If you aren’t feeling rested when your alarm goes off, the problem could be the alarm clock itself. Waking up to a sudden loud alarm isn’t exactly a fun way to start your day, and the disruptive jolt might not work to tell your body it’s time to rise. I’m a chronic snooze button kind of gal, and I find a sunrise alarm clock is helpful, since the growing light helps tell my body it’s time to wake up—and that bright light is much, much harder to ignore.
After weeks of sleeping with a sunrise alarm clock at my bedside, I’ve seen a nice improvement in how alert I feel in the mornings. I’m still not a hop-out-of-bed morning person, but I find myself actually staying awake after my alarm in the gentle glow of these sunrise lamps rather than just going back to bed for another hour. Plus, as someone who has trouble falling asleep at night, alarms with a sunset routine option have become a boon to help me both go to sleep and wake up.
While you’re here, don’t miss our other sleep guides, including the Best Sheets, Best Pillows, Best Weighted Blankets, Best Sound Machines, and Best Mattresses.
Updated September 2024: We’ve updated this guide with all new picks and testing.
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How Sunrise Alarms Work
Your body is built to wake naturally with the sunrise and feel sleepy as it sets. The light at both the beginning and end of the day is a warm, golden tone, unlike the midday bright, slightly blue sunlight that keeps you wide awake. A sunrise alarm clock mimics this transition from morning to bright daytime light, helping to signal your body to wake up (or fall asleep, if the clock also has a sunset option).
Each alarm below offers a sunrise routine, meaning you choose a time to wake up and then the alarm clock will start displaying a deep, orange glow and transition to a bright light by the time your alarm is set for. Some offer customization, allowing you to choose how long you want that artificial sunrise to be, while others have set timers. Some also allow the reverse option with a sunset routine and can double as sound machines. Most of these plug into the wall like a classic alarm clock and stay put, though sometimes there’s a companion app or recharging capabilities (if it’s not mentioned, though, assume it doesn’t).