Best Ring Lights for Video Conferencing: 6 Picks for Better On-Camera Light

If you’ve been in meetings via Zoom, Skype or teams (any other online meeting platforms), then I’m sure you’re well aware of how lighting affects how others see us. A decent Ring Light will eliminate those awful shadows, pale colorless skin tones, and that overall dingy appearance that most laptops are equipped with for their webcams. Fortunately there’s no need for a film studio to be seen clearly on a video call, all we really need is a soft, evenly distributed light source shining onto our faces from directly in front of our webcams. That’s exactly what a Ring Light does.

The problem lies in sifting through the large number of similar products available at Amazon. These products range from low-cost, poor quality materials (plastic) with low-quality dimmers to high-end, professional grade makeup lighting. The options below represent some of the better options for use as a video conference light. There are many options, ranging from small and portable desk-based units that will fit next to your computer monitor to much larger units that can be used as part of a full home office setup. Overall, the top option I would choose for this type of product is the Neewer RH10B 10-inch bi-color ring light.

What to Look for in a Ring Light for Video Calls

Most Ring Lights are marketed toward "beauty vloggers" who take selfies with their phones (so they are loaded with specs that would be totally useless in a Zoom meeting). When it comes to using them on your computer, there is only a handful of specs that matter.

Size matters less than you'd think

Those big 18 inch ring lights that you see all over TikTok are way too large for a desk. They will consume space, require a floor stand to be utilized correctly, and have a wide opening to accommodate a cell phone or DSLR camera mounted directly in the center of the fixture. An 8-10 inch ring light positioned either next to or behind your laptop would provide ample lighting for a video conference. Since the light travels approximately 2 feet to your face, a large fixture producing 800 lux from the other side of the room is unnecessary.

Bi-color is worth paying for

Skip the single-color-temperature ring lights. A daylight-only 5500K light works fine by itself, but it will clash with warm room lighting and make you appear pale and unhealthy on camera.

Bi-color models switch from approximately 3000K (warm) to about 6500K (daylight). You can choose the color that matches your room while still looking natural, regardless of what is behind you.

Mounting flexibility

Take a good hard look at the way the light will attach to your camera equipment. Many ring lights only provide a long, thin floor stand that can be of little use when trying to place your desk up against a wall or when you do not have enough floor space. A desk mount model (or) clamping option may make much more sense in most home offices. If you are looking for a lighting fixture that can be moved easily from desk to tripod, make sure there is a standard 1/4-20 screw thread attached to the back of the unit. This will allow the fixture to fit onto any photography stand or arm.

The Top Ring Light Picks for Video Conferencing

Neewer RH10B: The Best All-Round Pick

The Neewer RH10B has 168-LEDs on a 10" bicolored LED ringlight. This ringlight provides a high color rendition index (CRI) of 97. Color temperature can be adjusted from approximately 2,900° Kelvin up to approximately 7,000°Kelvin. The package includes a 71" tripod stand and a phone holder. The smarter move is to ditch the tall tripod and use a shorter desk stand or a clamp to position the ring closer to your monitor. For the money, the construction of the ring itself is good quality and sturdy. Unlike some other lights at this price point, there are no preset settings. The dimmer dial is also very robust.

Output of this product is rated at 410 lux at three feet. This is more than sufficient light for an average persons face at two feet. Reviewers consistently state that the high Color Rendering Index (CRI) makes a very noticeable difference in viewing skin tones versus low-cost bargain ring lights. Several reviewers also point out that while most ring lights show color in a photo, none seem to produce as good results as this one with its 97 CRI rating, especially in higher quality video from modern 4K webcams. The Bi-Color feature of this product produces smooth transition from one color temperature to another without producing the flicker seen on many cheaper products.

The negatives to be truthful about include the fact that there is a very shaky included tripod as well as an in-line dimmer dongle which interferes with having a clean desk. Many users have complained that it can be difficult to adjust the phone holder during a call. However, if you are using the light strictly for video conferencing with a webcam on top of your monitor, you likely will not need the phone holder. So this is less of a concern for most desk setups.

Neewer RH8B: The Compact Desk Option

The Neewer RH8B is a smaller, cheaper version of the same concept. It has an 8-inch ring with bi-color from 2900K to 7000K, outputs 345 lux at 3.3 feet, and comes with a desk stand instead of a floor tripod.

It can be powered via USB or AC, and the dimming controls are mounted to the rear of the ring instead of a separate dongle. That makes for a much cleaner desk setup.

A number of reviewers have mentioned that this ring fits perfectly in their at-home offices for standard video conferencing (Zoom, Teams etc.) as well as the appropriate color temperature settings for various common lighting conditions. Some reviewers however, pointed out that the desk-stand supplied is relatively short. As such, some users have had to place a small block of books underneath the desk-stand to elevate the ring to be properly aligned vertically with their webcam.

The biggest limitation is brightness. An 8-inch ring will be overpowered by a window behind you or a bright overhead light, so it works best in a controlled space where you can dim other sources. If you are working in a sunlit office with backlighting issues, go with a 10-inch or larger model.

Smith-Victor VCS700: The All-in-One Kit

If you are looking for something that will solve all of your video-call needs in one box, the Smith-Victor VCS700 could be worth checking out. This product includes a 10 inch tri-color dimmable ring light, a Nady condenser microphone, QH-200 stereo headphones, a tabletop stand, and a wireless shutter remote. As a starter kit for those creating a first-time home office setup, the price point works well. You can find the Smith-Victor VCS700 available at B&H. Unlike most of the products on this list, it cannot be found on Amazon.

The light has three preset color modes (warm, cool, mixed) so it does not provide continuous color temperature adjustment. The bundled microphone is a budget condenser, not a competitor to a proper podcast or interview mic, but a step up from a laptop's built-in mic for meetings.

Convenience is the best feature of this package, not the specifications. If you do not currently own a USB microphone and a good light source compatible with your webcam, this bundle will get you started with one purchase.

Lume Cube 18-inch Ring Light: The Larger Format Pick

The Lume Cube 18-inch ring light is your go-to if you need a larger, gentler light source. Lume Cube has built its reputation on durable, well-built compact lighting, and the 18-inch product follows that pattern. Bi-color from 2000K to 5600K, 225 lux at 3.3 feet, AC/DC powered, and a smartphone holder built into the ring opening for those using their phone as a camera.

When placed at a desk distance of two to three feet, this larger ring acts like a softbox surrounding your head, eliminating harsh shadows from smaller ring lights. Reviewers consistently report a visible difference in wide-angle shots that show your background, particularly for serious client meetings or recorded sales presentations.

Most negatives are about size. The light needs a floor stand and the included tripod is lightweight, so some users have swapped it for a sturdier stand. There is no battery option, which limits portability if you want to move between rooms.

Lume Cube Cordless Ring Light Pro: The Premium Pick

If you are looking for improved build quality, the edge-lighting in the Lume Cube Cordless Ring Light Pro offers more even light distribution than other models. This model also has a built-in lithium battery which will allow you to take the light wherever you need to go without worrying about cables. The ring size is 18 inches. On the internal battery the run time is 70 minutes. This model has remote control capabilities through an app as well as being able to be powered by AC while set up.

The significance of the edge-lit aspect exceeds what one would initially think. More affordable ring light designs simply mount the LED at the front edge of the ring, producing noticeable "hot spots" and a faint "donut" reflection off shiny objects like eyeglasses. An edge-lit panel diffuses the lighting across the complete ring face, resulting in a softer image and significantly reduced hot spot reflections.

The cordless design is more helpful than expected. The light is portable, allowing you to place the light in a different room for a video meeting, travel with it when visiting an executive client, or simply move the light around without having to unplug cables. The 70 minute run-time will likely last through one call, and you should have time to recharge between longer meetings.

Cheaper Alternatives and What to Avoid

If you are not willing to invest in an expensive brand-name model, a compact lower-priced off-brand desk version will cover the essentials. Build quality is poorer than the RH10B and the dimmer offers fewer adjustment options, but this can be sufficient if you only make occasional video calls.

You should avoid bargain bin ring lights. Reviewers complain of flicker at low levels, color shift as temperatures fluctuate, and short lifespan. Using a ring light with a decent webcam and good streaming or call audio provides a complete end-to-end solution that looks and sounds professional. If you are planning to use multiple lights for your home studio, the film lighting kit guide outlines key, fill, and backlight setups for situations where a single ring light is not enough.

How to Position a Ring Light for Video Calls

Ring lights work because they cast soft, even light directly in front of your face from the same axis as the camera. Where you place the light matters as much as which one you buy.

Your ring light needs to be at eye level or slightly higher. If your ring is below you, you get that "horror movie" up-lit look. The ring should be roughly centered on the camera, which usually means the light goes behind the monitor and the camera looks through the bottom of the opening.

Distance matters too. The sweet spot for ring lights at medium output is 2-3 feet. Closer than that and the illumination is uneven across your face. Farther and the wrap-around effect is lost. Match the color temperature to your environment. Daylight 5500K near a window, 3000-3500K under warm bulbs. The mismatch between cool face lighting and a warm background is the giveaway that you are using a ring light, and it is easily fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a ring light if I have a window?

Window light is amazing when available, but unreliable. Time of day, weather, and the direction your window faces all change how it looks mid-call. A ring light gives steady lighting regardless. Several reviewers report buying a ring light after years of relying on natural window light, citing inconsistency as the reason they finally switched.

Will a ring light help with a bad webcam?

It really does help. The majority of webcams underperform when there is little natural light, as their small sensors amplify what they receive, creating abundant "grain". With a ring light, the webcam has plenty of lighting to work with, so the image processing engine is not fighting noise. The result is a cleaner, crisper image even from a budget webcam.

What about ring light reflections in glasses?

The ring shape is well-known to show up in glasses as a circular reflection. A few fixes work. Move the ring a little higher than your eye level so the reflection drops to the bottom of the lens or off it entirely. Tilt the light down by a couple of degrees. Or upgrade to an edge-lit ring like the Cordless Ring Light Pro, which has a diffuse light source and creates a much softer reflection that is harder to spot on camera.

Can I use a ring light on a laptop with a built-in webcam?

Yes, and they have the most significant visual impact on laptop cameras. Webcams built into laptop lids cannot be positioned separately, so positioning the light is key. A small ring light like the Neewer RH8B sitting just behind your laptop screen at an angle will work. Some users go for over-the-monitor mounts that hold the ring above the laptop screen.

Is bi-color worth it over single-color?

For video calls, yes. Most home offices have warm ambient light from incandescent or warm LED bulbs, and an all-daylight ring light fights that and makes your complexion appear unnatural. A bi-color ring light lets you match your environment.

How bright should a ring light be?

Brighter than you think, but not maxed out. The ring should be the dominant light on your face without being blinding. Most users land at 50-70% brightness.