Best Soft Box Lights — The Ultimate Buying Guide

What is a soft box light?

What is a softbox and what to look for

A softbox’s purpose is to diffuse light to give a more natural look and feel to your shots. A soft box light is made of a translucent cloth that is attached to a light source, often a speedlight or strobe, that sits on a stand. The cloth on the inside is usually white or silver, surrounded by a black cloth on the exterior, and is wrapped around a framed box that has a diffusion panel.

Filmmakers and photographers use softboxes to soften light and diffuse light--they increase the size of a smaller, brighter source. They also control the shape of the light and its direction, often working much better than an umbrella. Because they are so often rectangular in shape, soft box lights have the added bonus of producing a natural shape and light as if produced by a window. 

Depending on your goals will depend on the size and shape softbox you’ll want to purchase. But keep in mind, a larger one might produce super soft light, but it also means you’ll need enough light output to fill the box. 

Some things to consider.

Size

Generally, softbox size should be about the size of your subject. If you’re shooting portraits and headshots, an 18 to 24 inch box would suffice, and you’d want to double the higher end of that for full body shots. For most situations, especially for beginners or hobbyists, one or two rectangular softboxes 24 by 24 and a 20 by 27 inch should suffice.  In terms of purchasing, softbox lighting kits that have two boxes fulfill most situations. Ensure the kits you purchase have sturdy and good rotational stands and high wattage bulbs.

Portability

Being able to pick up and move your gear adds to the experience whether you’re in the industry or a hobbyist. If you have a studio, this might not apply to you. But for most people, having portable equipment makes your life so much easier. If this kind of thing matters to you, there are many softbox lighting kits that come with carrying cases or at the very least, their general design is easy for transport. 

Light and Stand Quality

Ensure your light source is steady, especially if you’re shooting video, but more importantly the quality of the light matters. Its brightness and ability to diffuse across the area you’ve intended is key. Additionally, it’s not just about the light or the diffuser, the stand these are sitting on matters just as much. You want reliable stands that won’t wobble or deteriorate over time. A solid rotation is over 200 degrees with adjustable heights ranging at least 27 to 80 inches. 

Shape and Color 

There are a variety of shape options for your softbox. The most common is rectangular or square, but octagonal are also used. 

While there isn’t a big difference, the shapes determine how the light is cast. A rectangular casts a longer light, while a square is more even. Octagonal tends to be best for close-up human subjects, but a basic kit with two rectangles or one square and rectangle will get most jobs done just fine. 

A white interior lining keeps the light neutral and softer, while the higher reflectivity of a silver interior lining may appear with specular and with greater contrast. We’ll consider the best across a few categories, best softbox lighting kit on a budget, best soft box lights for portability, durability, you get the idea. Let’s jump in.