The Best Salt Lamp

If you’ve stepped into a day spa or visited a very zen friend over the past year or two, you may have noticed a new decor trend: Himalayan salt lamps. The ubiquitous amber accessories have skyrocketed in popularity, thanks to their relaxing vibe and anecdotal health benefits.

Himalayan salt lamps aren’t actually orange. They’re made by placing a light bulb inside chunks of pink Himalayan salt, which gets its shade from minerals present in the salt. The light from the bulb inside gives the pink salt chunks a soothing orange hue that lightens the mood in any room.

“True” Himalayan salt lamps are crafted with salt sourced from mines in Pakistan. Several of our top picks have certified salt from Pakistan, including the Himalayan Glow 1002 Salt lamp and the Levoit Elora Salt Lamp. The lamps usually sit on striking wooden bases, like the HemingWeigh Natural Himalayan Salt Lamp. But some options, like the Levoit Elora Salt Lamp, use stainless steel bases.

You can achieve your ideal level of relaxing light with a dimmer switch on lamps like the Himalayan Glow 1002 Salt Lamp. Most options, like the HemingWeigh Salt Lamp, are also available in multiple sizes. Some lamps come in packs of two, like the Crystal Allies Natural Salt Lamp, so you can add various sized lamps and a range of illumination to any corner of a room.

Some people buy Himalayan salt lamps because of their purported health benefits. Himalayan salt may release negative ions into the air, which is the same process used by commercial purifiers to help you breathe cleaner air. While there are no scientifically backed studies affirming that Himalayan salt lamps can release enough ions to purify your air, their beautiful glow definitely brings a calming vibe into your home.

• Before you buy your Himalayan salt lamp, consider where you’ll be using it. Do you want a lamp that emits a relaxing glow in your bedroom, or are you looking to create a more laid-back office environment? If you’re invested in a single salt lamp for your home, a hefty pick like the Himalayan Glow 1002 Salt Lamp is worth a look. It’s an impressive 8 to 11 pounds. It’s not exactly travel-friendly, but it will emit a strong amber hue. The HemingWeigh Natural Himalayan Salt Lamp weighs 6 to 7 pounds and comes in a pack of two, so you can bring one lightweight lamp to the office and keep another at home.
• If you want to use your salt lamp at night, you might nod off in its dreamy glow. An auto shut-off feature, like the one on the Levoit Elora Salt Lamp, can prevent burns or electrical issues.
• Do you have young children or rambunctious pets in your household? If you do, you’ll want to keep your salt lamp on a higher shelf so it doesn’t get knocked over and break. You’ll also want to keep the cord out of sight so that kids don’t trip over it and animals don’t treat it like a chew toy.
• Take a look at what kind of bulb your lamp requires before you buy it. This will save you some time and effort when you need to buy replacement bulbs. Many models, like the Crystal Allies Himalayan Salt Lamp and the Levoit Elora Salt Lamp, require 15-watt E12 bulbs. However, other lamps may use different styles of light bulbs. The Himalayan Glow 1002 Salt Lamp uses a B15 bulb, and it can accommodate up to 25 watts of power.
• Scope out the walls in your room to determine where your power outlets are located. This can help you figure out the proper cord length for your salt lamp. Most salt lamps, including the Crystal Allies Lamp, are not recommended for use with extension cords. That means you’ll either need to place your lamp very close to a power outlet, or you’ll need to buy one with a longer cord, like the Levoit Elora Salt Lamp’s 6.5-foot cord.