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DEWALT work light buying guide
DEWALT work lights: which one for the job and your batteries
Choose by where the light goes. For hands-free light at the work, the DCL044 has a magnet and kickstand. To light a room from a hook, the DCL050 gives 1,000 lumens. For a whole area, the DCL079 tripod raises the head to 7 feet. Under a car hood, the DCL045B spans 51 to 74 in. Most are bare tools that run on DEWALT batteries; the DCL182 and DCL183 charge by USB instead.
Linked options (both run on DEWALT batteries sold separately):
- Under a car or truck hood: Check the DEWALT DCL045B hood light (bare tool) on Amazon
- Brightest freestanding light, up to 5,000 lumens: Check the DEWALT DCL074 all-purpose light on Amazon
Prepared from DEWALT's product pages for eleven lights, read October 10, 2026. We have not tested these lights. Lumens and runtimes are DEWALT's own, and DEWALT states each runtime with a named battery and setting. The DCL045B and DCL074 links go to Amazon listings checked on October 10, 2026 as new, sold by Amazon.com and in stock; offers change, so check the model number on the listing. The other lights are not linked because we have not confirmed an Amazon offer for them.
Choose by where the light goes
| Your need | Light | What DEWALT lists | Check or skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands-free at a panel or cabinet | DCL044 hand-held work light | 165 lumens; strong magnet, kickstand, belt hook and hanging; head rotates 360° and pivots | Bare tool; the overview says 160 lumens. |
| A small light on a hook | DCL040 LED work light | Integral hook; head rotates 120°; up to 32 hours per charge with a DCB205 battery | Bare tool; 210 or 110 lumens (see below). |
| Light a room from a hook | DCL050 hand-held area light | 1,000 and 300 lumen settings; 140° pivoting head; telescoping hook rotates 360° and hangs from 2 in. materials | Bare tool; takes an optional belt hook accessory. |
| A long beam | DCL043 pivoting work light | 1,500 and 500 lumen settings; 90° pivoting head; seen up to 508 yards (1,525 ft); stands on its base or hangs from a hook | Bare tool. |
| Compact, on any DEWALT battery | DCL077B compact task light | Up to 2,000 lumens, 3 settings; 360° handle; tripod mounts 5/8 in.-11 and 1/4 in.-20; IP54; 12V MAX, 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT batteries | Bare tool; 2.8 or 3.3 lb (see below). |
| Brightest freestanding light | DCL074 TOOL CONNECT all-purpose light | Up to 5,000 lumens; stands or hangs; IP54; up to 11 hours on a DCB206 6.0Ah battery on low; app control | 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT batteries only. DCL074 on Amazon |
| Light from above, over a whole area | DCL079 tripod light | Telescoping pole to 7 ft; 3 brightness settings; over 11 hours on a DCB206 battery on low | DCL079B is the light only; DCL079R1 adds a battery and charger. |
| Under a car or truck hood | DCL045B hood light | 1,700 lumens; stretches 51 to 74 in. with padded hooks that rotate 360°; high, low and single-arm modes; up to 10 hours with a DCB204 | Bare tool; not with the DCB615 battery. DCL045B on Amazon |
| No DEWALT batteries | DCL182 task light or DCL183 flashlight | Built-in battery, USB charging; up to 1,000 lumens; IP54; magnets. Up to 12 hours on low for the DCL182, up to 6.5 hours on spot low for the DCL183 | The 5VDC 3A power brick is not included. |
Batteries and kits
- Light only: every light here except the DCL079R1 kit and the two USB lights is listed as tool only, with no battery or charger.
- DCL079R1 kit: the tripod light with a 20V MAX 6.0Ah battery and a 20V MAX charger.
- Which batteries fit: the DCL077B and DCL045B take 12V MAX as well as 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT batteries (the hood light excludes the DCB615). The DCL074 takes 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT batteries.
- USB lights: the DCL182 charges in as little as 85 minutes and the DCL183 in as little as 75 minutes, each with the included cable and a 5VDC 3A power brick that is not included.
The battery-powered lights list a 3-year limited warranty, 1 year of free service and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. The DCL182 and DCL183 pages list a 3-year limited warranty only.
Reading DEWALT's figures
- Runtime depends on the battery and setting. DEWALT's DCL074 and DCL079 runtimes are with a DCB206 6.0Ah battery on low; the DCL040's 32 hours is with a DCB205; the DCL045B's 10 hours is with a DCB204.
- Some pages disagree with themselves. The DCL040 features list 210 lumens and its specifications 110. The DCL044 gives 160 lumens in its overview and 165 in its features. The DCL077B says 2.8 lb in its features and 3.3 lb in its specifications.
- The two tripod listings differ. The light-only DCL079B lists up to 4,000 lumens and IP55; the DCL079R1 kit lists 3,000 lumens on high and IP54.
When to skip one
- Skip the battery lights if you have no DEWALT batteries and do not plan to buy them; the DCL182 and DCL183 charge by USB.
- Skip the DCL074 if you only have 12V MAX batteries; DEWALT lists 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT.
- Skip the tripod for close work in tight spaces; DEWALT lists the light-only DCL079B at 20.95 lb and 41.35 in. long.