SAD, which stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder, rightly defines the feelings the sufferer experiences. It is a temporary form of depression that occurs during shorter days of winter and fall. Contrary to what some people believe, this condition is far worse than the average ‘winter blues’ — SAD can cause serious problems like changes in appetite and sleep, increased fatigue, and feelings of worthlessness, among many others. Luckily, it is treatable with the help of light therapy lamps.
SAD is closely associated with lower exposure to light. Hence, exposing yourself to more light is helpful in resolving the symptoms. As common indoor lighting is not bright enough, you can look into getting a brighter lamp for light therapy. In this guide, you’ll find a round-up of the top-selling light therapy lamps of 2025. We’ll also explain the criteria for choosing one and how to use your lamp effectively. Have a look!
This light therapy lamp from Sunrise Sensations is all you will ever want to see when you wake up! Functional and stylish, the lamp is fully adjustable from your bed with a remote control, and possesses 10,000 lux brightness so you receive the full spectrum of light when you need it. The LED technology can help you save on energy costs while still being an affordable and versatile type of bulb.
The design of the lamp is a natural wood structure with plastic covers, so the light isn’t directly in your eyes as you awake from your beauty sleep. The minimalist design will bring in a calm vibe to your bedroom and enhance your overall mood throughout the day. Overcome winter blues with the best overall light therapy lamp on this list!
The Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp is a suitable option for almost everyone. This multifunctional lamp features a slim profile with a pivoting head that lets you adjust the angle. It produces 10,000 lux of UV-free, full spectrum, dot-free light helps boost your mood and reduce sleepiness.
Operating this light therapy lamp is very simple. With one touch button, you can switch it on or off as well as adjust its intensity between three brightness levels. Best of all, its conveniently collapsible design increases its portability and makes it easy to store. Plus, the sleek and stylish finish also makes it a top contender for any home decor.
Our next pick is not just budget-friendly, it is also one of the most compact and portable options. The Erligpowht Light Therapy Lamp is small enough to fit inside your bag or purse and light enough to easily carry around. It also comes with a 90-degree rotation standing bracket that you can use to set the lamp up.
Despite its smaller size, this powerful light therapy lamp produces 10,000 lumens of light. Further, it features two touch buttons, with one for power and brightness adjustment and the other for setting the timer. You can adjust its brightness between 100%, 50%, and 30%, while the timer can be set at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes.
The next pick on our list is a light therapy lamp that offers a perfect combo of sizing, adjustability, and features. The Carex Light Therapy Lamp features a long neck with swivel action that you can use to reap the benefits of light therapy while conducting your various morning time activities.
With a distance of 12 inches, this light therapy lamp produces the recommended 10,000 lux of light. Once you use it, it’ll be like you have your own personal sun. That being said, this lamp is quite big and bulky so taking it from one place to another is a difficult feat. Plus, you’ll also need to find a dedicated place to set it up.
If you don’t like the look of huge lamps or light boxes, our next pick will surely pique your interest. Capable of producing 10,000 lux of UV-free light that mimics natural outdoor lighting, the Lastar Light Therapy Lamp is a small yet powerful model that helps ward off the symptoms of SAD.
One of its best aspects had to be the small, spherical shape that makes it look like a small sun is glowing on the desk, along with the three different available colors. And, for your convenience, it features simple touch controls for power and brightness control. Thanks to this, you can tweak its brightness from 20% to 100% with ease.
The final product on our list is a great compact and portable option for you to check out. The Verilux HappyLight Light Therapy Lamp is a powerful lamp that you can set on the desk with a detachable stand or choose to hang on the wall. Meanwhile, its unique, slim, and lightweight tablet design makes it amazingly portable.
Furthermore, this light therapy lamp produces 10,000 lux of light, making it great for addressing symptoms related to SAD, anxiety, and other similar problems. Using it is also a breeze because it features a soft touch that responds to your slightest touch.
Assist yourself through the dark winter seasons with the TheraLite Light Therapy Lamp. The 10,000 LUX LED light shines brightly in your bedroom to combat seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. The glare-free white light is optimal for bright light therapy and is sure to lift your mood on the gloomiest of days. It can also improve your energy so you can get up and enjoy the day properly. The height and angle of the head are both adjustable according to your nightstand and bed height, so you can customize your experience.
There are four light settings to further customize this lamp; you can use it for either light therapy or just for tasks like doing homework or painting your nails. If you’re experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of light deficiency, this wellness light therapy lamp is geared toward helping you feel better the whole day. Clinically tested and safe to use, this lamp is UV-free and ready to use right out of the box.
Light therapy involves sitting beside a lamp that emits a very bright, white light, which functions like sunlight to help your brain take control of the circadian rhythm, also known as your sleep-wake cycle. But not every lamp is useful for effective light therapy. Here’s what you should look for in your next light therapy lamp:
The key to obtaining the most out of your light therapy lamp is to get one with the right intensity. The intensity of different light sources is measured in lux; the higher the lux, the brighter the lamp will be.
To put this into perspective, indoor lighting provides up to 100 lumens, while a sunny day offers 50,000 lux. Most experts recommend using a lamp that offers 10,000 lux of light exposure for ideal results.
The next thing you have to consider is the type of light that you are getting. Light therapy boxes don’t just come as traditional table and floor lamps — you can choose to purchase a sunrise alarm clock as well. If you want to find the right one for yourself, you first have to decide how you want to use it.
Consider its placement, as well as the time you will be using it. If you plan to use it while having breakfast, a table lamp would be the right choice. And if you want to absorb the light as you meditate, choose a floor lamp to soak up as much as possible.
You also have to choose the type of light you want to bathe in. While most light boxes use full-spectrum fluorescent light, there are some other options too that might offer benefits beyond SAD. For example, red light therapy is thought to be beneficial for treating ulcers, pain, and wounds, blue light helps reduce acne and repair sun damage, and green light is effective in treating migraines.
Go over the different options and choose the one that best meets your needs.
A light therapy lamp that allows you to adjust its brightness settings is a good find. This option lets you brighten or dim the lighting as you adjust to it. Plus, you can also use this feature to alter the intensity so you easily use it at different times of day.
But, you also have to check how easy it is to change this setting. Some options with complicated designs are quite difficult to adjust, but do offer many features.
On the contrary, a basic, no-frills light box is not a bad choice because such models tend to be the easiest to use. Think about your priorities and preferences then choose accordingly.
In addition to design, you also have to factor in the size and weight of the lamp, too. Light therapy lamps are available in various sizes and weight ranges, so you should consider where you are going to place yours first. If you’re short on floor space, a compact lamp easily fits on crowded shelves and nightstands, but it won’t illuminate a big area. On the other hand, a large lamp will take up more space but will light up pretty much the entire room.
Similarly, lighter lamps are highly portable, letting you easily move them from one place to another. Heavier light therapy lamps, however, are more difficult to lug around everywhere.
There is no shortage of light therapy options. You can choose to purchase a light box, a dawn simulator, or even a natural spectrum light bulb. But all your effort — and money — will go to waste if you don’t know how to use it correctly. Here’s the best way to use a light therapy lamp:
The duration of light exposure varies from one person to another. Some people feel the difference in as little as 20 minutes, while others need up to 60 minutes of light exposure for the effect. You can start by setting the timer for 30 minutes and see how it affects you.
It is important to use the lamp in the early hours of the morning. Using it at night can throw off your circadian rhythm. According to Dr. Katherine Hall, sleep psychologist with Somnus therapy, says “light is the main cue that tells our body when it is time to wake up and when it is time to sleep. Without this cue, our body can become confused and we can start to experience problems with our sleep cycle.”
Once you have figured out what duration works for your body, staying consistent becomes critical because the light influences your sleep-wake cycle. Administrating the light first thing in the morning after waking up works best for most individuals. Staying consistent will help regulate your sleep cycle. Dr. Hall says, “maintaining a regular sleep cycle is important for our overall health and well-being. When we don’t get enough sleep, we are more likely to experience problems with our mental and physical health.”
Be sure to use the lamp as a passive light source. Don’t look at it directly because doing so concentrates the light in an area of the retina, whose cells are not responsible for mood elevation. Letting the light enter your eyes indirectly from approximately 16 inches away allows it to reach the mood-changing cells diffused within the retina.
In addition to SAD, light therapy lamps are useful for treating depression and sleep disorders.
You should absorb the lamp's light for at least half an hour per day to feel the difference. Start in the morning and try to get some light before 10 am. You can have breakfast or read as you sit in the light. It is important to consistently use the lamp daily, including on weekends. If it doesn't take effect, you can opt for a longer session lasting up to 60 minutes per day.
There is no concrete answer to this question. Some studies report that you can observe the effects right from the first session. Others have concluded that using light therapy lamps consistently for several weeks provides the best results.