Top 6 compared
The best bike lights
Lights that help drivers see you on dark mornings and evenings, wherever you ride.
44 checked · 6 made the cut
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How this works
The top 6 at a glance
Bike lights are small rechargeable lamps that clip to the handlebar and seatpost: a white one at the front, a red one at the back. There are two kinds of front light. Small ‘be seen’ lights make the bike visible on lit streets; brighter ‘to see’ lights, a few hundred lumens and up, light the road itself on unlit lanes and towpaths.
In the UK a white front light and a red rear light are a legal requirement between sunset and sunrise. Every light here recharges from a USB cable and is made to be ridden in the rain. Most come as a front-and-rear pair; a pack of rear lights needs a white front light alongside.
What matters
- Run time in the mode you’ll actually use, not the lowest.
- A steady beam, not flashing, where there are no streetlights.
- A bracket that tilts, so the beam can point at the road.
#1Glangeh Ultra-Slim Rechargeable Bike Lights
£10–£20
- Light at 27g each
- Both charge in 1.5 hours
- Four straps in the box
Tiny 27g lights, front and rear, that fit in seconds without tools and slip into a pocket when you lock up. Both charge together from one split USB-C cable in an hour or so: plug them in at work and they’re ready for the ride home.
What owners say: Owners rate the build and the brightness, and find them very easy to fit without tools on any bike.
A closer look: At 250 lumens the front light is for being seen on lit streets rather than lighting up a dark lane, so pair it with something brighter for unlit roads. Four straps come in the box, enough to move the pair between two bikes or keep a spare for when one perishes.
Best for: Fitting in a pocket
- Lights
- Front and rear
- Front brightness
- 250
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, USB-C
- Run time
- –
- Modes
- 4 + 6
- Weather
- IP65
#2Glangeh Upgraded Bike Light Set with Side Lights (Z46)
£10–£20
- Bright 1000-lumen front light
- Side warning lights
- Up to 19 hours on low
A 1000-lumen front light plus side warning lights that shine out to the left and right, so the bike shows up at junctions as well as from ahead and behind. Four front and six rear modes include a daytime flash, and one two-port cable charges both lights in 1–2 hours.
What owners say: Owners find it very bright, quick to charge and dependable in the rain, say it’s easy to install, and like the range of settings and the flashing modes front and back.
A closer look: Switch to the daytime flashing mode on grey or foggy days, which is what the maker designed it for, rather than saving the lights for after dark. The side lights only help traffic beside you if the front light sits level, so check the bracket hasn’t slipped round after a bumpy ride.
Best for: Being seen from the side
- Lights
- Front and rear, side lights
- Front brightness
- 1000
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, USB (plug not stated)
- Run time
- Up to 19 hrs front, 30 hrs rear (low)
- Modes
- 4 + 6
- Weather
- IP65
#3BLITZU Cyborg 120T Rear Bike Lights (2-pack)
£10–£20
- Bright 120-lumen rear lights
- Mount tilts up or down
- Fits helmets and saddle bags
- Rear lights only, no front light
Two rear lights in one pack, so one can go on the seatpost and the other on a helmet, a rucksack or a second bike. Each charges by USB-C and runs for up to 10 hours, and the flexible mount fits seatposts, seat stays and saddle bags.
What owners say: Owners rate the quality and brightness, find them easy to fit and use them on helmets as well as bikes, and say the battery lasts well.
A closer look: Aim the hinge so each light points straight back at following traffic rather than down at the road, and check it after fitting a saddle bag, which can push it off line. With two in the pack, keep the spare charged in a bag so a flat light on the way home can be swapped in a minute.
Best for: A pair of rear lights
- Lights
- Rear only (2 lights)
- Front brightness
- No front light
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, USB-C
- Run time
- Up to 10 hrs
- Modes
- –
- Weather
- IPX5
#4Rolgno 1000 Lumen Bike Light Set (front and rear)
£10–£20
- Bright 1000-lumen front light
- Four hours at full power
- Aluminium alloy casing
A 1000-lumen headlight with eight extra floodlights for a wider spread, bright enough for unlit lanes as well as town, plus a matching rear light, both charging from one two-port USB-C cable and housed in aluminium alloy.
What owners say: Owners find them very bright with plenty of settings, well built and secure on the bike, and say a charge lasts for weeks; some had a front light that wouldn’t switch on.
A closer look: Modes change with single clicks, double clicks and long presses, so a quick look at the manual saves fumbling at the roadside. The headlight is built into an aluminium alloy casing, but it’s still worth unclipping it from the bracket when the bike is parked in town, where it could be taken.
Best for: Surviving drops
- Lights
- Front and rear
- Front brightness
- 1000
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, USB-C
- Run time
- 4 hrs high, 19 hrs low
- Modes
- 8 + 7
- Weather
- IP65
#5CIRYCASE Bike Light Set with Spot and Flood LEDs (Q4)
£10–£20
- Separate spot and flood LEDs
- Waterproof to IPX6
- Low-battery warning light
Each light pairs two main LEDs with a ring of 19 smaller ones on separate switches, so the front can run as a spot, a wide flood or both, and the rear can glow or flash. Silicone straps fit it by hand, and the switch flashes green when the battery is low.
What owners say: Owners say the quality is excellent.
A closer look: Use the main LEDs on their own for a focused beam on the road ahead, and switch the outer ring on as well on dark bends and unlit paths, where a wider spread of light helps. The front light can sit horizontally or vertically on the bar, so try both to see which throws the beam where you want it.
Best for: Spot or flood beam
- Lights
- Front and rear
- Front brightness
- 400
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, USB-C
- Run time
- Up to 58 hrs (slow flash)
- Modes
- 8 + 12
- Weather
- IPX6
#6Balhvit USB Rechargeable Bike Light Set
£10–£20
- Two spare straps included
- Fits seatposts and frame tubes
A simple front-and-back set with stretchy silicone mounts that fit handlebars, seatposts and frame tubes without tools, a spare pair of straps in the box, and a covered USB port for wet rides.
What owners say: Owners find them bright and easy to fit securely on tubes and handlebars, and say they cope with most weather; some report the rear light breaking apart.
A closer look: Mount the rear light where a saddle bag or a long coat won’t hide it, lower on the seatpost or on a seat stay. Each light has four modes, so a common set-up is the front on steady and the rear flashing on busy roads.
Best for: Simple controls
- Lights
- Front and rear
- Front brightness
- 400
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, USB (plug not stated)
- Run time
- 6+ hrs
- Modes
- 4 + 4
- Weather
- IPX4
Side by side
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 6.
| Feature | #1Glangeh Q5 Ultra-Slim | #2Glangeh Z46 Upgraded | #3BLITZU Cyborg 120T | #4Rolgno G90 1000lm | #5CIRYCASE Q4 | #6Balhvit USB Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | ||||||
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 8.9 |
| Price | £10–£20 | £10–£20 | £10–£20 | £10–£20 | £10–£20 | £10–£20 |
| Lights | Front and rear | Front and rear, side lights | Rear only (2 lights) | Front and rear | Front and rear | Front and rear |
| Front brightness | 250 | 1000 | No front light | 1000 | 400 | 400 |
| Power and charging | Built-in battery, USB-C | Built-in battery, USB (plug not stated) | Built-in battery, USB-C | Built-in battery, USB-C | Built-in battery, USB-C | Built-in battery, USB (plug not stated) |
| Run time | – | Up to 19 hrs front, 30 hrs rear (low) | Up to 10 hrs | 4 hrs high, 19 hrs low | Up to 58 hrs (slow flash) | 6+ hrs |
| Modes | 4 + 6 | 4 + 6 | – | 8 + 7 | 8 + 12 | 4 + 4 |
| Weather | IP65 | IP65 | IPX5 | IP65 | IPX6 | IPX4 |
| Best for | Fitting in a pocket | Being seen from the side | A pair of rear lights | Surviving drops | Spot or flood beam | Simple controls |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
How we checked these
How 44 became 6
We found 44 bike light listings. One was the same light set listed again, and 24 were rated too low and/or had too few ratings to compete. That left 19, which we narrowed down step by step:
- Ratings, reviews and salesFor the 19, we then checked the ratings and reviews further, and how many people buy each one. Owners talked most about brightness and build quality, then how easily they fit. After these checks, we dropped eight more.11 left
- Features weighed upThe 11 left were compared on what comes in each set, front brightness, charging, run time, light modes and weather sealing. Once everything was weighed up together, we dropped five more. The #1 has every feature you’d expect from a bike light set.6 made the cut
- Value for moneyEvery bike light here is worth what it costs. A dearer one is only here if it gives you more.
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? Tell usBack to top
