Choosing table lighting for a restaurant is a business decision, not just a design decision. The right rechargeable table lamp enhances the dining experience, reduces operating costs, and eliminates fire risk. The wrong one creates a charging nightmare and disappoints guests.
This guide is written for restaurant owners, managers, and interior designers who need to outfit 10 to 100+ tables with cordless lamps. We cover every practical consideration — from specifications to deployment logistics to cost analysis.
Why Restaurants Are Switching to Cordless Lamps
The trend away from candles and toward rechargeable table lamps has accelerated in the last three years for three reasons:
1. Fire safety and insurance. The National Fire Protection Association reports that candles cause approximately 7,400 fires per year. Many insurance providers now offer lower premiums to restaurants that eliminate open flames. Some municipalities have restricted candle use in commercial dining altogether.
2. Operational efficiency. A candle burns once and is discarded. A rechargeable lamp lasts 10+ years. No daily restocking, no wax removal from tablecloths, no smoke residue on walls and ceilings. The ongoing cost approaches zero after the initial investment.
3. Consistency. Every table in your restaurant should have the same warm glow — from the first seating at 6 PM to the last table at 11 PM. Candles dim as they burn. LED lamps produce the same light from first to last.
The Specifications That Matter for Restaurants
Battery Life: 60 Hours Minimum
This is the non-negotiable spec. A restaurant typically runs table lamps for 4-5 hours per dinner service. At 60 hours of battery life (on lowest brightness), one charge lasts 12+ services — over two weeks if you only serve dinner.
| Battery Life | Services Per Charge | Charging Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | 4-5 services | Twice a week |
| 40 hours | 8-10 services | Weekly |
| 60 hours | 12-15 services | Every two weeks |
| 90+ hours | 18-22 services | Monthly (or less) |
Recommendation: The Avenue (109 hrs), Aira (94 hrs), Vega (94 hrs), or Shelby (91 hrs) all exceed the 60-hour minimum by a wide margin.
Colour Temperature: 2700K, No Exceptions
Colour temperature defines the atmosphere. For restaurant table lighting, 2700K warm white is the industry standard because it:
- Flatters skin tones (guests look healthy, not washed out)
- Makes food look appetising (warm tones enhance reds, oranges, and earth tones)
- Creates intimacy (warm light signals "relax, enjoy, stay awhile")
The Illuminating Engineering Society recommends 2700K-3000K for hospitality dining environments. All Serholt lamps use fixed 2700K LEDs.
Dimming: Touch Dimmer Required
Brightness needs change through service. Early seating might be brighter; late evening should be dimmer and more intimate. A touch dimmer lets front-of-house staff adjust in seconds without tools or settings menus.
Look for 3-step or 4-step touch dimmers. Avoid lamps that require pressing and holding or cycling through modes — your staff will skip it when they're busy.
Height: Under 30cm for Sightlines
Table lamp height matters in restaurants because it affects conversation across the table. A lamp that is too tall blocks sightlines between diners. Under 30cm (12 inches) is ideal — visible enough to create ambiance, low enough to see your dining companion.
Durability: Daily Handling by Staff
Restaurant lamps get picked up, moved, placed on charging stations, and occasionally bumped — every single day. Budget plastic lamps will not survive a year of this. Premium materials (brass, aluminium, glass) withstand daily commercial handling and develop character rather than damage.
Charging Logistics: The Operational Reality
This is where most restaurant buyers under-plan. A beautiful lamp is worthless if charging creates a nightly headache.
The Charging Routine
The simplest workflow:
- After last service: Staff collects all table lamps (60 seconds with practice)
- Place on charging station: Each station holds 10 lamps. A 30-table restaurant needs 3 stations.
- Overnight charge: Full charge takes 4-6 hours
- Before first service: Deploy lamps to tables (60 seconds)
Total staff time per day: under 5 minutes.
Charging Infrastructure
| Solution | Capacity | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-C cables | 1 lamp each | Included | Small venues, backup |
| Charging Base | 1 lamp | $89 | Drop-and-charge at host stand |
| Charging Cart | 10 lamps | $995 | Mobile — charge and transport |
| Charging Station | 10 lamps | $1,295 | Fixed back-of-house installation |
Recommendation for most restaurants: Two or three Charging Stations placed in a back-of-house area. Staff places all lamps on stations after the last service; they are ready by the next day.
For restaurants that need to transport lamps between a storage area and the dining floor, the Charging Cart rolls lamps directly to the tables.
Cost Analysis: Lamps vs. Candles
The Candle Cost
A typical restaurant spends $10-20 per week on candles, tea lights, and votives. Add cleanup labour (wax removal, replacing burned tablecloths) and the true cost is $15-25/week — roughly $800-$1,300 per year.
The Lamp Investment
For a 30-table restaurant:
| Scenario | Lamp Cost | Charging | Total | Annual Savings | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asteria ($349/ea) | $10,470 | $2,590 (2 stations) | $13,060 | ~$1,000/yr | ~13 years |
| Shelby ($479/ea) | $14,370 | $2,590 | $16,960 | ~$1,000/yr | ~17 years |
| Avenue ($579/ea) | $17,370 | $2,590 | $19,960 | ~$1,000/yr | ~20 years |
The honest truth: If pure cost savings are your only concern, the payback period is long. The case for cordless lamps is not cheaper than candles — it is better than candles. The value is in the elevated guest experience, the elimination of fire risk, the Instagram-worthy ambiance, the operational simplicity, and the design statement your venue makes.
That said, trade pricing reduces the per-unit cost significantly for volume orders. Contact us to discuss your project.
Choosing by Venue Type
Fine Dining
Guests expect perfection. Every element — from silverware to lighting — communicates the calibre of the experience.
Recommended: Avenue — the crystal glass diffuser produces light that rivals candlelight. 109-hour battery means you genuinely can forget about charging for weeks. Made to order with custom finishes available.
Casual Dining
The lamp should enhance without dominating. Guests notice the ambiance but not the fixtures.
Recommended: Shelby or Asteria — both offer strong design presence without being overly formal. The Asteria's lower price point ($349 vs $479) helps with larger deployments.
Bars and Cocktail Lounges
Mood is everything. Dim the lamps to the lowest setting for that amber glow.
Recommended: Shelby or Vega — their forms read as decorative objects in a bar context. The 91-94 hour battery at minimum brightness is practically unlimited.
Cafes and Brunch Spots
Brighter during daytime, warmer for evening service. Needs to feel approachable, not exclusive.
Recommended: Cassia ($249) or Asteria ($349) — both offer a friendly design language and enough battery for all-day use.
Hotel Restaurants and Lobbies
Hotels deploy lamps at scale — across restaurants, bars, lobbies, and suites. Consistency matters: every lamp should match.
Recommended: Pick one model for the entire property. The Avenue or Shelby work across formal and informal hotel spaces. Use our Charging Stations for centralised back-of-house charging.
Deployment Checklist
Before you order, plan:
- [ ] Count your tables. Add 10-15% spare lamps for breakage reserve and rotation during charging
- [ ] Choose one lamp model for consistency across all tables
- [ ] Calculate charging stations needed (1 station per 10 lamps)
- [ ] Designate a charging area back-of-house with enough outlets
- [ ] Train staff on the 2-minute collect-and-deploy routine
- [ ] Set a charging schedule — weekly for 60+ hour lamps, twice-weekly for shorter
- [ ] Order spare USB-C cables — keep extras behind the bar
Getting Started
- Browse the restaurant table lamp collection to see all suitable models
- Read the cordless lamp buying guide for detailed spec comparisons
- Contact us or apply for trade pricing for volume orders
- Request a sample — most restaurants order one lamp to test before committing to a full deployment
The best restaurant lighting is the kind guests notice without thinking about. It creates warmth, intimacy, and an atmosphere that makes them want to return. That is what a well-chosen cordless table lamp does — and it does it without a single flame.
