Initially I was skeptical that I would get enough light to get anything done. First, I charged the light for a good 24 hours with the included power cord before using it. On high, you get close to 5 hours of decent lighting which is nice when the power goes out or for when we are working on the car. If you leave the light plugged in and move the switch to SOS mode the light comes on automatically so it’s great if you can mount it with the included screws near stairs, but you need to have an outlet close in that situation. The light has a built in stand for portability so it’s a nice backup for campouts with the kids. If you use the low light setting the light lasts longer when kept on steadily. Recharging after the initial charge can take up to 8 hours but usually even a few hours gives you a few hours of light. I felt that I got as much light as a 40 watt bulb when used indoors as emergency lighting so not amazing but pretty good.