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Light in a power outage: lantern, headlamp, improvised room light and phone compared

How do I light my home safely when the power goes out?

Battery or rechargeable lantern, headlamp, a lamp with a water bottle as room light and the phone's torch compared. Candles are deliberately not one of the methods: authorities recommend torches rather than candles during power outages, because naked flames in the dark are a constant fire risk. Run-time and brightness figures are deliberately not given – they depend on the device, batteries and temperature.

Starting situation
Legend
Select methods to compare side by sideMethodNo fire or CO riskLights up a roomHands freeLasts over several eveningsAvailable without preparationSpares the phone
Safe lighting without candlesYesYesPartlyYesNoYes
Headlamp and batteries: choosing, storing, using in the coldYesPartlyYesDependsNoYes
Improvising light – safely and without open flames indoorsYesPartlyPartlyDependsPartlyDepends
The phone as a signalling device: light, screen, sound, emergency functionYesNoNoNoYesNo

Legend:● Yes◐ Partly◇ Depends○ No* = note available

Safe lighting without candles

Effort:
Low if prepared
Needs:
Battery or rechargeable lantern, stock of batteries or charged rechargeables
  • No fire or CO riskYes

    LED light hardly gets warm and ignites nothing if knocked over.

  • Lights up a roomYes

    Lanterns shine all around and work as room light.

  • Hands freePartly

    Stands on a table or hangs; when walking it has to be carried.

  • Lasts over several eveningsYes

    With LED and a battery stock; actual run time depends on the model.

  • Available without preparationNo

    Lantern and batteries must be bought and checked beforehand.

  • Spares the phoneYes
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Headlamp and batteries: choosing, storing, using in the cold

Effort:
Low
Needs:
Headlamp with a low mode, suitable batteries or rechargeables, a reserve
  • No fire or CO riskYes

    Do not keep using damaged or swollen lithium batteries.

  • Lights up a roomPartly

    Directional light; with a filled water bottle it becomes room light.

  • Hands freeYes

    Its greatest advantage – for example when cooking outdoors or caring for relatives.

  • Lasts over several eveningsDepends

    The low mode lasts many times longer than the brightest; cold reduces usable capacity.

  • Available without preparationNo

    Only if a headlamp with working batteries is at hand.

  • Spares the phoneYes
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Improvising light – safely and without open flames indoors

Effort:
A few minutes
Needs:
An existing lamp (e.g. a headlamp), a filled clear water bottle or jug, light-coloured surfaces
  • No fire or CO riskYes

    Applies only to diffusing battery light – not to improvised oil lamps or can burners.

  • Lights up a roomPartly

    Even and glare-free, but enough for a table rather than a large room.

  • Hands freePartly

    Stands as table light; the lamp itself is then tied up.

  • Lasts over several eveningsDepends

    Depends entirely on the lamp used and its mode.

  • Available without preparationPartly

    Uses what is at hand, but needs a light source.

  • Spares the phoneDepends

    Only if the phone's torch is not the light source.

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The phone as a signalling device: light, screen, sound, emergency function

Effort:
Immediate
Needs:
Charged smartphone
  • No fire or CO riskYes
  • Lights up a roomNo

    Small, directional beam; weaker than good lamps.

  • Hands freeNo

    Has to be held or put down.

  • Lasts over several eveningsNo

    Drains the limited battery – a scarce resource in an outage.

  • Available without preparationYes

    Almost always at hand – good for the first minutes.

  • Spares the phoneNo

    The battery is needed for emergency calls, warnings and contact with family.

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