The 10 Best Tracing Light Pads
Updated by · How we research
Ten tracing light pads compared by lit area, brightness and power, from cordless pads to A2 boxes. The Huion L4S suits most people who trace at a desk. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
The size printed on a light pad's box often describes the frame, not the part that glows, so a pad sold as A3 can light little more than a letter page. Check the lit area first. These slim LED panels sit under your paper so artists, animators, quilters and lettering fans can trace a drawing or pattern through a clean sheet.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Huion L4S is the pad most people should buy: a thin USB panel with a dimmer that remembers its setting, and independent art reviewers keep naming it a top pick. It's joined by the larger Huion A3 for animation paper, the Toheto Rechargeable A4 for work away from an outlet, the HSK A2 for big sheets and the Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad for kids.
Eight of the ten pads from the earlier version are out. We couldn't find the Small Fish, Picture/Perfect or AGPtek pads for sale, the Craftymint and Voilamart listings are unavailable, and the TikTeck now sells a pad labelled A3 that lights only a letter-size area. The Crayola Trolls edition gave way to the standard Crayola pad. The Lightmaster is still around, but nobody has reviewed this size, so the Huion A3 and the Daylight Wafer 2 cover that job.
The biggest trap in this category is the size on the box. For every pick we compared the stated lit area with the frame, then checked brightness and heat claims against art-site roundups that put several of these pads to work.
August 17, 2020:
Removed the Cricut Bright Pad and Litup LPB3 due to availability concerns. Added the Craftymint 19-Inch, which has a large surface area good for art projects that require more room than drawing on standard letter paper. Also added the Picture/Perfect Advanced, which has a built-in filter designed to prevent eye strain.
Light pads are useful for a number of different projects. Some models are designed to be versatile, while others are built with a specific purpose in mind. For example, if you plan to use your light pad to trace embroidery patterns onto fabric, you'll want to make sure that you choose a model that's bright enough to shine through thicker materials.
Also, if precise measurements are important to your work, note that some pads have built-in rulers. Some, like the Small Fish Ultra Portable and Huion L4S, use the metric system while others, like the Craftymint 19-Inch, use imperial units.
June 27, 2019:
Thanks to the advancement of LED technology, artists, animators, and photographers can get their hands on a tracing light pad for a reasonable price. Many of today’s models come with convenient amenities like built-in rulers for measuring your handiwork, USB outlets, nonslip rubber surfaces, rounded edges for comfort, and a lightweight, portable build. In addition to tracing, many find these devices to be useful for viewing negatives, as well as making models, jewelry, and needlepoint crafts.
Joining our list today is the Cricut Bright Pad, available from an established name in crafting supplies. It’ll help you work in comfort, thanks to its adjustable LED light, nonslip base, and six-foot USB power cord with a wall adapter. It’s great for projects like weeding and quilting. If you already own the popular Cricut die cutting machine, you just might find a Bright Pad that matches it, as it comes in pastel colors of rose, blue, or mint. Note that if you’re looking for a battery-powered model, this isn’t the choice for you, as it’s only for use with U.S. power outlets.
Another new addition is the Small Fish Ultra Portable, which is refreshingly slim and lightweight, so it’s great for those who enjoy tracing and other projects while on the go. (However, like the Cricut, this one is not battery operated.) Like some of the others, this model comes with a built-in ruler that’s useful for artwork that requires measurement. It’s made to be flicker-free and won’t get hot, no matter how long you use it at a time. It’s refreshingly affordable, and you can buy it with confidence, thanks to its 12-month warranty.
Leaving the list in this update are the DBmier LED A3 and the Co-Z Ultra-Thin, due to issues with availability.
Special Honors
Cricut BrightPad Go Cricut's cordless light pad is aimed at crafters who weed vinyl and trace patterns away from an outlet, and Creative Bloq names it its top overall pick. It runs on a built-in rechargeable battery and dims in steps. It didn't appear in our product searches, so we couldn't confirm its current price and stock; check Cricut's site for the model and accessories. cricut.com
Kaiser Fototechnik Slimlite Kaiser, a German photo equipment maker, builds the Slimlite light boxes for viewing slides, negatives and color work, where an accurate white matters more than raw brightness. Austin Gallery suggests one for color viewing rather than tracing. They cost more than hobby pads. kaiser-fototechnik.de
Lit Area: Measure The Part That Glows
An A4 pad, about the size of a letter page, covers most hobby tracing, lettering and pattern work.
A light pad's name usually comes from a paper size, but that size often describes the frame, not the glowing panel. One pad sold as A3 gives a lit area of about 13 by 9 inches, which is closer to A4. The HSK B4 is listed as both B4 and A3, and its glowing area is about 14 by 10 inches. Always look for the lit or visual area in the specs before you buy.
An A4 pad, about the size of a letter page, covers most hobby tracing, lettering and pattern work. Step up to A3 if you work on animation paper or want two letter pages side by side. Austin Gallery notes that a standard 12-field animation sheet needs a lit area of roughly 12.5 by 9.5 inches. A2 pads suit posters, full-size comic pages and quilt patterns, but they're heavy and take a whole desk.
Some makers do label honestly. Creative Bloq found the HSK A2's glowing area matched its stated size, and the HSK A2 listing gives a visual area close to a full A2 sheet.
How Bright Is Bright Enough
Brightness numbers on light pads are the makers' own, and they aren't measured the same way. Some quote lux, some candela per square meter, and some lumens, so you can't line them up directly. Creative Bloq puts the useful range at about 1,500 to 3,000 lux for most tracing. The Huion L4S is rated at 1,100 lux, and reviewers still found it fine for ordinary drawing paper.
Extra brightness matters when you trace through heavy watercolor paper, fabric, or two sheets at once. Gathered notes that the Daylight Wafer handles thick card. For thin paper, a very bright pad can glare and tire your eyes, so dim it until it roughly matches the room.
Look for smooth dimming and a memory setting, so the pad comes back on at the level you last used. A lock button, like the one on HSK pads, keeps a wrist or sleeve from changing the brightness mid-line.
Power, Heat And Care
Most letter-size pads run on USB, so a laptop, phone charger or power bank will do. Larger A3 and A2 pads usually need a wall adapter. Cordless pads, such as the Toheto Rechargeable A4, carry a battery that the seller rates at two to six hours, depending on brightness. Art Side of Life lists both kinds and their trade-offs.
Some pads get warm. Creative Bloq found the LitEnergy A4 runs hot on a laptop port over long sessions, and Austin Gallery says the Huion A3 warms up after about 90 minutes. Use the supplied cable or adapter, leave the pad uncovered when it's on, and switch it off between sessions.
The acrylic top scratches easily. Put a scrap sheet of paper under metal rulers and craft knives, and hold your original down with low-tack tape or, on magnetic pads, the supplied magnets. Wipe the surface with a soft dry cloth. A light pad only lights paper from behind; it can't scan or photograph your finished art.
How we researched this
We compared 22 light pads, checked the makers' and sellers' specifications for the 11 finalists, weighed them against four independent roundups from art and craft sites, and searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall database for every brand. We found no recalls for these pads. Where a box size and the lit area disagree, the lit area is the figure we used.
Frequently asked questions
What is a light pad?
A light pad is a thin LED panel that lights paper from below, so you can see a drawing, pattern or photo through a clean sheet and trace it. Artists, animators, quilters, calligraphers and crafters use them.
What size light pad do I need for tracing?
An A4 pad, about the size of a letter page, handles most tracing. Choose A3 for animation paper or two pages side by side, and A2 for posters and large patterns. Check the lit area, not the name, since many pads are labelled by frame size.
Do I need a very bright light pad?
Not for ordinary paper. About 1,500 to 3,000 lux covers most tracing, according to Creative Bloq. Extra brightness helps with heavy watercolor paper, fabric or two stacked sheets. Brightness figures are makers' claims and aren't measured the same way.
Can I use a light pad for animation?
Yes. Pick a pad whose lit area is at least about 12.5 by 9.5 inches, which fits a standard animation field. A3 pads such as the Huion A3 have room to spare. Pegbars for registration are sold separately.
Are light pads safe for kids?
Kids' pads such as the Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad are labelled for ages six and up and run on AA batteries. Keep spare batteries and small pencils away from younger children, and follow the age label.
Is a light pad bad for your eyes?
We found no evidence of harm, but a bright panel in a dark room can cause glare and eye strain. Dim the pad so it roughly matches the room light, and take breaks during long sessions.
