With darker days ahead, waking up in the morning can be rough. If you never feel rested when your alarm goes off, a sunrise alarm clock could change your life. The gradually brightening light signals that it’s time to wake up instead of beeps and harsh, unnatural tones. I’m a chronic snooze-button kind of gal, and I’ve found a sunrise clock, or wake-up light, incredibly helpful for getting up when I need to and for supporting a healthier circadian rhythm. Plus, it’s much harder to ignore than a phone alarm that I can simply snooze.

If you want to face dark winter mornings by waking up more gently and naturally, using a sunrise alarm clock might just improve your mood. We recommend the newly released Hatch Sleep Clock if you want a sunrise alarm and sleep tracker in one machine, as well as a personal favorite, the Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700FM.

Here are our favorite sunrise alarm clocks, each tested for up to a week.

Updated October 2026: We’ve added the Hatch Sleep Clock, Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light, Rise Centered, Melalight Red Light Lamp, and pros and cons; removed the out-of-stock WiiM Wake-up Light; and ensured links and prices are up to date.

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 warm and golden, unlike the bright, slightly blue midday sunlight that keeps you wide awake. A sunrise alarm clock mimics this transition from morning to bright daytime light, helping signal your body to wake up (or fall asleep, if the clock also has a sunset option).

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