Best Ring Lights: Desk, Clip On, Tall Tripod Stand, and Studio Picks

For a standing all-rounder the UBeesize 12 inch is the easiest pick here, because its listing bundles a 12 inch ring, a 62 inch tripod, a phone holder and a remote in one box, so you are not sourcing a stand separately. If you work at a computer, the Anautin or the desk ring light sit by the screen instead, and the NEEWER 18 inch is the choice when you want a larger studio ring. Match the size and stand to where you actually shoot rather than assuming the biggest ring is best.

A desk ring light, like the Anautin fixture or the desk model here, sits on or clips to your desk or monitor and lights your face at the screen for calls and recording. A tripod ring light, such as the UBeesize, EMART, STALLY and SENSYNE, stands on the floor so you can shoot standing or seated from a distance. Desk models save space and suit a fixed workstation, while floor stands give you height and reach for selfies, makeup and full-body video. Pick the one that matches your shooting distance.

Diameter affects how soft and wide the light is, and the picks here range from the 10 inch EMART and 10.2 inch STALLY up to the 12 inch UBeesize and the 18 inch NEEWER. A 10 to 12 inch ring is a common all-round size for selfies and video at normal distances, while an 18 inch ring is larger and aimed at makeup, lash or photography work. Some listings here, such as the Anautin and the desk model, do not state a diameter, so check the current product page if exact size matters to you.

It varies by product and not every listing states it. The NEEWER lists a fixed 5600K daylight output, and the STALLY lists 96 RGB modes for colored light rather than only white. The other picks here do not state a color temperature range in their listings, so if you need to switch between warm and cool white you should confirm the color modes on the current product page before buying. Treat a stated figure like 5600K as what that one listing reports, not a guarantee across the whole guide.

Several do, but not all, so check the listing. The UBeesize, EMART, STALLY and NEEWER all list a phone holder, and the SENSYNE lists a phone tripod that holds the phone. The Anautin and desk models are built around a monitor or desk rather than a phone mount. If you plan to shoot with a phone, pick one of the stands that names a phone holder so you are not adding an adapter separately.

The UBeesize lists a remote and the SENSYNE lists a wireless remote, which let you trigger a shot without reaching for the phone. The EMART, STALLY, NEEWER, Anautin and desk models do not state a remote in their listings. A remote is handy for solo selfies and video where you are standing away from the phone, so if that matters, choose one of the picks that names one and confirm it on the product page.

The STALLY lists the tallest stand at 75 inches, followed by the UBeesize at 62 inches, the EMART at 55 inches and the SENSYNE at 50 inches. A taller stand clears a seated subject and gives more framing room for standing or full-body shots, while a shorter stand like the SENSYNE is easier to fit in a small room. The desk and Anautin models are not floor stands at all, so their height is set by your desk and monitor instead.

The Anautin is built specifically for video calls, with its listing naming a portable, 360 degree adjustable fixture for a monitor, laptop or desktop and use with Zoom and streaming, and the desk ring light is aimed at a computer setup too. The floor-stand models can also light a call but take up more space and are better suited to selfies and recording. For a tidy desk purely for calls, the desk-style picks are the more natural fit.