For those struggling with seasonal effective disorder or other issues related to ambient light, therapy lamps can work miracles.
When the sun won’t cooperate with our needs, therapy lamps provide the valuable spectrums and intensities that we need to feel like ourselves again.
A quick look online reveals a plethora of choices with various brands, types, and styles. What each light does and how it helps is not always clear.
This article lists some of our favorite and most effective choices. We have selected a variety to fit your needs rather than a dozen of the same type under a different name.
Table of Contents
Seasonal Effective Disorder:
Before we begin, it is worth taking a look at the conditions that might require a therapy lamp in the first place.Sometimes the winter blues is more than just a fleeting sense of sadness as nature cycles into the colder, darker months.
Over the past few years, researchers and medical professionals have come to understand that these negative emotions can be much more intense and long-lasting then previously thought.
Serious depression and anxiety can result from something as simple as the changing of the seasons. This condition is now known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD. It tends to begin and end around the same time every year.
It is most common for SAD to start around the middle of fall and then dissipate by the end of winter as the light changes. However, there are some who feel the reverse of this with SAD hitting them during spring and summer.
The symptoms of SAD regardless of when one might feel it, tend to match the classic symptoms of depressive or anxiety disorders.
The actual causes are still not quite known, but they have been linked to changes in the both the body’s melatonin and serotonin levels.
Changes in sunlight can cause these natural chemicals to fluctuate and thus effect our mood and sleep in significant ways. Furthermore, the change in daylight cycles disrupts our circadian rhythm and our body’s biological clock fails to healthily correct itself.
This leads to a persistent feeling of anxiousness and depression.
While SAD is the most common disorder treated by light therapy, other conditions can be helped with the proper use of lamps and LED light therapy masks.
Typical depression, jet lag, sleep disorders, and even some forms of dementia can be positively affected by light therapy. When prescribed by a doctor and sometimes in conjunction with talk therapy and medications, these lamps can be the ingredient you need to pull yourself out of the hole.
What follows are some of the best lamps, all offering a different style or effect to suit your needs. Some will simply work better for others, but all are known for their quality and effectiveness.
The Best Light Therapy Lamps:
1. Circadian Optics Rhythm Lumine Light Therapy Lamp
This is arguably the most popular therapy lamp on the market. Anyone who has experienced light therapy or heard of it is most likely thinking of this model.
With high brightness LEDs maxing out at 10,00 LUX, the Circadian Optics is designed to match the light of the noonday sun. It comes with three brightness settings so the lamp can be adjusted depending on the environment and the intensity or form of treatment.
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The lights are designed to produce a pure white color and it comes equipped with filters that block out 99.9% of UV lights making it as safe as it is effective.
Circadian Optics also designed their lamps to have a modern, minimalist appearance to them. Thus, the lamp will not be an eyesore in the home and will blend into any room or environment. For newcomers to light therapy, Circadian Optics is a superb first choice.
It provides all the basics needs of light therapy in a simple design and at great price.
2. Verilux HappyLight Compact Personal, Light Therapy Lamp
Verilux is an excellent alternative to those who don’t want to go full tilt into something as strong, large, or expensive as Circadian Optics.
Whether you are just dipping your toes in to light therapy, have a small space, or a tight budget, Verilux is a perfect choice for your needs. At 5,000 LUX it may require longer sessions, but the lack of intensity may fit your preferences better.
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It comes equipped with a filter for UV light to protect your eyes from strain and long-term damage. Most notably it is very small and compact, weighing only 1.5 lbs. It can be placed in almost any spot without taking up a significant amount of space and can easily be easily transported.
Much like Circadian Optics, Verilux worked to create a minimal design meant to not draw too much attention to itself. It is subtle and elegant sitting on any desk or table and won’t get in the way of work or leisure.
Lastly, it has an unbeatable price for what you get and won’t break the bank even if you get two. The Verilux is great for both people who are trying light therapy for the first time and anyone who needs more than one powerful lamp that can fit in small spaces and be easily moved.
3. Philips goLight BLU Energy Light Therapy Light
While the most common light therapy lamps use white light to mimic the sun, some people claim that blue light simply works better for them.
Blue light is as effective as 10,000 LUX white lights and while white lamps match the noonday sun, blue lights are meant to mirror the ambient light of a clear sky.
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Studies have shown that blue light is the most energy-inducing of the spectrum and can trigger the body’s natural response to daylight.
The Philips goLight comes equipped with 5 settings for intensity and blocks out any UV light that can have a negative impact on your eyes. The Philips goLight is also small and lightweight at 1.6 lbs. making it very portable and unobtrusive.
Due to its specialization in blue light which uses more expensive LEDs, the Philips goLight is considerably more costly than other options. This light is ideal for those looking for alternatives to the typical white light which might not be as effective for them.
It is a great choice for those looking to expand their light therapy and experiment with what works best.
4. Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock
For those who have hard time just waking up in the morning without feeling overwhelmed with lethargy, anxiety, and depression, the Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock can be a true game changer.
The goal of this therapy lamp is to imitate the natural circadian rhythms of waking up with the sunrise rather than just a sudden bright light and abrasive noise.
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The lamp wakes you up gradually by slowly brightening over the course of 30 minutes before the actual alarm sounds.
This helps bring you out of deep sleep without shock that can ruin a morning routine. There are 20 different brightness setting which makes it incredibly versatile for anyone’s needs and are all UV-free. There are also five wake-up sounds that offer soothing alternatives to abrasive alarms.
These include birdsong, Zen garden, gentle piano, seaside sounds, and birds in the forest.
This lamp also comes equipped to help you fall asleep in a more natural and healthy way. By gradually dimming and using the 5 different soothing sounds, it helps you drift off for an easier night’s sleep.
Additionally, it still comes with all the classic alarm clock features like an FM-radio, digital clock display, and snooze settings.
The Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock is perhaps the best product on this list for anyone looking to improve their health regardless of a need for light therapy.
While it is doubtlessly effective for those suffering from SAD or related disorders, this alarm clock can improve anyone’s sleep and morning routine. It comes with a higher price tag, but with several customizable features and a slick look, it is well worth the investment.
5. Circadian Optics Lumos 2.0 Light Therapy Lamp
Circadian Optics has a superb alternative to their classic model that is meant to be portable without losing any of the power.
Like its older sibling, the Lumos 2.0 comes equipped with 10,000 LUX LEDs, with 3 intensity settings and a strong UV filter to provide sun-like intensity that can be carried around in your bag. At 2.25” wide, 11.5”, and 3.25” deep this lamp can be taken anywhere without causing strain.
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The lamp also has incredible flexibility with three hinges that allow you to angle the lamp to your exact specifications.
With superb power and portability, the Lumos 2.0 is one of the most loved lamps on the market. It is perfect for anyone who is constantly on the move running between home, workspaces, and the like.
If light therapy has been working at home but you cannot lug the lightbox around, this is a smart investment to make sure you have access to healthy light wherever you are.
6. Lavish Home Natural Full Spectrum Sunlight Therapy FloorLamp
The Lavish Home lamp shakes up the typical design of most therapy lamps. The typical design is to have a light box be positioned directly in front of you.
This is meant to help you absorb the most light possible during each session. However, this takes up a lot table or desk space and can feel awkward for those looking to multitask during a therapy session.
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The Lavish lamp provides an excellent alternative with a floor lamp design that is up to 60” tall with a flexible neck to bend however you need. It comes with a 1300 lumen light bulb that produces daylight levels of light and effectively imitates the sun.
The Lavish lamp is ideal for those who either don’t like the typical tabletop design or simply don’t have room. It is perfect for those who want to combine light therapy with other activities.
While it doesn’t feature the same options as other lamps on this list, like intensity settings or portability, it is available at an excellent price and allows you to multitask and have more desk space.
Buyer’s Guide:
When hunting for the best therapy lamp for you, there are some variables worth considering before you make your choice.
1. Power

The LUX or Lumens will definitely matter for those looking to get the most out of their lamps.
While all therapy lamps produce enough light intensity to be effective, the amount of light coming through will determine how long you will have to sit in the light before it begins to have a significant effect.
2. Size
Light boxes are wonderful things, but they can take up a lot space wherever you put them.
Some people might have no problem with a large, heavy therapy lamp taking up a third of their desk, but others might not have an inch to spare.
This does not mean you have to give up on an effective lamp, you just need to consider a smaller or portable design. Power and effectiveness need not be sacrificed.
3. Cost
The best lamps are not prohibitively expensive. The majority of them rarely break $130.
However, if you are on a tight budget, it may be best to try a simple, basic design that costs lest then $60 rather than going for a fancy blue light or multi-featured alarm clock.
Light therapy works differently for everyone, start slow and find what works best before you make a significant investment.
Conclusion
Every lamp on this list has been widely praised and positively reviewed. They are all proven to fight SAD and other similar disorders without breaking down or breaking the bank.
Any choice will likely help to improve your mood especially if paired with the advice of a medical professional.
Even if you don’t suffer from a SAD-like disorder, blue light lamps or sunrise alarm clocks can be incredibly effective at improving sleep and mood throughout the day. Regardless of what you choose from this list, you are bound to see the benefits!