Best Sunrise Alarm Clock (2026): Lumie, Hatch, WiiM | WIRED

Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story If you aren’t feeling rested when your alarm goes off, a sunrise alarm clock could change your life. The disruptive jolt of loud beeping and harsh tones isn't a fun way to start the day, nor is it a natural way to help your body rise. I’m a chronic snooze-button kind of gal, and I find a sunrise clock or wake-up light incredibly helpful for me to actually wake up when I need to and follow a healthier circadian rhythm, since the growing light helps tell my body it’s time to wake up. Plus, a bright light is much, much harder to ignore than a noise I can snooze. I've woken up to the bright hues of nearly a dozen different sunrise alarm clocks over the past two years, and it's a game changer. Here's what makes it work, and which ones I recommend the most. Table of Contents AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron How Do Sunrise Alarm Clocks Work? What Features Should You Look for in a Sunrise Alarm Clock? Which Sunrise Alarm Clocks Are Best? Honorable Mentions Do Sunrise Alarms Work For Heavy Sleepers? What’s the Difference Between a Sunrise Clock and a SAD Lamp? How Does WIRED Test Sunrise Alarms? How Do Sunrise Alarm Clocks Work? Your body is built to wake naturally with the sunrise and feel sleepy as the sun 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). A sunrise alarm has a built-in light you can set to brighten at a certain time. It doesn't happen instantly; it will slowly transition over a period of anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, and better sunrise alarms let you choose your exact brightening window. I usually choose a half-hour window for the light to start brightening, and let its brightening crescendo slowly wake me. There are also sound effects. Sunrise alarms have a mix of relaxing and classic sounds that will usually go off when the light starts to brighten, to also help rouse you. I'd actually prefer if the light went first and music activated later, but that isn't always an option for these lights. Some sunrise alarms also offer a sunset routine, meaning you can turn them on at night and they'll slowly dim into darkness to help you feel sleepy. It's another good visual cue for your brain and body to realize it's time for bed, and I prefer sunrise alarms like Hatch and Lumie that let you choose when to activate a routine (pushing a button starts the routine to happen over the course of 30 minutes, for example) versus needing to be in bed by a set time to use the routine. Ultimately, these lights can do a lot. They can double as a sound machine, help you wake up and fall asleep, and even act as a regular bedside lamp if they're bright enough. Not all sunrise alarms have all of these features, though, so you have to choose how much you want to spend and what features are most important to you. What Features Should You Look for in a Sunrise Alarm Clock? You might see a range of features listed for a sunrise alarm, and more expensive ones will include more of these than cheaper models. If you're not sure what features you want, try this series of questions to figure out what features you need. Do you struggle to fall asleep? Splurge on a sunrise alarm with a nighttime or wind-down routine. These help build a routine for you to fall asleep to. Do you need one device that doubles as an alarm and a bedside lamp? Get a brighter sunrise clock that has easy controls to switch it on as a bedside lamp. Not all sunrise clocks have these, so check the details carefully (and reviews like mine!) and note that cheaper, smaller sunrise alarm clocks usually won't brighten an entire bedroom. Are you picky about your alarm sounds? Check how many sounds are offered. Just about every sunrise clock has some sound machine features and options, but cheaper ones tend to only have a couple of sounds and might not have the sound you're looking for. Do you want app control? Some options in this guide don't have a partner app or Wi-Fi capabilities, especially some of my favorites. An app doesn't necessarily make it a better sunrise clock, but it can be convenient to use. If you prefer an app to set up your sunrise lamp, shop the Casper, Hatch, Loftie, and WiiM. Which Sunrise Alarm Clocks Are Best? Photograph: Nena Farrell Courtesy of Lumie Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700FM $259 Amazon This sunrise alarm is my favorite one. It's big and bright with a stylish exterior, and has a button for lamp mode so you can easily switch it on to use in the evening as a regular lamp, and it was bright enough to fill my bedroom like a normal lamp