 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 ROVER 2361-20 | Flood | 1,500 lm | M18 | $119 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 ROVER 2359-20 folding | Pop-up / folding flood | 1,000 lm | M18, charges your phone | $99 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M12 ROVER 2367-20 | Flood | Service light | M12 + USB | $89 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Honeywell 3,000 lm collapsible WK153001L100 | Pop-up / folding | 3,000 lm | Plug-in | Check price › | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Home Depot and Walmart online prices checked October 22, 2026; they change daily and can vary by store. Lowe's only shows a price after you pick a store, and Acme Tools and Amazon can't be read automatically, so use their buttons to compare. "Our receipt" is what we paid at Home Depot.
Tripod, hanging, lantern and stick lights
| Model | Type | Brightness | Power | Home Depot* | Walmart* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husky 800 lm Detachable Tripod Light ★ We own it | Tripod | 800 lm | Rechargeable | $24.88 (our receipt) | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 2363-20 lantern / trouble light | Lantern | 700 lm | M18, USB charging | $99 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 2352-20 stick light | Stick, hangs from a hook | 300 lm | M18 | $69 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 2354-20 search light | Spot / search | 1,250 lm | M18 | $119 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M12 2125-20 underhood light | Stick / underhood | Long bar | M12 | $219 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Wagan EL4344 hanging work light | Rafter / hanging, 360° hooks + magnet | 1,000 lm | Rechargeable | Check price › | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Home Depot and Walmart online prices checked October 22, 2026; they change daily and can vary by store. Lowe's only shows a price after you pick a store, and Acme Tools and Amazon can't be read automatically, so use their buttons to compare. "Our receipt" is what we paid at Home Depot.
Flashlights, pen, neck and hat-mounted lights
| Model | Type | Brightness | Power | Home Depot* | Walmart* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husky 500 lm Rechargeable Handheld ★ We own it | Flashlight | 500 lm | Rechargeable | $14.97 (we paid $13.47) | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Defiant 2000 lm LED flashlight ★ We own it | Flashlight | 2,000 lm | Disposable batteries | $29.97 (our receipt) | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Coast G36 handheld flashlight ★ We own it | Flashlight | Compact | Disposable batteries | $21.97 (our receipt) | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee 2160-21 USB flashlight | Flashlight | 800 lm | Rechargeable USB | $69.97 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee 2117-21 neck light + 2105 pen light | Neck + pen | 400 + 100 lm | Rechargeable USB | $124.94 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee 2117-21 neck light | Neck / collar | 400 lm | Rechargeable USB | $99.97 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Husky 210 lm Neck Light NL210HD ★ We own it | Neck / collar | 210 lm | AA batteries | $24.98 (we paid $19.98) | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee 2163-21 hard hat headlamp | Hat-mounted | 600 lm | Rechargeable | $69.97 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee 2115-21 low-profile hard hat headlamp | Hat-mounted | 600 lm | Rechargeable USB | $69.97 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Husky 1000 lm compact headlamp 91308 | Headlamp | 1,000 lm | Dual power, rechargeable | $43.97 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Husky 850 lm wide-angle headlamp PVL-HLP-0006 | Headlamp | 850 lm | Dual power, rechargeable | $38.47 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Coast FLX65R voice-control headlamp | Headlamp | 700 lm | Rechargeable | $32.97 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Husky 650 lm motion-sensor headlamp 92115 | Headlamp | 650 lm | Dual power | $14.88 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Defiant 550 lm headlamp 00488 | Headlamp | 550 lm | Alkaline | $14.97 | Check price › | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Home Depot and Walmart online prices checked October 22, 2026; they change daily and can vary by store. Lowe's only shows a price after you pick a store, and Acme Tools and Amazon can't be read automatically, so use their buttons to compare. "Our receipt" is what we paid at Home Depot.