The 8 Best Toilet Nightlights
This wiki has been updated 35 times since it was first published in March of 2016. If you dread having to turn on bright lights when you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, then it's probably time you invested in a toilet nightlight. Not only do these handy devices illuminate the way and help you avoid tripping or stubbing your toe, they can also be leveraged as fun potty training tools for the kids, as well as provide an important safety boost for the elderly. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Onever TL128
2. ToiLight Original
3. LumiLux Advanced
Editor's Notes
May 07, 2021:
Toilet nightlights have motion sensors, so they turn on only when you enter a bathroom and turn off after you leave, making them very useful for families with children and for the elderly. Most options are designed to fit on the rim of the toilet bowl and illuminate the inside, thus removing the need to switch on a light. During this update, we didn't need to change the ranking too much, as most of the options are still current and up to date.
We did remove the Zezhou Night as it is essentially a rebranded version of the Ailun Motion Activated, which is notable for its odor combating features. It has an aromatherapy function that gives a pleasant fragrance to the air, and is equipped with an ultraviolet light to aid with disinfection. Those who share a bathroom may want to consider the Onever TL128, which shines either red or green to quickly indicate whether the seat is up or down. Finally, we included the Mivine Wireless, which can be installed anywhere in the bathroom using the included double-sided adhesive pad. This is ideal in fully tiled bathrooms as it removes the need to drill into the wall. It has a motion sensor and a light sensor, so it will only activate after dark and doesn't need to be switched on or off.
February 20, 2020:
Using the toilet is always a private business, and it becomes even more so when we make mistakes and accidental messes going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. We aimed to select toilet nightlights that have features to help minimize such unfortunate incidents, without being too disruptive to a sleeping household.
We like that the Delta Faucet Sanborne has a soothing blue light that will illuminate your path without being so bright that it makes you fully alert. The Oaker Novelty Sleep Friendly also strikes a nice balance between providing enough light to improve safety, without assaulting dreary eyes. We removed the Illumibowl 3.0 because some colors are just too bright, and can be upsetting to a drowsy individual.
In the middle of the night, nobody is thinking clearly, so we looked for intuitive models that do some of the thinking for you. The Zezhou Night will turn on when you're roughly six feet away, so you don't need to fumble around in the dark for long. The Onever TL128 will show a red light to notify you when the previous user has left the seat up. If you do accidentally turn on a big light at night, the Ailun Motion Activated will shut off automatically to save energy, as will the Oaker Novelty Sleep Friendly. We eliminated the Feelle Extra because it takes too long to shut off after someone has left the bathroom. The Maxzola Waterproof also lost its spot as it proved to become dimmer overtime, which rendered it nearly useless.
Versatility was important, too, so we choose options that will attach to most toilet seats or bowls.
Special Honors
Brondell Lumawarm Heated Nightlight Toilet Seat While it may not be the most budget-friendly of options, this seat will make your evening visits to the loo much more pleasant and is worth the cost. It has a warm blue light that provides plenty of illumination without being overwhelming. Plus, the seat itself is heated, and offers an adjustable temperature, and its hinge is designed to close the lid slowly. brondell.com
BidetKing Bio Bidet BB-2000 Bliss Bidet Toilet Seat You won't only find your way to the john easily with this bidet thanks to its cool blue LED night light, but you'll get up feeling clean since it has a motorized spraying nozzle that can be set to several convenient modes. It has a touchscreen panel that allows you to control every aspect from the air dry to the water pressure, and it goes into automatic power saving mode when not in use. bidetking.com
4. Oaker Sleep Friendly
5. Ailun Motion Activated
6. HeyMate 062P2
7. Delta Faucet Sanborne
8. Mivine Wireless
A Brief History Of Nightlights
Throughout the 20th century, nightlights of all shapes and sizes were increasingly used in homes to prevent injury and reassure children.
The first nightlight was likely a fire that was allowed to burn overnight in order to keep predators away. Nightlights were essential at that time, because there was a good chance that there actually was a monster in your closet, and yes, it wanted to eat you.
However, as our ancestors became more advanced and started building homes instead of living in caves, nightlights took on a different role. It was no longer essential to keep saber-toothed tigers away, and your biggest worry was stubbing your toe in the middle of the night.
Lamps were first used around 70,000 years ago, and the first designs were shells or hollowed-out rocks filled with animal fat and set ablaze. These fats were eventually molded into candles, and wicks made of reeds were later added to give the fire more focus. However, animal fat candles were both smoky and smelly, so burning a light overnight was done only on rare occasions.
In 1846, however, kerosene entered the picture. These lights burned brighter and longer than their fat-based counterparts, and could be safely enclosed in glass.
Unfortunately, the risk of setting your home on fire was still high, and while that would certainly make it easier to see, most people objected to losing their families and everything they owned. As a result, the fairy lamp was developed by George Miller Clark in the mid-19th century. These lamps produced a soft light, but their main selling point was the fact that they prevented the candle inside from touching any other objects, greatly reducing the risk of a conflagration.
That would soon be much less of an issue, of course, because the electric lamp was just over the horizon. While most people credit Thomas Edison for the invention of the light bulb, the electric light was actually invented in 1802 by Sir Humphrey Davy. However, these lights were neither reliable nor affordable, and Edison's version was the first commercially-viable model.
Edison would continue to tinker and experiment with his bulbs throughout his career, and by the following century electric light would be commonplace in the developed world. Throughout the 20th century, nightlights of all shapes and sizes were increasingly used in homes to prevent injury and reassure children.
After all, we may not have to worry about saber-toothed tigers anymore, but the boogeyman never dies.
Benefits Of A Toilet Nightlight
While you may think of a toilet nightlight as a luxury, the fact is that these lights have powerful benefits that surpass their small stature.
Children who are potty-training are likely to benefit the most from a toilet nightlight. The soft glow is unlikely to disrupt their sleep patterns, while also giving boys help with their aim. Also, they're less likely to try to hold it — and wet the bed as a result — if they know that the dark, scary bathroom will be lit up enough that they don't have to worry about monsters.
Men suffering from prostate problems — and the frequent need to eliminate that goes with them — will be glad to have some help in the middle of the night.
Of course, children aren't the only ones who will be thankful for the assist. Men suffering from prostate problems — and the frequent need to eliminate that goes with them — will be glad to have some help in the middle of the night. These lights prevent you from needing to turn on the harsh bulbs in your bathroom, so you can go right back to sleep once you're through.
The elderly will find these lights to be near-essential. If you worry about the possibility of tripping or falling while in the bathroom, these lights will allow you to sidestep any potential stumbling blocks and easily find your safety rails.
If you travel frequently, you'll likely want to have one of these stashed in your suitcase. Waking up and needing to use the restroom in an unfamiliar environment can be recipe for a horrible night's sleep, so being able to find and use the toilet when needed will pay dividends the next day.
These lights aren't a life-or-death necessity, but if you've ever found yourself stumbling around in the bathroom — or having to clean up a mess the next morning — then you'll likely agree that these cheap and simple lights are worth their weight in gold.
How To Prevent Nightly Bathroom Trips From Ruining Your Sleep
It happens to all of us at one time or another: you wake up in the middle of the night, and you just know that you're not going to be able to sleep without using the bathroom.
Unfortunately, all too often that trip leads to a sub-par night's sleep. It doesn't have to be that way, however.
Nothing will make you come-to faster than your bare flesh meeting cold porcelain, so don't even entertain that possibility.
First off, know that in this case an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Try to avoid needing to go to the bathroom at all, if you can help it. This may mean not drinking before bed, forcing yourself to go before you turn in, or addressing underlying issues like prostate problems.
If that doesn't work, try to make sure that the trip doesn't jar you awake. Obviously, a toilet nightlight is a good start, but so is a heated toilet seat. Nothing will make you come-to faster than your bare flesh meeting cold porcelain, so don't even entertain that possibility.
Once you're done, lay back down and try to relax. Meditation can help with this, but the most important thing is not to stress about slipping back off to dreamland, as that's a great way to keep yourself awake. Just breathe deeply, reach for the eye mask or ear plugs if they help, and let nature take its course.
Starting his career in the building industry, Chris built and managed a plumbing and heating company in northern England. After 13 years, seeking a more fulfilling lifestyle, he moved to southeast Asia, eventually settling in Vietnam, where he teaches writing and comprehension at a number of international universities. Drawing on his previous experience, and his passion for kitesurfing and windsurfing, Chris is knowledgeable in all things water related both recreationally and within the construction industry.