Best Budget Key Lights for YouTube (Under £100, UK)

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Best YouTube Lighting Under £100 (UK): What to Buy First (and What to Skip)

If you’re filming on a phone or a basic camera, lighting is the upgrade that makes the biggest visible difference — and you don’t need a studio budget to get a clean, professional look.

This guide is designed for UK creators with a hard cap of £100. It’s not a shopping list; it’s a decision guide that tells you what to buy first, what to avoid, and how to place it so it actually looks good.

Quick answer

The best YouTube lighting under £100 for most creators is one soft key light (softbox-style or a diffused LED panel) placed 45° to the side and slightly above eye level. Avoid relying on ceiling lights. If you’re tight on space, a compact LED panel with diffusion is often the easiest win. If you wear glasses, avoid centred ring light placement — place the light higher and off-axis.

The 60-second decision tree

What to buy under £100 (the upgrade order that works)

Priority	Buy	Why it’s worth it	Common mistake
1	One key light (soft)	Biggest visible upgrade for any camera	Ceiling lights or window-only lighting
2	Stand/mount that stays put	Repeatability = consistent quality	Rebuilding the setup every session
3	Cheap bounce fill (reflector/foam board)	Softens harsh shadows without another powered light	Adding a second cheap harsh light
4	Background practical (optional)	Depth makes the scene feel more “pro”	Trying to light the whole room

Under £100: ring light vs softbox vs LED panel

Type	Best for	Why it works under £100	Watch out for
Softbox / soft key light	Most creators	Flattering, forgiving, “safe” look	Can be bulky in tiny rooms
Diffused LED panel	Small rooms, desks, travel	Compact, easy to position, often dimmable	Undiffused panels can look harsh
Ring light	Quick face-forward lighting	Simple and popular in budget ranges	Glasses glare and a flatter look

3 budget setups (pick one)

Setup A: The safest “one light” starter

• Soft key light at 45° and slightly above eye level
• Camera/phone at eye level
• Background slightly darker than your face

Setup B: Tight space desk setup

• Diffused LED panel slightly above eye level, off to the side
• Light closer to you (not the wall) to reduce background shadows
• Use a white wall or cheap foam board as bounce fill if needed

Setup C: “Looks pro” on a budget

• Soft key light + a small practical lamp behind you
• Move yourself away from the wall if possible
• Keep the background tidy and intentional

If you wear glasses (avoid the two classic mistakes)

Mistake #1: putting a ring light directly behind the camera so the reflection bounces straight back into the lens.

Mistake #2: using harsh undiffused light too close to your face.

Fast fix: raise the light, move it further to the side, and angle it down.

If glare is a frequent issue, this guide is your next read:

• Lighting with glasses: stop reflections on camera (UK)

What not to do

• Don’t rely on ceiling lights. They’re usually the worst main light for faces.
• Don’t mix colour temperatures. Keep your light sources consistent.
• Don’t buy multiple cheap harsh lights. One softer light looks better.
• Don’t sit right against a wall. You’ll fight harsh shadows constantly.
• Don’t assume brighter is better. Soft and well placed wins.

Who this is not for

• Creators building a permanent studio with ceiling-mounted rigs and multiple modifiers
• People who want cinema-style lighting setups with complex control
• Anyone hoping lighting alone will replace a consistent filming routine

Gear links (kept editorial, not salesy)

Start here for scenario-based picks and bundles:

• Creator Gear hub

These posts connect directly to this topic:

• YouTube filming setup (beginner to pro)
• YouTube lighting setup for small rooms
• Ring light vs softbox vs LED panel
• Lighting with glasses (stop reflections)

If you want Amazon UK searches (tagged so the session is credited):

• Amazon UK: soft key lights under £100
• Amazon UK: LED panels under £100
• Amazon UK: ring lights under £100
• Amazon UK: light stands
• Amazon UK: reflectors (cheap fill)

Related reading (internal only)

• Creator Gear hub
• YouTube filming setup (beginner to pro)
• YouTube lighting setup for small rooms
• Ring light vs softbox vs LED panel
• Lighting with glasses: stop reflections

FAQs (People Also Ask style)

What’s the best YouTube lighting under £100 in the UK?

For most creators, one soft key light (softbox-style or diffused LED panel) placed well is the best value. It improves any camera immediately.

Is a ring light good enough for YouTube?

It can be, especially for face-forward content. But it can look flatter and it often causes glasses glare if placed behind the camera.

Softbox vs LED panel under £100: which should I choose?

Softboxes are usually more flattering if you have space. LED panels are often better if your room is tight and you need compact control.

Why do my videos look noisy indoors?

Low light. Your camera increases gain/ISO which adds noise. A key light fixes this more than a camera upgrade does.

Do I need two lights for YouTube?

Not usually. One good key light is enough for many creators. Add a cheap bounce fill or a small background practical only if needed.

How do I light YouTube videos in a small room on a budget?

Use one key light off to the side, keep your face brighter than the background, and avoid sitting right against a wall.

What’s the cheapest way to soften lighting?

Use diffusion (if your light supports it) or bounce the light off a white wall/foam board instead of aiming it straight at your face.

Will lighting help my phone camera look better?

Yes — lighting is one of the biggest upgrades for phone footage because it reduces noise and improves sharpness and colour.

How do I avoid glare if I wear glasses?

Raise the light, move it further to the side, and angle it down. Avoid placing a ring light directly behind the camera.

Is daylight enough for filming YouTube videos?

Sometimes, but it changes all day. If you want consistent results, a key light is usually worth it even on a budget.