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Best Wake-Up Lights

Updated March 2022
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Hatch Restore Sunrise Alarm Clock
Hatch
Restore Sunrise Alarm Clock
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Most Convenient
Bottom Line

Users can control this clock through touch or the app for ease of use during morning time.

Pros

Elegant device emits a soft glow that mimics natural sunlight to make it easier to wake up. Simply use the touch controls on the device in order to start your routine, turn it off, or snooze. Adjust additional settings through your phone or the lamp. Comes with an app.

Cons

Reports of the app not connecting properly, and no options to add your own sounds.

Best Bang for the Buck
JALL Sunrise Alarm Clock
JALL
Sunrise Alarm Clock
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Feature-Packed
Bottom Line

Based on our tests, the several outlets and settings allow this wake-up light to serve you throughout the day.

Pros

Gradually increases the percentage of brightness over a selected period of time so users can wake up naturally. Offers 7 colors, including blue, red, pink, and green. Includes a radio and additional alarm sounds to wake you up.

Cons

Radio aspect of the light is not good quality.

LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise Children's Sleep Training Clock
LittleHippo
Mella Ready to Rise Children's Sleep Training Clock
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Best for Kids
Bottom Line

This device arrives with an animated face and multicolored lights, making it an excellent addition to your child's bedside.

Pros

Clock comes with a playful companion, Mella, that changes expressions throughout the day to get children ready for sleep. Countdown for naps included. Includes 6 different colors of lights that kids can customize to personal preferences.

Cons

Smiley-face on the front may scare some children.

hOmeLabs Sunrise Alarm Clock
hOmeLabs
Sunrise Alarm Clock
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

This clock has lots of features for a low price.

Pros

With variable brightness levels and sounds, FM radio, and 7 colors, this model has the features users love in a wake-up light for a surprisingly low price. Features sunlight simulation and touch control capabilities.

Cons

Owners gripe about how difficult it is to program, and the instructions aren't very helpful. Light is bright and sound is tinny.

TIYOON Wake Up Light Bluetooth Speaker
TIYOON
Wake Up Light Bluetooth Speaker
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Multifunctional Pick
Bottom Line

An affordable wake-up light with an attractive design; doubles as a handy Bluetooth speaker.

Pros

Customizable wake-up light options like brightness, volume and timer. Play music from your smart devices through the Bluetooth speaker function. Five color options. Also works as alarm clock and digital clock.

Cons

It's incredibly bright, and some users complain it doesn't work for very long.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

After going through an intensive research process to narrow down our short list of top products in this space, we tested JALL Sunrise Alarm Clock to be sure that it’s worthy of our recommendation. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter and test to verify manufacturer claims.

35
Models
Considered
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Consumers
Consulted
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Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best wake-up lights

A wake-up light may be just the right thing to make your mornings a little easier. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, gradually growing brighter until it’s time to wake up. This is a more organic, less sudden alarm than traditional alarm clocks, and can help you maintain a natural circadian rhythm.

Before buying a wake-up light though, there are a few things to keep in mind. Lights come in several colors, though yellow and orange are most popular. Also consider extra features such as a reading light, a radio, and a sunset feature – which does the opposite of a wake-up light’s morning function, helpful for people who have trouble falling asleep.

We’ve listed some of the most effective wake-up lights in our review. So before you buy a light, learn more about our suggestions. After all, waking up doesn’t have to be a chore.

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We recommend a wake-up light for anyone who would describe him or herself as

What are wake-up lights, and how do they work?

Wake-up lights are a type of alarm clock designed to rouse you with sunrise-like light. You set the time you want to get up, and your wake-up light gradually gets brighter over a period of time – usually 30 minutes – prior to your wake-up time. For example, if you set your wake-up light for 7:00, a dim light would come on at 6:30, and brightness would increase until it reached full strength at 7:00. A soft alarm might also sound at the wake-up time you've set, but many users find they're already awake at this point.

"At bedtime, a warm yellow or orange light (such as that produced by most wake-up lights) is much better than white or blue light (such as that produced by laptops, tablets, and smartphones). The blue/white light is thought to interrupt human sleeping patterns."
STAFF
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The benefits of wake-up lights

Now that you know what wake-up lights do, we'll examine the benefits they provide.

  • Wake-up lights may help your body gradually stop the production of melatonin (the hormone that makes you feel tired) before you wake up, allowing you to feel more refreshed when you get out of bed.

  • Most users find it easier to get out of bed when they use a wake-up light as compared to a regular alarm.

  • If you'll be getting out of bed before the sun comes up, a wake-up light can help adjust your natural circadian rhythms (which usually tell your body it should be asleep when it's dark out).

  • Some people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) find a wake-up light helps minimize symptoms.

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Did you know?
Wake-up lights are useful on dark winter mornings – or anytime you need to get out of bed before the sun's up.
STAFF
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Considerations for selecting a wake-up light

Light color

The default light color for most wake-up lights is a warm yellow or orange, which simulates the natural colors of the sunrise. However, some wake-up lights allow you to select between a range of colors such as blue, red, pink, or purple.

Sounds and alarms

As well as the obligatory light, your wake-up light will come with an alarm. Some wake-up lights have a traditional beeping alarm that starts softly and increases in intensity if you don't shut it off. But many wake-up lights come with other options. You can find wake-up lights that offer gentle nature sounds – rainfall or birdsong, for example. Others have an FM radio so you can wake up to music.

Whatever sounds or alarms your wake-up light comes with, you can usually opt the turn them off altogether and use just the light to awaken yourself. However, most people like to have some sort of audio alarm as a back-up.

Sunset features

Just like a gradual increase in light can help wake you up, a gradual decrease in light can help you feel tired. If you have trouble sleeping, you might be interested in a wake-up light with a sunset feature. This basically does the reverse of what the wake-up light does in the morning; it starts at full strength and decreases in brightness over a period of 30 minutes or so until it switches off.

Reading light

Some wake-up lights double as reading lights. This means you don't need a bedside lamp and can save some space on your nightstand. A wake-up light that serves as a reading light is especially handy if you're short on space, but it also appeals to anyone who prefers to pare down their possessions where possible.

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Expert Tip
People with anxiety can find traditional alarms too jarring, but wake-up lights give users a much gentler start to the morning.
STAFF
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Price

You can find wake-up lights to suit a wide range of budgets. Here's what you should expect to get for your money.

  • $20 to $40: Basic wake-up lights fall into this low price range. They do the job but don't usually have many added extras (such as a sunset feature or a wide range of nature sounds). They often come from unknown manufacturers and may or may not be as durable as wake-up lights from better-known brands.

  • $40 to $70: You’ll find wake-up lights from trusted manufacturers in this pricing vicinity. These mid-range lights are good, but they don't have all the features that top-of-the-line models do.

  • $70 to $150: High-quality wake-up lights from well-known brands fall into this price range. They typically have all the extra features you could ask for, such as a sunset function, FM radio, and a nice selection of nature sounds.

"Like traditional alarm clocks, wake-up lights display the time. If you find that digital time displays disturb your sleep, look for a wake-up light that allows you to dim the brightness."
STAFF
BestReviews

Wake-up light tips

The following tips will help you select the best wake-up light and make the most of it.

  • Consider a wake-up light with battery back-up, just in case there's a power outage in the night.

  • Wake-up lights are generally quite large, especially compared to standard alarm clocks. Check the dimensions of your potential buy to make sure you have enough room on your nightstand.

  • Some wake-up lights also incorporate bright light therapy, which is designed to help reset your circadian rhythms and reduce the symptoms of SAD.

  • If you decide to use your wake-up light without sounds or alarms, consider setting a backup alarm five or ten minutes after your specified wake-up time, just in case you sleep through the light.

  • As well as being functional, your wake-up light will be a feature on your nightstand. We recommend selecting one that you like the look of.

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You can find wake-up lights that allow you to adjust the brightness of the light that wakes you. This is helpful if you're particularly sensitive to light or if, conversely, it takes something approaching floodlight brightness to wake you.

FAQ

Q. Can wake-up lights help relieve the symptoms of SAD?

A. Bright light therapy is often used to help treat SAD, and a wake-up light isn't a replacement for this. However, some wake-up lights offer bright light therapy as an added extra. That said, many people who suffer from SAD and have tried wake-up lights find that they can make a huge difference to the start of their day.

Q. What does "lux" mean?

A. If you've browsed through a range of wake-up lights, you've probably seen the term "lux" or "lux value." The lux value of a wake-up light simply refers to the brightness of the light it emits.

Q. Are wake-up lights easy to use?

A. Wake-up lights are fairly easy to use. Usually, all that is required is the press of a few buttons to set the alarm and adjust any settings. However, this varies between models, and some are more intuitive to use than others. It’s a good idea to read through the instruction manual when you get a new wake-up light to avoid frustration.

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