Rechargeable Wall Sconces: Battery Life, Charging and Mounting Guide

A rechargeable wall sconce is a wall light with a battery built in. There is no cord to hide, no junction box and no electrician. You fix a small plate to the wall, the light clips or snaps onto it, and when the battery runs low you take the light down and charge it by USB like a phone.

We sell six of them at BO-HA, and the questions we get about them are nearly always the same four: how long does a charge last, how bright are they, how do they stay on the wall, and are they worth it compared with a plug-in sconce. This guide answers those with the real numbers from our own spec sheets, including the places where a battery light is the wrong choice.

How long does a charge last?

It depends almost entirely on how the light is switched on. There are two very different ways to use one:

• Steady light (on until you switch it off): expect roughly 8 to 15 hours per charge. Odin, with its 500 mAh battery, gives about 8 hours on steady light. Almod and Abel use a 2000 mAh battery and are rated for up to 15 hours.
• Motion sensor mode: the light only comes on for a few seconds when someone walks past, so one charge stretches much further. Odin is rated for 1 to 3 months in sensor mode; Arne for 4 to 6 months.

So the honest answer is: if you want a sconce that stays on for three hours every evening, you will be charging it every three to five days. If it lights a hallway or a closet on motion, you might charge it a handful of times a year.

Brightness setting matters too. Running a dimmable model at half brightness stretches the battery noticeably compared with full power, which is one reason the dimmable models (Almod, Abel, Karl and the touch version of Rikard) are good picks for a bedroom.

How do you charge a rechargeable sconce?

Every model we sell charges over USB, and the cable comes in the box. The routine is the same for all of them:

1. Lift the light off its wall plate. On the magnetic models it simply pulls away; there is nothing to unscrew.
2. Plug the USB cable into the light and into any USB phone charger or laptop port.
3. Put it back on the wall when it is done.

Almod charges fully in under 3 hours through a Type-C cable. Odin also uses a Type-C port. Abel takes a standard 5V 1A USB input, the same as an older phone charger.

A practical tip if you have a pair: charge them on alternate nights. That way one side of the bed is never dark while the other is on charge.

How do they stay on the wall?

Most rechargeable sconces use a magnetic mount. A small metal disc or plate goes on the wall, and the light sticks to it by magnet. On Arne the disc is 6 cm (2.4 in) across and fixes with adhesive, so there is no drilling at all. Almod's wall base is 6.5 x 4.5 cm and can go up with the included 3M adhesive or with screws if you want it more secure.

Adhesive works well on smooth painted walls, tile and wood. It struggles on textured plaster, fresh paint (wait a couple of weeks after painting) and wallpaper. If your wall is textured, use the screw option where there is one.

The magnet is also why these lights are so easy to move. If you change your mind about the height, you can try a new spot in seconds before committing the plate.

Are they bright enough?

This is where we would rather set expectations than oversell. A battery sconce is not as bright as a hardwired fixture with a full-size bulb. Arne puts out around 350 lumens. For comparison, a standard 60 watt equivalent bulb gives about 800 lumens.

That makes rechargeable sconces very good for:

• bedside light and a soft glow to fall asleep by
• hallways, stairs and landings at night, especially on motion
• closets, wardrobes and cabinets
• accent light on art or a gallery wall where a cord would spoil the look

They are not the right choice as the only light in a room, or for reading every night for an hour or more. If you read in bed a lot, Almod is the one to look at because it has a separate focused reading light alongside the night light, plus a remote so you do not have to get up. If you want brightness without charging at all, a plug-in wall sconce is the better tool for that job.

Motion sensor, touch dimming or remote: which one?

The switching style decides how the light fits into your day, so pick it by room.

• Motion sensor for hallways, stairs, entryways and closets. Odin senses movement up to about 3 to 4 meters in front of it across 120 degrees, then switches off 15 seconds after the last movement. It also has a steady mode. Arne has a motion range of up to 4 meters (13 ft) and lifts off its disc to double as a flashlight.
• Touch dimming for bedrooms and living rooms. Rikard comes in a touch dimming version and a motion sensor version, in black or white. Karl is dimmable with a touch switch and comes in black, white or wood.
• Remote control for beside the bed. Almod has a remote, two light sources (reading and night light), three color temperatures and a magnetic ball joint that rotates 360 degrees.
• A lantern look for a more traditional room. Abel is a wall lantern with three dimming levels and a 2000 mAh battery.

Quick comparison

Arne and Almod come as a single sconce, a pair, or sets of 3 or 4, which helps if you want matching lights either side of a bed or all the way down a hallway. You can see all six together in our battery operated and rechargeable wall sconces collection.

Rechargeable vs plug-in vs hardwired

Our view: if there is an outlet nearby and you do not mind a cord, plug-in wins on brightness. If there is no outlet, if you rent, or if a cord would ruin the wall, rechargeable is the easiest way to get light exactly where you want it. A setup that works well in a lot of homes is both: plug-in sconces for reading light in the living room, rechargeable ones for the hallway and the bedside.

Where to mount them

• Beside the bed: around 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28 in) above the top of the mattress puts the light at shoulder height when you sit up, which works for both reading and a night light.
• Hallways and stairs: mount motion models at about 1.5 to 1.8 m (5 to 6 ft) so the sensor sees you coming rather than your feet. Space them roughly every 2.5 to 3 m (8 to 10 ft).
• Closets and wardrobes: mount just inside the door frame, facing in, so the light comes on as you open it.
• Art and gallery walls: center the light on the piece and test the height with the magnet before you fix the plate.

Frequently asked questions

How long do rechargeable wall sconces last on one charge?

About 8 to 15 hours of steady light, depending on the model and brightness setting. On motion sensor mode, one charge can last from several weeks to a few months.

Do battery operated wall sconces need batteries replaced?

No. All six models we sell have a built-in rechargeable battery that you recharge by USB. "Battery operated" and "rechargeable" are used for the same thing.

Can you leave a rechargeable sconce charging overnight?

You can charge them overnight with a normal USB phone charger. Most of ours charge much faster than that; Almod is full in under 3 hours.

Will the adhesive damage my wall?

The adhesive pads are made to hold the plate firmly on smooth surfaces. When you remove one, peel it slowly and warm it with a hair dryer first to reduce the chance of lifting paint. On textured walls, use screws where the model allows it.

Are rechargeable wall sconces good for renters?

Yes. With adhesive mounting there are no holes, no wiring and nothing left behind except a small plate you can peel off when you move out.

Can I use them in a bathroom?

They are fine for a hallway or a powder room as soft night light, but keep them away from the shower and splash zones. For vanity lighting over a sink, a wired fixture is brighter and better suited.

Still deciding? Browse all of our rechargeable wall sconces, compare them with our plug-in wall sconces, or see the full range of wall sconces. Every order ships free.