If you don't feel rested when your alarm goes off, the problem may 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 shaking may not work to tell your body it's time to get up. I'm a static snooze button kind of gal, and I find the sunrise alarm clock helpful, because the growing light helps tell my body it's time to wake up—and that bright light is harder to ignore.
After weeks of sleeping with a sunrise alarm clock by my side of the bed, I've seen a nice change in how I feel in the morning. I still don't jump in the morning, but I find myself actually staying awake after my alarm in the gentle glow of these sunrise lamps instead of just going back to bed for another hour. Plus, as someone who has a hard time falling asleep at night, alarms with a sunset option have been a blessing to help me sleep and wake up.
While you're here, don't miss our other sleep guides, including Best Extreme Alarm Clock, Best Sheets, Best pillows, Best Weighted Blanket, Best Sound Machineand Best Mattresses.
Updated January 2025: We added the Casper Glow Light as a new pick. We also added that Hatch has replaced Hatch Restore 2 with the new Hatch Restore 3, which we plan to test soon.
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Your body is built on naturally wake up at sunrise and sleepy as the sun sets. The light at the beginning and end of the day is a warm, golden tone, unlike the bright, slightly blue midday sunlight that keeps you awake. A sunrise alarm clock mimics this transition from morning to bright daylight, helping your body 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 begin to display a deep orange glow and switch to bright light at the time your alarm is set. . Some offer customization, allowing you to choose how long you want the artificial sunrise to last, while others set timers. Some also allow the reverse option with a sunset routine and maybe a double count sound machines. Most of them are plugged into the wall like a classic alarm clock and stay put, even sometimes with app or recharging capabilities (if it's not mentioned, though, assume it isn't).
