DEWALT Task Lights: Lighting Up Your Next Project

Best for: Big-area flood lighting on DEWALT 20V packs

Pros

• 15,000 lumens claimed
• Three adjustable heads
• USB and Type-C charging output
• Low-voltage battery protection

Cons

• Made by LIVOWALNY, not DEWALT
• Battery not included

High score Our score: 9.2/10

Dewalt

DEWALT 12V/20V MAX LED Work Light, Compact with 360 Degree Rotating Handle, 2000 Lumens of Brightness, Cordless, Bare Tool Only (DCL077B)

9.2/10Our score, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

DEWALT 12V 20V MAX LED Work

Best for: Versatile area lighting on any DEWALT battery

Pros

• 2,000 lumens on high
• 360-degree rotating handle
• Two tripod mount threads
• IP54 dust and water rating

Cons

• Battery and charger not included

The DEWALT 12V 20V MAX LED Work light, model DCL077, is the one DEWALT itself calls its most versatile task light. It is a compact box-style light with a handle that rotates a full 360 degrees, so you can stand it up, lay it down or hang it at an angle and still point the light where you need it. Underneath are two tripod mounting threads, a 5/8-inch-11 and a 1/4-inch-20, which means it can sit on a common camera tripod or a jobsite light stand.

Brightness tops out at 2,000 lumens, with three brightness settings. Lumens are simply a measure of how much light comes out, and 2,000 is enough to light a small room or a whole side of a car. The listing describes the color as a natural daylight hue, which makes it easier to see true paint and wire colors. It carries an IP54 rating: the “5” means protection against dust, and the “4” means it can handle splashing water, so a bit of rain or a wet floor is not a problem, though it is not meant to be submerged.

The big advantage is battery flexibility. The description says it runs on DEWALT 12V MAX, 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT batteries, which is unusual. At 2.8 pounds for the tool alone, it is light enough to carry around. It is sold bare, so budget for a battery and charger if the person you are buying for does not already own one. It pairs well with a DEWALT 12V combo kit for someone just starting a smaller-tool collection.

Dewalt

DEWALT LED Light, Powerful and Compact Work Light, Magentic Handle, USB-C Rechargeable (DCL182)

8.2/10Our score, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

DEWALT LED Light

Best for: Pocket light without buying a tool battery

Pros

• Built-in USB-C rechargeable battery
• Magnet and hook for hands-free use
• Belt clip
• IP54 rated

Cons

• Power brick not included
• Up to 6.5 hours runtime

The DEWALT LED Light, model DCL182, is the odd one out in a good way: it does not use a DEWALT tool battery at all. Instead, it has a built-in lithium-ion battery that charges over USB-C, the same kind of plug many phones use. That makes it a great gift for someone who does not own any DEWALT tools yet but still wants a tough work light.

It puts out up to 1,000 lumens on high mode. For hands-free use it has a strong magnet on the back to stick to metal surfaces, a hook to hang on hoses, pipes or cables, and a belt clip for carrying. It is IP54 rated for dust and water. The description lists up to 6.5 hours of runtime and a charge time of as little as 75 minutes, but only when using a 5V 3A power brick, which is not included, so a slower phone charger will take longer.

This is the light for quick fixes, glovebox storage and anyone who wants brightness without buying into a battery platform. If you need hours of steady area light for a long project, the battery-powered DCL077 above is the stronger choice.

Best for: Seeing far across yards and jobsites

Pros

• 1,500 lumens spotlight
• Visible up to 508 yards
• 90-degree pivoting head
• Belt hook and integral hook

Cons

• Battery not included
• Narrow spot, not a room light

Dewalt

DEWALT 20V MAX LED Work Light, Rechargeable Flashlight, Pivoting Head, Bare Tool Only (DCL050)

8.2/10Our score, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

DEWALT 20V MAX LED Work Light

Best for: Hanging light for under-sink and attic work

Pros

• 1,000 lumens on high
• 140-degree pivoting head
• Telescoping rotating hook
• Non-marring lens cover

Cons

• Bare tool only
• Listing gives conflicting low settings

The DEWALT 20V MAX LED Work Light with model number DCL050 is a handheld area light with three LEDs and a head that pivots through 140 degrees. Its standout feature is a built-in telescoping hook that also rotates 360 degrees, so it can hang from materials up to 2 inches thick, such as a stud, a pipe or a shelf edge. An over-molded lens cover adds durability and will not scratch surfaces you set it on.

The listing says 1,000 lumens on high and 300 lumens on low, but another feature line says 500 and 250 lumens, so the exact settings are unclear from the listing. What is consistent is a 1,000-lumen maximum. A belt hook accessory can be added, but it is sold separately, and the battery and charger are not included.

Pick the DCL050 if the person you are shopping for often works under sinks, in attics or inside cabinets where hanging the light matters more than raw brightness. If you want a classic handheld flashlight instead, our guide to the DEWALT 20 volt flashlight covers that style in more depth.

High score Our score: 9.2/10

Dewalt

DEWALT 20V MAX* LED Work Light/Flashlight (DCL040)

9.2/10Our score, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

DEWALT 20V MAX* LED Work Light

Best for: Long runtime close-up inspection

Pros

• 11 to 25 hours runtime
• 120-degree rotating head
• Low heat LED
• Integral hook

Cons

• Only 110 lumens
• Not water resistant

The DEWALT 20V MAX* LED Work Light, model DCL040, is DEWALT’s long-standing flashlight-style light for its 20V MAX batteries. Its output is modest at 110 lumens, which is good for close-up work like reading a label behind an appliance, but not for lighting a whole room. The head rotates 120 degrees and an integral hook lets you hang it in different spots.

What it gives up in brightness it makes up for in runtime: the listing says 11 to 25 hours depending on the battery’s amp-hour size. Amp-hours (Ah) describe how much energy a battery holds, so a bigger 5Ah pack lasts longer than a small 2Ah pack. The LED also runs cooler than older Xenon bulbs, and the listing mentions a visual LED bar graph for voltage detection. The specifications list it as not water resistant, and the battery and charger are sold separately.

This is the pick for someone who wants a simple, long-lasting light for close-in tasks. Anyone who needs to light a larger space should step up to the DCL050 or the DCL077.

This one needs a clear note: the LED Work Light Compatible with DeWalt is made by a brand called LIVOWALNY, not by DEWALT. It is a third-party light designed to run on DeWalt 20V lithium-ion batteries such as the DCB200, DCB203 and DCB205. DEWALT does not make or warranty it, so treat it as an accessory built for DEWALT batteries rather than a DEWALT product.

The listing claims 15,000 lumens from 196 LED beads spread across three heads, a center head plus two side heads, with 6500K daylight-colored light. Kelvin (K) describes light color: around 6500K looks cool and bright, like daylight. The specifications also list 150 watts in some places and 50 watts in others, so the exact power figure is inconsistent in the listing. It has two modes, a lower 70W mode for longer battery life and a 150W high mode. It also includes USB and Type-C output ports so it can charge a phone in a pinch, and low-voltage protection that shuts it off before the battery is drained too far.

Choose it if you want to flood a driveway, campsite or garage with light from a battery you already own. If you prefer to stay fully within the DEWALT brand, a DEWALT light tower is the official route for large-area lighting.

The DEWALT 20V MAX LED Work Light with model number DCL043 is a handheld spotlight. It uses four LEDs to reach 1,500 lumens, and the listing says its beam can be seen up to 508 yards, or 1,525 feet, away. That long “throw” makes it the DEWALT 20V spotlight to choose for checking a fence line, searching a yard at night or lighting the far end of a warehouse.

It has two brightness settings, one for maximum output and one for longer runtime. The head pivots 90 degrees, and because it can stand on its own base, you can aim it upward or sideways without holding it. It also has a belt hook, an integral hook and an over-molded lens cover. It is listed as water resistant, and the battery is not included.

Because a spotlight focuses light into a tight beam, it is not the best choice for lighting a whole room. For that, the DCL077 or the third-party flood light will spread light more evenly.