Recent years have brought remarkable developments in white light emitting devices (WLEDs) and white organic light-emitting devices (WOLEDs). However, their efficiency, CIE values, CRI and lifetime are still not ideal. This review covers detailed discussion about syntheses of organometallic complexes, inorganic phosphors and quantum dots used in WLEDs, WOLEDs and their electroluminescent properties until December 2007.