Ring lights are one of the most common lighting choices for YouTubers. A small ring light helps illuminate the shot’s subject, making it easier to capture high-quality video. However, they come in a variety of sizes.
So, what size ring light do YouTubers use?
The most common size ring lights YouTubers use are 10 inches and 18 inches. The 10-inch ring lights are considered “selfie lights.” The 18-inch lights may illuminate a small to a medium-sized room instead of a single face. So it depends on how they’re using it.
You can read more about ring lights and see some recommended ring lights in What Ring Lights Do YouTubers Use? (With Examples).
Here is what you should know about finding the right size ring light.
What Is a Ring Light?
A ring light is a ring of LED bulbs that many YouTubers use to provide additional illumination. The ring is typically mounted to a tripod or on top of a camera.
Unlike the flash on your camera, a ring light is designed to provide continuous lighting.
The most powerful ring lights use battery packs or AC power to produce bright white light. Smaller, portable ring lights have built-in rechargeable batteries.
So, why do YouTubers use ring lights? Using additional lighting tends to improve the clarity of video and photos, especially when filming indoors.
A professional film production often involves the use of complicated lighting rings with multiple beams of light. Even professional photographers typically use lights to enhance the quality of their photos.
A ring light allows amateurs to produce better videos by ensuring that each shot is properly lit. You do not need any film production or photography experience to light a scene with a ring light. You point the light at your subject.
Using a ring light is the easiest way for YouTubers – fx beauty vloggers – to create professional-quality content without professional lighting equipment and additional crew. However, they come in a variety of sizes.
What Is the Most Common Size for a Ring Light?
The ring light’s size is typically listed in inches and refers to the outer diameter of the light.
The product details may occasionally list two measurements, such as 14-inches/12-inches. The smaller measurement is the ring’s inner diameter, while the larger measurement is the outer diameter.
The most common sizes for ring lights are 10 inches and 18 inches, but they are available in sizes ranging from 8 to 20 inches. The 10-inch ring lights are considered “selfie lights.”
The 18-inch lights may illuminate a small to a medium-sized room instead of a single face.
Ring lights have LED bulbs. A larger ring holds more LEDs, which increases the output of the light. A larger diameter also distributes light across a wider space.
With a small ring light, the LEDs are close together. This creates a more concentrated ray of light. The LEDs are less likely to illuminate an object more than several feet from the camera.
However, the concentrated light provides greater illumination for a close-up subject.
What Size Ring Light Do You Need for Selfies?
When shooting headshots or selfies, you may only need a small 10-inch ring light.
Most 10-inch ring lights are advertised as “selfie ring lights.” They typically provide enough illumination to highlight the details of your face, even when filming in a dimly lit room.
A 10-inch ring light provides a more concentrated beam of light. Instead of filling a wide space, it mostly illuminates the area within two to three feet of the light.
Along with 10-inch ring lights, you can find 8-inch and 12-inch options.
A 12-inch ring light is likely to provide a little more illumination than a 10-inch or 8-inch light.
Twelve-inch ring lights may allow you to adjust the color temperature to achieve the right look, but they also tend to cost a little more and take up more space.
The 8-inch ring lights offer limited output, but they are often the most portable option. Using an 8-inch ring light with a smartphone clip allows you to remain mobile as you film.
This is useful for filming yourself while holding your smartphone, as the light is clipped to the phone.
What Is the Best Ring Light Size for Filming in a Large Space?
Some of the largest ring lights measure 18-inches and may help supplement existing lighting in a large room. Fourteen inches is another common size.
Many of the larger lights offer two power options. You can power the light with AC power or a battery pack. However, plugging the light into an AC electrical outlet is often necessary for achieving full brightness.
A larger ring light can be used for more than just highlighting your face. You may light up a small to medium-sized room.
While a large ring light can illuminate a room, it can also be used for close-ups.
Most ring lights are dimmable, allowing you to reduce the brightness of the LED to highlight your face instead of the entire background.
Larger ring lights also consume more power. While many 18-inch ring lights include a battery pack, they may provide a shorter life than a 10-inch or 12-inch ring light with a built-in battery.
If you have a larger space, you could consider a LED lighting kit with LED panels or a fresnel style light with a softbox instead.
Read more about other types of lighting options for YouTube in What Lighting Do YouTubers Use?
What Else Should You Consider Before Buying a Ring Light?
Size is not the only factor to consider when choosing a ring light. Two 8-inch ring lights from different companies may produce two completely different results.
Some of the most important details to pay attention to include:
- Color rendering index (CRI)
- Color temperature
- Settings and controls
- Power options
Color rendering is the ability of the light to correctly render the natural colors of objects and backgrounds. A high color rendering index (CRI) makes colors more vivid instead of dull and washed out.
The best ring lights have a CRI of 95 or higher. Subpar lights often have a CRI of 90 or lower.
A high color temperature is also needed to bring out natural colors and increase the clarity of the video.
Standard light bulbs tend to have a low color temperature, which can create an orangish glow. A color temperature of 5,500 Kelvin (K) helps recreate the look of natural daylight.
Read more about ring lights and color temperatures, and see some recommended ring lights in What Ring Lights Do YouTubers Use? (With Examples).
Some ring lights come with remotes for dimming the LEDs or adjusting the color temperature. This makes the light easier to operate when sitting away from the camera.
You should also pay attention to the power options. Most ring lights are USB-powered. If you plan on using your ring light outside of the home, look for a light with a built-in battery.
Last Thoughts on Choosing the Right Size for a Ring Light
Any ring light should offer additional illumination to help you produce clearer videos, but some sizes are better suited for specific situations.
A 10-inch ring light is suitable for close-ups. If you mostly film makeup tutorials, you do not need a light that can brighten an entire room.
If you need to fill a room or outdoor space with light, consider getting an 18-inch ring light. The larger size will help illuminate a large area and more of the background.
Keep in mind that getting a larger ring light also provides greater flexibility. Many ring lights are adjustable and dimmable, allowing you to lower the intensity of a larger light.
You can use a large 14-inch or 18-inch ring light in more situations compared to a smaller light.
The bottom line is that you may want to purchase the largest ring light that you can afford. While you may only need light for close-ups right now, a bigger light offers more versatility.