Moroccan Lanterns in Marrakech: Where to Buy, Prices and Shipping

Nobody plans to buy a lantern in Marrakech. You walk into one small shop to "just look", the owner switches on forty lamps at once, the ceiling explodes into stars, and suddenly you are calculating whether a brass pendant the size of a beach ball counts as hand luggage.

It doesn't. But don't worry, there are solutions, and this guide covers all of them.

Visit Marrakech Medina is the shopping specialist of Marrakech. We spend our days in the souks with travelers looking for the real thing: lanterns hammered by hand in the blacksmiths' souk, leather from workshops we trust, rugs straight from weaving families. We know which metalworkers still pierce every pattern by hand, which lamps are painted tin pretending to be brass, and what a good lantern should really cost. For designers and travelers furnishing a home, private luxury shopping and custom lighting are available on request.

As your local shopping specialist, I have guided travelers through the lantern workshops of the medina for more than 20 years. Our tours are recommended by travel writer Rick Steves and by Daniel Jacobs in the Rough Guide to Morocco.

Looking for the perfect Moroccan lantern?

Message us on WhatsApp and tell us the style and size you want, or join our Marrakech shopping tour.

Where Is the Best Place to Buy Lanterns in Marrakech?

The best place to buy Moroccan lanterns in Marrakech is Souk Haddadine, the blacksmiths' souk in the medina, where many lanterns are actually made. You can also find good lantern shops around Rahba Kedima and Souk El Attarine. For fixed reference prices, visit the Ensemble Artisanal. The golden rule: buy where you can see the metal being cut and hammered.

Why Are Marrakech Lanterns So Special?

Moroccan lanterns are made by hand in small family workshops, often passed down from father to son. The metalworker draws the pattern, then pierces it hole by hole with a hammer and chisel. When the lamp is lit, those tiny holes throw stars, flowers and geometric shapes across the walls. It is light turned into decoration, inspired by the same geometry you see in Moroccan tiles and palaces.

In Souk Haddadine you can still hear the hammers from the alley and watch lamps being made in front of you. Meet more of the Artisans of The Medina.

What Types of Moroccan Lanterns Can You Buy?

• Pierced brass lanterns: the classic. Warm golden light and the famous star patterns. Hanging, table or floor versions.

• Pierced copper lanterns: a redder, deeper glow. Ages beautifully into a dark patina.

• Colored glass lanterns: metal frames with panels of red, blue, green or amber glass. Bright and festive.

• Iron lanterns: black or painted metal, often with clear or frosted glass. Great for gardens and terraces.

• Henna lamps: goatskin or parchment shades painted with henna designs. Soft, warm light and very light to carry.

• Candle lanterns: small lanterns for tea lights, perfect gifts and easy to pack.

• Ceiling pendants and chandeliers: big statement pieces for living rooms, riads and restaurants.

Brass, Copper, Iron or Tin: Which Metal Is Best?

• Solid brass: heavy, durable and golden. The best quality for indoor lamps.

• Copper: soft red tone, also heavy and long lasting.

• Iron: strong and affordable, best for outdoor use if properly painted.

• Tin or thin plated metal: light and cheap. Often painted or plated to look like brass. Fine for decoration, but it bends easily and the color can wear off.

How Do You Check the Quality of a Moroccan Lantern?

Lift it, look at the joints and test it with a magnet. Good brass or copper lanterns feel heavy, have clean solder joints and are not magnetic. Cheap plated tin feels light, attracts a magnet and shows rough edges. These are the checks I show every client:

1. Lift it. Solid brass and copper are heavy. A big lantern that feels light is probably thin tin or plated metal.

2. Use a magnet. Brass and copper are not magnetic. If a magnet sticks, it is iron or plated steel. Not bad, but not brass.

3. Look at the joints. Solder should be smooth and clean, with no gaps. Messy blobs or glue mean rushed work.

4. Check the piercing. Hand-pierced patterns have tiny irregularities. Perfectly identical holes usually mean machine stamping.

5. Check the glass. On colored glass lanterns, panels should sit firmly in the frame, not wobble or rattle.

6. Scratch test the color. Ask to see the inside or a hidden corner. If gold paint shows grey metal underneath, it is painted, not brass.

7. Ask about the finish. Polished brass shines bright, aged brass has a darker vintage look. Both are fine, but know what you are paying for.

Where to Buy Lanterns in Marrakech

• Souk Haddadine: the blacksmiths' souk, where many lanterns are made. Best for watching artisans at work and for big pieces.

• Around Rahba Kedima and Souk El Attarine: many lantern shops with large displays, good for comparing styles.

• Mouassine area: smaller shops and more design-led pieces.

• Ensemble Artisanal: fixed prices, useful as a reference before you bargain.

• Antique dealers: for vintage and old lanterns. See our Antique Shopping Tour.

New to the souks?

Read our Guide to The Marrakech Souks and check the souk opening hours before you go.

Can You Order a Custom Lantern in Marrakech?

Yes. Many workshops can make lanterns to your size, shape, metal and pattern, or copy a design from a photo. This is popular with interior designers, restaurant owners and travelers decorating a riad or a home. Small pieces can take a few days, larger orders a few weeks, then they are shipped to you.

Pair your lighting with the right textiles using our guide to Moroccan Textiles for Interior Design. For full home projects and VIP sourcing, see our Private and Luxury Shopping Tours.

How Much Do Moroccan Lanterns Cost in Marrakech?

In Marrakech, a small candle lantern usually costs 50 to 200 MAD, a medium brass table lamp 300 to 800 MAD and a large brass ceiling pendant 800 to 3,000 MAD or more. Price depends on the metal, the size, the detail of the piercing and the finish. These are realistic ranges after a fair negotiation, not first prices:

• Small candle lanterns: 50 to 200 MAD

• Henna lamps: 150 to 400 MAD

• Colored glass lanterns (medium): 250 to 700 MAD

• Brass or copper table lamps: 300 to 800 MAD

• Large brass or copper pendants: 800 to 3,000 MAD and more

• Floor lamps: 1,000 to 3,000 MAD

• Custom and chandelier pieces: price on the project

A very low price for a big "brass" lantern usually means painted tin.

How to Negotiate for a Lantern

1. Compare two or three shops before you start talking price.

2. Check the metal first (lift it, magnet test). Then you know what it is worth.

3. Let the seller give the first price. Answer calmly with your own number.

4. Buy a set. Two pendants or a pendant and a few candle lanterns get a better total price.

5. Ask for the price with packing included so there are no surprises at the end.

6. Smile, and be ready to walk away. Lantern shops are everywhere in the medina.

More tips in our guides on How to Avoid Overpaying and Shopping Like a Local.

Will a Moroccan Lantern Work at Home? (Wiring)

Many lanterns sold in the souks come with basic local wiring that may not meet the electrical standards in the UK, the USA or Europe. The safest approach:

• Ask for the lantern unwired or with a simple fitting, which also makes it lighter to pack.

• Have a local electrician fit a certified socket and cable at home. It is quick and inexpensive.

• Check the bulb socket size: Europe and Morocco usually use E27, the USA uses E26.

• Use LED bulbs. They stay cool, and the star patterns look just as good.

How to Pack and Ship a Lantern

• Small lanterns and henna lamps: wrap in clothes and carry them in your hand luggage.

• Colored glass lanterns: ask the shop to remove and wrap the glass panels separately if possible.

• Medium brass lanterns: ask for bubble wrap and a sturdy box. Many fit in a suitcase surrounded by soft clothes.

• Large pendants and orders: ship them. Many workshops pack and send with tracking. Ask for insurance on bigger pieces.

Take photos of your lantern and receipt before packing, it helps if there is any question at delivery.

Lantern Shopping on Our Marrakech Shopping Tour

On our Marrakech Shopping Tour, we take you into Souk Haddadine to watch lanterns being hammered by hand, then to the workshops we have trusted for years. You learn the quality checks in real life, compare styles and get help with fair prices and packing. Shopping is always your choice: one candle lantern, a full set of pendants, or nothing at all.

The same tour can include leather (see our guide to Leather Shopping in Marrakech), rugs, ceramics and our certified argan oil partner. For more ideas, read Products Worth Buying.

• Small group tour: around 250 MAD per person, up to 6 people

• Private tour: from 900 MAD for your family or group

• Hotel or riad pickup: on request

• Last-minute tours: a guide can meet you in the medina within one hour

• Luxury and designer sourcing: on request

Rated 5 stars on Google by our clients (read the reviews).

Moroccan Lanterns FAQ

Are lanterns cheaper in Marrakech?

Yes, much cheaper than the same handmade lantern sold abroad, often several times less.

Where are lanterns made in Marrakech?

Many are made in Souk Haddadine, the blacksmiths' souk in the medina, where you can watch metalworkers at work.

How can I tell if a lantern is real brass?

Real brass is heavy and not magnetic. If a magnet sticks or the gold color scratches off to grey, it is plated or painted.

Can I take a Moroccan lantern on the plane?

Small and medium lanterns, yes, wrapped well in your luggage or hand luggage. Large pendants are better shipped.

Can I use a Moroccan lantern in the USA or UK?

Yes, but have an electrician fit a certified socket and cable at home, and check the bulb size (E26 in the USA, E27 in Europe).

Can I order lanterns in my own size?

Yes. Workshops can make custom lanterns, usually in a few days to a few weeks, and ship them to you.

What is the best lantern for a garden?

Painted iron lanterns with glass panels, or copper, which ages nicely outdoors.

Do I need a guide to buy lanterns?

Not always, but a specialist helps you avoid painted tin sold as brass, compare fairly and get the right packing.

More Ways to Explore Marrakech

• Marrakech Shopping Tour: lanterns, leather, spices and the best artisans of the souks

• Rug Shopping Tour: find an authentic Moroccan rug with a specialist

• Medina Walking Tour: history, palaces and hidden corners

• Things to Do in Marrakech: our complete local guide

Discover our full range of authentic Marrakech tours on our Visit Marrakech Medina homepage.

Ready to Find Your Moroccan Lantern?

Skip the painted tin and the overpriced shops. Shop with a local specialist, watch the artisans at work and bring home a lantern that fills your room with stars.

Book your Marrakech shopping tour on WhatsApp for a fast reply, or use our Booking Form and we'll get back to you within the day.