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We have put together a list of the best light therapy lamps for everyone. During the cooler months, when there is less natural light, it can affect your energy and mood. Light therapy lamps are bright smart lamps that are often used to treat SAD, depression, and sleep problems.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, affects a lot of people who live in places where it’s cloudy most of the time. It’s caused by the shorter, darker, and colder days of fall and winter. It can have a big effect on your mood and make you feel very tired.
Best Light Therapy Lamps Comparison Table
| Lamp Model | Color Temperature | Classification | Sunlight Deprivation | Dimensions (in) | Weight (lbs) | Price ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carex Day-Light Classic Plus | 5000K | Class II Medical Device | Yes | 15 x 27 x 14 | 7.5 | 119.99 |
| Northern Light Technologies Boxelite | 5900K | Non-Medical | Yes | 15 x 22 x 3.5 | 6.0 | 189.99 |
| Verilux HappyLight Luxe | 6500K | Non-Medical | No | 6.5 x 3.2 x 13 | 1.5 | 89.95 |
| Verilux HappyLight Alba | 6500K | Non-Medical | No | 6.5 x 2.25 x 9 | 1.25 | 39.95 |
| Carex Sunlite Bright Light Therapy Lamp | 6000K | Non-Medical | Yes | 8.5 x 11 x 20 | 3.75 | 39.99 |
| Lavish Home Sunlight Floor Lamp | 6500K | Non-Medical | No | 9 x 5.5 x 55 | 10.0 | 39.99 |
| Philips HF3520 Wake-Up Light Therapy Lamp | 3000K – 6500K | Non-Medical | No | 7.9 x 7.9 x 4.3 | 1.76 | 169.99 |
Carex Day-Light Classic Plus
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Size | 13.75″ x 8.75″ x 27″ |
| Weight | 7.6 lbs |
| Light Type | Full-spectrum |
| Light Intensity | 10,000 lux |
| Timer | 10,000-hour rated bulb |
| UV Blocking | Yes |
| Adjustable Stand | Yes |
| Flicker-Free | Yes |
The Carex Day-Light Classic Plus meets all of the requirements for a safe and effective therapeutic product, and it’s cheaper than many of its competitors. This is one of the best Light Therapy Lamps that you can buy right now.
The “99.3 percent UV-free” LED light and 10,000-lux light intensity at 12 inches, along with the lamp’s large 15 1/2-by-12 1/2-inch face, mean that you won’t have to sit in front of it for more than 30 minutes, which is the minimum amount of time that experts recommend.
The Good
- It gives off 10,000 lux of light, which is enough for light therapy to work.
- The adjustable stand lets you put it in different places.
The Bad
- May be big and take up space in rooms or workspaces that aren’t very big.
Northern Light Technologies Boxelite
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Size | 15″ x 14″ x 3″ |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs |
| Light Type | Full-spectrum |
| Light Intensity | 10,000 lux |
| Timer | None |
| UV Blocking | Yes |
| Adjustable Stand | Yes |
| Flicker-Free | Yes |
If you’re willing to pay a little more for one of the most stylish large light therapy lamps we looked at, or if our top choice isn’t available, we recommend the Northern Light Technologies Boxelite. The Boxelite is a simple, rectangular desk lamp that we’d like to have on our own desks. This is one of the best Light Therapy Lamps that you can buy right now.
It has a light face that is about the same size as our top pick, and it gives off 10,000 lux of “UV-free” fluorescent light at 14 inches. The Boxelite also has a warmer color temperature than our top pick, which may be better for you. Like our top pick, you only need to watch it for 30 minutes to get the most out of it.
The Good
- It gives off 10,000 lux of light, which is enough for light therapy to work.
- The adjustable stand lets you put it in different places.
- No flickering light for ease of use
- UV blocking makes sure it’s safe to use.
- Sleek and slim design
The Bad
- Lacks a timer, so the user has to keep track of how long they use it.
- Due to its size, it may be hard to place in smaller spaces.
Verilux HappyLight Luxe
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.3″ x 3.2″ x 13″ |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs |
| Light Type | Full-spectrum |
| Light Intensity | 10,000 lux |
| Timer | 30-minute sessions |
| UV Blocking | Yes |
| Adjustable Stand | No |
| Flicker-Free | Yes |
Verilux is one of the best-known brands of light therapy lamps. You can find them all over Amazon, and the company has a large catalog of models. The HappyLight Luxe is a simple lamp with a large light panel that takes up almost the whole lamp. The Luxe light therapy lamp isn’t cheap, but it has everything you need at a fair price.
Most experts say that to get the most out of light therapy, you should use a lamp with a large light panel that is at least 12 by 15 or 12 by 18 inches. The same benefits can be gained from a smaller light therapy lamp, but you may need to move it closer to your eyes and leave it on for longer than you would with a large panel.
The Good
- The design is small and portable, making it good for travel or small spaces.
- It gives off 10,000 lux of light, which is enough for light therapy to work.
- The 30-minute sessions on the built-in timer make it easy to use.
- UV blocking makes sure it’s safe to use.
- No flickering light for ease of use
The Bad
- If the stand isn’t adjustable, it may limit where you can put it.
- Smaller sizes may not be able to treat a large area.
Verilux HappyLight Alba
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Size | 9.25″ x 6.5″ x 1.25″ |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs |
| Light Type | Full-spectrum |
| Light Intensity | 10,000 lux |
| Timer | None |
| UV Blocking | Yes |
| Adjustable Stand | No |
| Flicker-Free | Yes |
Verilux’s newest therapy lamp, the HappyLight Alba, has the same features as the HappyLight Luxe but is smaller and costs less. It has four brightness settings, three color temperature settings, and a timer that can be set for up to an hour in 10-minute increments. Verilux usually makes panels in the shape of a rectangle, so the round shape is a change.
Alba’s light panel is only 5.5 by 6.5 inches, which is smaller than the VT31’s. Since bigger light panels are thought to be better at giving off as much light as possible in as little time as possible, we’d probably choose a bigger lamp, like the HappyLight Luxe or VT31, over this one.
The Good
- The design is small and light, making it good for travel or places with limited space.
- It gives off 10,000 lux of light, which is enough for light therapy to work.
- UV blocking makes sure it’s safe to use.
- No flickering light for ease of use
The Bad
- If there is no timer, you may have to keep track of how long you use it by hand.
- No adjustable stand can limit where you can put things.
Carex Sunlite Bright Light Therapy Lamp
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Size | 12.25″ x 15″ x 2.75″ |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs |
| Light Type | Full-spectrum |
| Light Intensity | 10,000 lux |
| Timer | 30-minute sessions |
| UV Blocking | Yes |
| Adjustable Stand | Yes |
| Flicker-Free | Yes |
The Carex Light Therapy Lamp isn’t made of high-quality materials or full of cool features. But its easy-to-use design and low price make it a great choice for people who want to try out a light therapy lamp without making a long-term commitment.
The simple lamp only has one brightness level. When you turn it on, 10,000 lux of light will come out. Our tester found this lamp to be “very easy to use,” which wasn’t a big surprise. “Just plug it in, open the stand on the back, and push the big button on the front.
The Good
- It gives off 10,000 lux of light, which is enough for light therapy to work.
- The adjustable stand lets you put it in different places.
- The 30-minute sessions on the built-in timer make it easy to use.
- UV blocking makes sure it’s safe to use.
- No flickering light for ease of use
The Bad
- Compared to other models, it may be bigger.
- Lack of extra features, like alarm settings that can be changed.
Lavish Home Sunlight Floor Lamp
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Size | 60″ x 10″ x 9.5″ |
| Weight | 10.5 lbs |
| Light Type | Full-spectrum |
| Light Intensity | 5,000 lux |
| Timer | None |
| UV Blocking | No |
| Adjustable Stand | No |
| Flicker-Free | Yes |
The Lavish Home Floor Lamp spread light around the room the best out of all the light therapy lamps we tried. Because it was tall and a floor lamp, our tester liked that this lamp gave off bright light from above. Most light therapy lamps look like tablets or boxes. This one, on the other hand, looks like a traditional floor lamp.
And the lamp’s unusual shape is good in two ways. First of all, the 4-foot lamp is high enough to light the ceiling. Second, it’s not likely that the light from the lamp will get in your eyes. Since the lit part of the lamp faces the floor and the switch to turn it on and off is easy to reach, you never have to look directly at the light to turn it on or change its position.
The Good
- Gives off a warm, inviting light that looks like sunlight. The neck can be moved to direct the light where you want it.
- No flickering light for ease of use
- Can be used both as a light therapy lamp and a regular floor lamp.
- Style that goes with the decor of any room
The Bad
- Lower light intensity than other models, so it may take longer to use.
- The lack of a timer and an adjustable stand may make it harder to use and place.
Philips HF3520 Wake-Up Light Therapy Lamp
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Size | 7.9″ x 7.9″ x 9.1″ |
| Weight | 4.2 lbs |
| Light Type | LED |
| Light Intensity | Up to 300 lux |
| Timer | Customizable sunrise/sunset simulation |
| UV Blocking | No |
| Adjustable Stand | Yes |
| Flicker-Free | Yes |
During the darker months, it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning, but the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light can help. The Wake-Up Light is both an alarm clock and a light therapy lamp. Before your alarm goes off each morning, it gradually gets brighter to make you feel like it’s sunrise, even if the sun isn’t up yet.
Even though the Wake-Up Light is mostly used as an alarm clock, you can turn it on any time of day or night to use it as an extra light source. Note that this light is only 300 lux, which is much less than the 10,000 lux intensity of the other light therapy lamps on our list.
The Good
- Sunrise and sunset simulations that can be changed to give you a gentle way to wake up and wind down
- The amount of light can be changed to fit your needs.
- The adjustable stand lets you put it in different places.
- Touch controls for a sleek and modern look
- Can be used as both an alarm clock and a light therapy lamp.
The Bad
- Lower light intensity than other models, so it may take longer to use.
- If it doesn’t block UV rays, you may need to wear extra eye protection while using it.
FAQs
When looking for light therapy lamps, you should think about their size, style, amount of light, and brightness settings. A good light therapy lamp should fit in your room, give off 10,000 lux of light,5, and be easy to change the brightness of when you need to.
“Light therapy is not a cure, but it has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression,” says Eric C. Alcera, M.D., a behavioral health specialist at Hackensack Meridian Health. These symptoms include lack of energy, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and irritability.
LED (light-emitting diode) light therapy is used to treat acne, fine lines, and psoriasis, among other things. It can be done in different ways, like with red light LED therapy or blue light LED therapy, which are sometimes done together.
Sun lamps, also called SAD lamps, are often used to treat seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression. (SAD). A person’s body can also make vitamin D with the help of these lamps, which helps make sure that certain body functions work well.