Outdoor lanterns

A lantern sits on a surface, hangs or can be moved, and often needs no work on the electrical system. The first choice concerns power: battery or cable.

Battery-powered or corded outdoor lanterns

A rechargeable lamp goes wherever you want, even far from sockets, and you bring it back inside at the end of the evening. Corded ones have no charging issue and can give more light, but must be near a socket suitable for outdoor use: if there is none, ask an electrician. Clara by Contardi is rechargeable, in three sizes. Not all versions of a family are: check the product page.

At full power, rechargeable lamps usually last from 6 to 12 hours, depending on the model, and longer with the light dimmed. Charging usually takes from 6 to 10 hours. Charge the lamp under cover: the charger and charging base are usually not protected from water like the lamp.

Designer outdoor lanterns: floor, table and pendant

Cell by Karman, the metal wire lantern designed by Matteo Ugolini, comes as a floor, table and pendant lamp. Abachina by Karman is a floor lamp, in two heights, also rechargeable, and a wall lamp. Mayday by Flos, by Konstantin Grcic, has a hook to hang it and a handle to move it.

Garden lanterns: how well they resist rain

The portable lamps we have checked range from IP54 to IP65. IP54 protects against dust and splashes, IP65 against jets of water too. Neither is made to be immersed. If the product page does not state the rating, bring it inside when it rains.

A rechargeable lamp gives atmospheric light: almost always a few hundred lumens, useful for sitting at the table but not very suitable for reading. Colour temperatures are warm, usually 2700 or 3000 K.

To choose by brand, start from the outdoor lamps of Karman, Contardi, Estiluz, Flos or Foscarini. More portable lamps are among the outdoor table lamps; for everything else, go back to Outdoor lamps.