DeWalt 1000/500 Lumen LED Rechargeable Area Light

Why I reached for this light

Jobsite lighting is one of those things you don’t appreciate until you’re crawling through an attic, tracing wiring in a basement, or painting in a dim corner and realize you can’t see your cut line. I’ve been using the DeWalt area light as a grab‑and‑go solution for everything from under‑hood diagnostics to drywall patching, and it’s become a regular in my kit—warts and all.

Build, size, and durability

This is a compact, stout light: roughly a foot long, 8 inches wide, and 6 inches tall, about 5 pounds. Most of the housing is thick plastic with a beefy heat sink behind the LED array. It’s rated IP67, which means it’s dust-tight and can handle water exposure far beyond a drizzle. I’ve used it in a muddy crawlspace and through a slushy garage door opening without a hiccup. There’s no fan, so it stays quiet while shedding heat through the fins; it gets warm on high, as expected, but never worryingly hot.

Durability has been excellent. DeWalt claims it survives repeated drops from 3.3 feet; mine took a fall from a tailgate onto a concrete apron and came away with scuffs only. The hinge and body showed no cracks, and the LEDs didn’t flicker or step down. That level of resilience is a big reason I reach for it over cheaper lights.

Light quality and output

On paper, you get two modes: 1000 lumens (high) and 500 lumens (low). In use, high mode is a strong, broad flood that covers a small room or engine bay well. Low mode is comfortable for close work without blowing out your eyes. The beam pattern is fairly wide but comes from a relatively small emitter, so it can produce harder shadows under obstructions like intake manifolds or shelving. If you’re working under a hood or inside cabinets, you’ll want to reposition to reduce shadowing or bounce it off a light-colored surface.

Color temperature lands in a neutral‑cool range—clean and accurate for seeing fasteners, wood grain, and finish surfaces. Color rendering is good enough for paint and electrical work, though it’s not a studio light.

One note for anyone planning to use it for photos or video: I can induce visible flicker on camera at certain shutter speeds. That points to PWM dimming. For actual work, this is a non-issue; for content capture, it’s worth knowing.

Battery life and charging

The integrated lithium‑ion pack is the defining feature here—for better and worse. Runtime has been consistent with the spec: around 4.5 hours on high and roughly double that on low, depending on ambient temperature. That’s plenty to get through most tasks without babysitting.

Two things I appreciate:
- You can run it while it’s charging. That’s a lifesaver on longer jobs—plug it in near the panel or to a generator and keep going.
- It gives a polite heads‑up as the battery gets low rather than just going dark, which helps you wrap a task before topping up.

Two things I don’t love:
- The pack is not user‑replaceable. If you’re on a DeWalt battery platform already, you might wish this took your 20V packs; it doesn’t. If it dies mid‑day and you’re away from power, you’re waiting.
- There’s noticeable parasitic drain. If I park it on a shelf for several days, I can’t assume it’s still at the charge level I left it. I now top it off the day before a job.

Charging speed is fine but not fast in my experience—plan to recharge between jobs or overnight. The included cord is handy, and the charging port is well protected.

Mounting options and ergonomics

This is where the DeWalt area light earns its keep. You get:
- A surface clamp that doubles as a stand and can bite onto 2x stock, shelving, and benchtops.
- Powerful magnets that hold to steel doors, ducts, and vehicle frames.
- A tripod attachment for setting the light higher and clearing shadows.

The magnets are genuinely strong; I’ve stuck it to a steel utility door and a vehicle lift arm without a hint of slide. The clamp is best on clean, flat surfaces; on uneven or thin sheet materials, it can wander. On a tripod, it excels—set it high, angle it down, and you can light a whole room evenly.

The hinge has solid detents out of the box, but like most ratcheting joints, it can loosen with heavy use. I’ve had it “creep” downward when carrying it while powered on, which is annoying but manageable—set your angle after placing it rather than before. There’s enough range of motion to aim the beam precisely, and the light’s weight keeps it from vibrating during tool use.

Controls are simple: one button to toggle brightness. No mode memory to worry about, no app, no gimmicks.

In the field

• Electrical rough‑in: I clamped it to a floor joist and ran it on low for most of the morning, bumping to high when routing through a dark chase. The light filled the space evenly, and the magnets let me quickly “park” it on a panel face while I labeled circuits.
• Automotive work: Under-hood, it does well when you give it a little distance—say, on the fender or a tripod. Directly under the hood, the point-source shadows show up. I often tilt it off-axis or bounce it off an adjacent wall to soften shadows.
• Painting and patching: On a tripod, it’s excellent for raking light across walls; defects pop right out. There’s enough punch to work across a 12x12 room with one light on high, two on low is better.

It shrugs off dust and moisture, wipes clean easily, and never feels delicate.

What could be better

• Integrated battery only. No pack swaps, and some self‑discharge means you should plan ahead.
• Hinge stability. After months of use, mine doesn’t hold as firmly as it did new, especially when carried while lit. Stationary, it’s fine; in motion, it can relax a notch.
• Not ideal for photo/video. If you shoot content on site, the PWM flicker can show up with certain camera settings.
• Hard shadows in tight spaces. A larger emitter or built‑in diffuser option would help.

Value and warranty

There are cheaper lights that will put photons on a wall, but this one justifies its premium with ruggedness, thoughtful mounting options, and real ingress protection. The warranty helps the case: a 3‑year limited warranty, 1‑year free service, and a 90‑day money‑back guarantee. For something that’s going to tumble off ladders and live in dusty vans, that matters.

Tips to get the most out of it

• Use a tripod whenever you can. Elevation reduces shadows dramatically.
• Bounce the beam off a ceiling or light wall for softer, more even illumination.
• Keep it on the charger between jobs to counter the slow parasitic drain.
• For under‑hood work, stick it to the fender or hood latch support with the magnets rather than stuffing it deep into the bay.
• If the hinge starts to loosen, dedicate it to stationary use or tripod mounting and avoid carrying it around while it’s open.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt area light to tradespeople and serious DIYers who need a rugged, water‑ and dust‑resistant, cordless flood with truly versatile mounting. It’s bright, the beam is clean, and the ability to run while charging makes it practical for long days. The integrated battery and hinge creep are the main compromises; if you want hot‑swappable packs or zero self‑discharge, look elsewhere. If you create photo or video content, the camera flicker is a deal‑breaker.

For everyone else, especially if you value durability and mounting flexibility over bargain pricing, this is a dependable work light that earns its spot in the kit.