The 9 Best UV Flashlights

Unlike a regular flashlight, the role of a UV flashlight isn’t so much to provide you with light in the dark but rather to reveal what is missed with the naked eye. It is easy to forget that what we see in our everyday life isn’t quite the objective fact we like to think of it as, with colors, for example, being somewhat of a subjective interpretation.

UV flashlights may offer you a glimpse into a world usually hidden from sight. Best of all, they can be acquired at an affordable price and bring unique and useful functionality you don’t find with other devices.

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Our Selection of the Best UV Flashlights:

Now that you understand how UV flashlights work and what they are used for, let’s look at some of the best UV flashlights on the market to find what is best for your intended purposes.

How UV Flashlights Work

What we see is directly tied to how light refracts off objects, creating the color we perceive. While the color of a wavelength is an objective measurement, the colors we perceive are not. The perception of color is even different between species.

Sometimes, we need some help seeing things that may not be highlighted or made visible through traditional wavelengths of light. A UV light does a great job of providing us with a visual insight into refraction that we don’t see from regular sunlight or lighting outside the extreme ends of the light spectrum.

You’re undoubtedly familiar with the term fluorescence, the word given to something that exhibits traits that cannot be seen with regular light. Fluorescent objects will require a UV light to ‘decode’ – and its uses range from simple fun to exploration and even security and forensics.

UV (Ultraviolet) is a form of electromagnetic radiation that falls outside the visible spectrum, with a wavelength between 10 nm and 400 nm. UV lights, like the above-mentioned UV flashlights, don’t offer a visible light beam. Instead, it gives off photons that react with the phosphorous to make it visible. You see the phosphorous’s reaction under UV lights, creating visible light.

This means that you won’t get the same kind of illumination as you would using something like a tactical flashlight. Instead, you’ll most likely purchase a UV flashlight solely for UV functionality.

Understanding the Difference Between UVA, UVB, and UVC

Before purchasing the right UV flashlight, it is important to understand what nm is and how it affects the light you purchase. Nm is short for nanometers. Ultraviolet light, or ultraviolet radiation as it is also known, covers the range from 10 nm to 400nm’s. It can be broken down into these specific segments:

You can discover more about the entire range here.

The only range humans can see is the top part of the long-range; hence, an ultraviolet flashlight should be within the top end of this range. All the UV flashlights on this list are rated at 395 nm, as this will allow you to see the stains while maximizing the efficiency of the light and life of the batteries.

You’ll notice the visible spectrum separated from the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum in the image above. UV light falls just to the left of the visible spectrum, with infrared on the right. Below, we can take a further look into the UV side of the spectrum in more detail.

The Purpose of UV Flashlights

We now understand how they work, but what exactly are they used for, and why would you need one?

Authenticity Checking

Fluorescence is used to manufacture government documents and banknotes to help detect fraudulent copies or counterfeit cash. When you go to the bank, you may have seen that the teller will wave the notes under a light while processing them; the light being used is a UV light. There will typically be fluorescence within the security strip of bills that won’t be visible to the naked eye but will show clearly under UV light. Similarly, with documents like passports, fluorescent fibers embedded in them will become visible under UV light.

A UV flashlight, in turn, is a great way to scan over bank notes or documents to see whether or not they are legitimate. It is a useful tool for someone who wants to ensure they never possess counterfeit banknotes, which happens occasionally through currency circulation outside the bank.

Finding Traces of Body Fluid

Perhaps not the most pleasant of uses, but one that can offer some beneficial insight into the quality of a particular garment or even a hotel room. Urine, semen, and saliva all contain traces of fluorescence, which can be picked up under UV light. A common use is looking for pet urine stains or finding body fluid in a shared space.

Crime Scene Investigation

UV light has become a handy tool for forensics detectives who must comb a scene for evidence. Not only are bodily fluids detected via UV flashlight, but so are tooth and bone fragments. Of course, the professionals in the FBI will be using state-of-the-art equipment that uses UV light. However, a UV flashlight can still reliably offer some of these functions and is sometimes employed by private investigators.

Gemstones & Minerals

You may wonder how something that, in many cases, already looks spectacular directly from the ground could get even cooler. Some gemstones and minerals have hidden tricks we never get to see. There are actually over 500 different types of minerals that have been found to contain fluorescence.

Aside from just seeing the stone in a new light (no pun intended), a UV flashlight will also allow you to identify fake gems that are supposed to contain fluorescence. Once again, UV light comes to lend us a hand in avoiding getting scammed by providing a method of verification.

Finding Animals

While the presence of fluorescence exists in several species, a UV flashlight isn’t of much use for something like the Flying Squirrel, which, while glowing under UV light, probably isn’t within arms reach of the curious flashlight holder.

Instead, UV flashlights are often used to detect Scorpions or certain insects. Scorpions glow a bright blue under UV light for reasons that science has yet to uncover. While these mysterious little Arachnida species are often hard to detect, heading out to the desert at night with a UV flashlight could give you a new experience.

In addition to the Scorpion, insects like centipedes, millipedes, and crickets can all respond to color changes under UV light, thanks to their fluorescence.

Is UV Light Dangerous?

Most people are aware of or have at least heard about the dangers of UV. But just how well aware are you of what poses the risks and what it takes in terms of exposure for it to harm your health?

Thankfully, using a small handheld UV light such as a flashlight is unlikely to impact your health, assuming you use it practically and avoid looking directly into it for extended periods. We recommend always avoiding looking directly into flashlights.

Though as far as the carcinogenic nature studied concerning UV exposure, the sun remains our biggest threat. While most UV flashlights will primarily be UVA, the sun radiates UVB light, which is stronger and at higher risk of causing skin cancer. Tanning beds are another manufactured application shown to increase cancer risks among those who frequent them.

For a more in-depth look at how UV rays impact your health, visit cancer.org for a deep dive into the topic.

Your Guide To Buying The Right UV Flashlight

There are several other factors you should consider before committing to a specific UV flashlight:

Size

Most of the flashlights on this list are small, approximately 4 inches long. This means they are straightforward to carry with you. The size of your hand and the position of the grip on the flashlight can also influence the best size for you. Larger flashlights may be able to offer you more power through the use of more diodes, though, so make a pick based on what is required for you.

Most of the flashlights in this collection have wrist straps; this is a valuable addition to prevent you from dropping the light and potentially breaking it.

Price

It is possible to purchase a black light flashlight for under $10. This is your preferred price range, as you can afford to damage or lose it without breaking the bank. However, the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ does carry some weight.

The more expensive UV flashlights will have more power and be robust enough to survive drops and bangs, which the cheaper ones may not survive.

It is unlikely that you need to create a budget for your purchase. This list’s most expensive UV flashlights can be purchased for around $30. However, it is worth considering how much you wish to spend as this will assist you in making your decision.

Power

The intensity of the UV flashlight is an important factor to consider, and it’s not as easy as just looking at the number of diodes in the light. Different LED technology can provide different intensities. That is to say, just because a UV flashlight has a lot of LEDs in it doesn’t mean it will outperform one with fewer diodes.

Equally important to consider is that the varying efficiency offered by different LED types may mean that your UV flashlight can put out more light with less battery power than other models.

Because of these difficulties in identifying brightness by the numbers, we’ve done our best to represent the brighter options in our list.

Intended Use

Perhaps the most relevant part of your decision is considering what you plan to use the ultraviolet flashlight for.

For example, you might opt for the most powerful option if you hope to see scorpions in your backyard. But if you’re looking for a toy for your child, you can settle for the weaker, less expensive options.

If you wish to check your hotel room before you stay, you may find that a smaller, less powerful blacklight flashlight is more than capable. This will be more discreet when you arrive at the hotel.

Once you consider your intended use, you will narrow your search parameters to more or less powerful options.

Convenience

Almost every UV flashlight in this list has a wrist strap; this ensures you can easily carry it and, perhaps more importantly, avoid dropping your light. This is perhaps the most practical way to carry your ultraviolet flashlight.

However, some come with belt clips; this can be an effective way to carry your light and is worth considering. There is no correct answer to the most convenient ultraviolet flashlight; it is simply the one that will fit your needs best.

Reputation

It would help if you considered the reputation of the UV flashlight you intend on purchasing. The better-known brands are more likely to supply a quality light.

One of the best ways to verify the reputation of a UV flashlight is to check the manufacturer’s website and see what positive reviews have been left on the site. In addition, it is worth checking Amazon and other social media sites to see what people who have purchased the UV flashlight think of the product. You will likely have honest opinions through these sites, as there is no reason to restrict the comments.

Of course, there will always be some customers who are not happy with their purchase. Before you accept their opinion and base your decision on what they have said, it is important to look at the consensus. This will tell you how good ultraviolet light is.

It is also worth considering what the flashlight is made from. All those who made this top 10 UV flashlight list are made from aluminum, ensuring they are tough enough to carry with you and can even survive being dropped. However, some lights are made from plastic. You need to decide if this is the right material for your needs. Flashlights made from plastic will be damaged more easily, ruining your investment.

Summary

A UV flashlight can serve many purposes, from practical use to entertainment and security.

It is important to consider your options before deciding which UV flashlight is right for your needs. One factor that has been mentioned but can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of your blacklight flashlight is the beam’s radius. In general, the more LEDs you have in the light, the larger the head of the light needs to be and the wider your beam of light will be. However, this must be coupled with enough high-quality batteries to be effective. This will help you cover any space much faster than a lower-powered flashlight.

However, if you deal with smaller items, such as washing powder residual on clothes or even dried cat urine, you may prefer to use a smaller radius light. Of course, the larger the radius, the brighter the beam will be when used in close quarters. This can help if the space is exceptionally dark but can also confuse the issue if there are too many other items that the light will pick up, such as fluorescent strips on the carpet.

A UV flashlight is an essential item for every home. You may prefer to have several options available. Select your preferred one from this list and order a UV flashlight today!

Frequently Asked Questions

While we’ve done our best to cover the most common questions about UV flashlights in our article, we know that it can help to have these questions written out more concisely and consolidated, so we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions.