Candles are the classic power-cut light. They are cheap, they never go flat, and almost every home has a few. Nineteen of the 24 national guides we compiled list candles, matches and a lighter. But all 24 list a torch, and five list a torch without candles. Here is how to think about the two.
What the guides say
| Item | Guides | Not listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Torch or head torch | 24 of 24 | None |
| Candles, matches and lighter | 19 of 24 | Romania, UK, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus |
| Fire extinguisher or fire blanket | 9 of 24 | The rest |
| Smoke alarm | 4 of 24 | All but Germany, Finland, Poland, UK |
So the consensus is clear: a torch first. Candles are a common backup, not the main light.
The case for LED lights
- No fire risk. You can leave one on in a child's room, knock it over, or fall asleep with it lit.
- No carbon monoxide or smoke. They don't use up air in a closed room.
- They move with you. A head torch lights the stairs, the kitchen and the fuse box.
- Easy to control. Most have several brightness levels, so you can stretch the batteries.
Their one weakness is power: they need batteries or charging. A torch that takes the same AA or AAA batteries as your radio solves most of that. Our guide to the best emergency torch or head torch covers what to look for.
Lighting a whole room
A torch lights a spot; for evenings together you want light spread across a room. An LED lantern does that best. Without one, point a head torch at a white ceiling, or strap it to a full water bottle so the light diffuses through it. Gather everyone in one room, which also helps keep warm in winter, and you only need to light one space.
The case for candles
- They keep for years and need no batteries.
- Cheap and widely available, including tea lights and long-burning candles.
- A calm light for long evenings in one room.
Their weakness is fire. Candles and stoves raise the risk of fire just when the fire brigade is slowest to arrive, and power cuts often come with storms, darkness and stress.
Comparing them
| Candles | LED torch or lantern | |
|---|---|---|
| Fire risk | Yes | None |
| Fumes | Some smoke and soot | None |
| Storage life | Years | Years for the light; batteries need checking |
| Portable | Not safely | Yes |
| Needs power | No, but needs matches or a lighter | Batteries or charging |
If you use candles, use them safely
- Never leave a flame unattended, and put candles out before you sleep.
- Put tea lights in metal or glass holders, on a stable, non-flammable surface.
- Keep them away from curtains, paper, children and pets.
- Don't carry a lit candle around; use a torch to move from room to room.
- Keep matches and a lighter with the candles, and a spare of each. Stormproof matches in a waterproof case work even if they get wet.
Have a way to deal with a fire
If you keep candles or a camping stove, keep a way to put out a fire. Nine guides list a fire extinguisher or a fire blanket. And a working smoke alarm, ideally one per floor with a 10-year battery, gives you warning even in a power cut, because it runs on its own battery.
Our view
Use LED lights as your main light: one head torch per person, and a lantern or a torch pointed at the ceiling for the room you gather in. Keep a box of candles, matches and a lighter as a backup that never runs out. That is the pattern the guides point to, and it keeps your fire risk low.
Our power cut checklist covers the rest of what you need, and the checklist sizes it all for your household.