Best power cut emergency lights UK (2026): plug-in lights that come on by themselves
A power cut emergency light sits in a wall socket, charges while the mains is on, and comes on by itself when the power goes, so nobody has to hunt for a torch in the dark. All four models here also work as a night light and lift out of their cradle to use as a hand torch. This page compares what differs: how each switches on, how long the maker says it runs in a cut, how bright the torch is, and whether the night light can be turned off. Every runtime and lumen figure is the maker's or a UK retailer's; we have not tested any of them.
By Tom Calder · Updated 21 October 2026 · 4 products, all price-tracked
Our picks by type
Photo: AmazonNiteSafe Duo-Lux
A plug-in light for a hallway or landing that runs for longer in a power cut than the basic NiteSafe models.
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.All 4 compared
| Light | Type | Runtime (maker) | Brightness | Charging | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plug-in night light + removable torch · Up to 8h power-failure mode (maker) · Torch 60 lm (B&Q); motion boost 20 lm (maker) · Induction cradle, plugs into wall socket A plug-in light for a hallway or landing that runs for longer in a power cut than the basic NiteSafe models. | Plug-in night light + removable torch | Up to 8h power-failure mode (maker) | Torch 60 lm (B&Q); motion boost 20 lm (maker) | Induction cradle, plugs into wall socket | £26 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The Duo-Lux is Xtralite's flagship in this range, with a five-LED torch that the maker says gives up to eight hours in power-failure mode. It has two night-light settings, either motion sensor or dusk-to-dawn plus motion. Longer runtime makes it more useful for an evening-long cut than the smaller Duo. Best for A plug-in light for a hallway or landing that runs for longer in a power cut than the basic NiteSafe models. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Skip it if you want a power-failure-only light with a night light you can switch off; Xtralite points to its NiteSafe Maxi for that. | |||||
 Plug-in cradle + removable torch · 3h power-cut mode (maker); 8h on low (B&Q) · 80 lumens torch (maker) · Induction cradle, plugs into wall socket A simple plug-in light that switches on by itself in a power cut and doubles as a handheld torch. | Plug-in cradle + removable torch | 3h power-cut mode (maker); 8h on low (B&Q) | 80 lumens torch (maker) | Induction cradle, plugs into wall socket | £20 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Xtralite says the top LED comes on automatically when the cradle loses mains power, and the unit lifts out to use as a torch with high, low and flashing modes. The maker quotes up to three hours of power-cut light. It is a straightforward three-in-one option for a hallway or landing socket. Best for A simple plug-in light that switches on by itself in a power cut and doubles as a handheld torch. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Skip it if you want a night light you can switch off, or if the socket you have available sits on an extension lead. | |||||
 Plug-in PIR night light + removable torch · 2h power-cut light; 1.5h torch (Auraglow) · 55 lm in power-cut mode (Safelincs) · Plug-in mains cradle; torch detaches A small plug-in motion-sensor light with a detachable torch for a bedroom or landing. | Plug-in PIR night light + removable torch | 2h power-cut light; 1.5h torch (Auraglow) | 55 lm in power-cut mode (Safelincs) | Plug-in mains cradle; torch detaches | £18.99 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Auraglow's unit lights on movement in the dark and switches on by itself when mains power fails, giving about two hours of power-cut light. The torch detaches from its cradle for around an hour and a half of portable use, according to Auraglow's own B&Q listing. It is compact and suits short outages. Best for A small plug-in motion-sensor light with a detachable torch for a bedroom or landing. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Skip it if you need light for a long outage, or a night light that stays on all night. | |||||
 Plug-in night light + removable torch · About 2h power-failure mode (maker) · Torch 40 lm (B&Q); sensor light 20 lm (maker) · Induction cradle, plugs into wall socket A compact motion-sensor night light for a landing that also acts as a short-duration power-cut light. | Plug-in night light + removable torch | About 2h power-failure mode (maker) | Torch 40 lm (B&Q); sensor light 20 lm (maker) | Induction cradle, plugs into wall socket | £20.95 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The Duo pairs a motion-sensor or dusk-to-dawn night light with a four-LED torch that lights automatically when mains power drops. Xtralite quotes about two hours of power-failure light, the shortest of the NiteSafe range, so it suits brief cuts and getting to a main torch. Best for A compact motion-sensor night light for a landing that also acts as a short-duration power-cut light. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Skip it if you expect a long outage to be covered by one unit; the longer-running NiteSafe models or a proper lantern suit that better. | |||||
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Before you buy
Start with what happens when the power fails.
These lights sense the loss of mains at the socket and switch a small LED torch on; Xtralite calls this power-failure mode and quotes a runtime for each model, from about two hours on the NiteSafe Duo to up to eight on the Duo-Lux. Auraglow quotes about two hours for its AG446. Those are figures for a fully charged unit, so treat them as an upper bound. Because they need a live socket to charge and to sense the cut, Xtralite advises against plugging the NiteSafe Torch or Duo-Lux into an extension lead.
Decide whether you want a night light as well.
Every model here is a night light first and an emergency light second, and that shapes daily life with it. The basic NiteSafe Torch has an orange glow that the maker says cannot be switched off. The Duo, Duo-Lux and Auraglow use a motion sensor, so they light when someone passes. Xtralite says the Duo-Lux sensor cannot be disabled, and the Duo's only off setting also turns off power-failure mode. Auraglow's motion light stays on for 25 seconds at a time. In a bedroom, a sensor model is usually easier to live with than a constant glow.
Treat the torch as a get-to-the-drawer light, not a main torch.
The torches here are modest: Xtralite quotes 80 lumens for the NiteSafe Torch, B&Q lists 60 for the Duo-Lux and 40 for the Duo, and Safelincs lists 55 lumens for the Auraglow in power-cut mode. That is plenty to see the stairs and find your proper kit, and little else. For lighting a room for the evening, or going outside to check a fuse box or a car, a dedicated torch, head torch or lantern from our torches and head-torch pages will do far more; the plug-in light's job is to make sure you can find them.
Place them where the dark is dangerous.
Fire and rescue services and the government's Prepare campaign agree on power cuts: use torches or battery lights, not candles. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says it would prefer households used torches or battery-powered candles, and Scottish Fire and Rescue says its firefighters can be called to fires started by candles or portable heaters during cuts. A plug-in light on the landing, at the top of the stairs and in the hallway covers the places people fall. One by the bed suits anyone who gets up at night or has reduced mobility.
Keep them working.
A rechargeable light that lives in a socket is only as good as its battery, so lift each one out every few months and check the torch still lights and holds a charge; the makers do not quote battery lifetimes, and an older unit may run well short of the figure on the box. Keep a spare torch and batteries as well: Prepare recommends a battery or wind-up torch at home. If someone relies on powered medical equipment, read our guide to running medical equipment in a power cut and ask your network operator about the Priority Services Register.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its UK price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labelled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
How does a plug-in power cut light know the power has gone off?
It charges from the socket while the mains is live and senses when that supply drops. Xtralite calls this power-failure mode: the torch LED switches on automatically when the cradle stops detecting mains power and runs for the quoted time, about two to eight hours depending on the model. Xtralite advises against using its NiteSafe Torch or Duo-Lux on an extension lead, as the light may not trigger. It also says switching off the wall socket triggers the Duo's light, so expect that before you flick a switch.
How long do power cut emergency lights last in a power cut?
Makers quote the runtime of the automatic power-failure light, and it varies by model. Xtralite says about two hours for the NiteSafe Duo, three hours for the NiteSafe Torch and up to eight hours for the Duo-Lux; Auraglow quotes about two hours for its AG446, with roughly an hour and a half as a handheld torch. These are the makers' figures for a fully charged unit and will shrink as the battery ages. For a cut that runs into the night, a separate lantern or torch is still needed.
Are candles safe to use in a power cut?
Fire services ask you not to rely on them. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says it would prefer torches or battery-powered candles to real ones, and the government's Prepare campaign says torches are safer than candles. Scottish Fire and Rescue says its firefighters can be called to fires started by candles during cuts. If you must use one, keep it in a holder well away from anything that could catch fire, never leave it alone, never carry it between rooms, and put it out before you sleep.
Can I turn the night light off and keep the emergency function?
Mostly not. Xtralite says the orange glow on the NiteSafe Torch cannot be turned off, the Duo-Lux night light and sensor cannot be disabled, and the Duo's off setting also switches off power-failure mode. The Auraglow AG446 is a motion-sensor light that comes on when it senses movement, for 25 seconds at a time, so it is the least intrusive in a bedroom. If you want a power-failure-only light, Xtralite points to its NiteSafe Maxi, which is not reviewed on this page.
Where should I plug in a power cut light?
Wherever a sudden blackout would leave someone on the move in the dark: the landing and top of the stairs, the hallway, and by the bed of anyone who gets up at night. Use a wall socket directly rather than an extension lead, since Xtralite says the automatic light may not trigger through one. Avoid sockets hidden behind furniture, because you need to be able to lift the torch out. One light per floor is a sensible minimum, with the brightest model on the stairs.
Is a plug-in emergency light enough on its own for a power cut?
No. It is a finder light that gets you to your proper kit. The torches in these units are modest, between 40 and 80 lumens by the makers' and retailers' figures, and the runtimes run from about two to eight hours. The Prepare campaign recommends keeping a battery or wind-up torch with spare batteries at home, and notes that a phone torch drains the phone quickly. Add a head torch or lantern for hands-free light, a wind-up radio for news, and check our power cut preparation guide for the rest.
