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The Best Light Therapy Lamp

Last updated on August 15, 2019

We looked at the top 9 Light Therapy Lamps and dug through the reviews from 99 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Light Therapy Lamps.

Our Review Process

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Do you get serious wintertime blues? It may be more than that. Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a psychological disorder that affects roughly 5% of people just in the United States. This disorder is similar to depression with its symptoms. You might feel extreme tiredness, anti-social tendencies, sleeplessness, agitation, guilt over menial things and even despair.

Its typical onset is around daylight savings time in the fall and usually lasts through the winter. For some individuals, this can be as long as five months. It can be accompanied with weight gain and appetite changes. If you notice a combination of these things in your lifestyle during the winter months, do not hesitate to reach out to your doctor. It can take up to three years to diagnose the mild cases of SAD, so don’t wait too long to resolve these symptoms.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is diagnosed using a series of tests. You will start with a physical exam to rule out other health factors that could contribute to depression. Lab tests will be run to check your blood and usually a thyroid test as well. A psychological evaluation is another common exam to find the diagnosis. Once diagnosed, it is important for doctors to assess the extent of the disorder and see if there are any other depression diagnoses in the patient. This will help to find the right treatment for the patient.

Although there are varying degrees of treatments including medications, one very successful treatment in patients displaying symptoms of SAD (not necessarily for patients with other types of depression or mental health disorders) is light therapy. Patients are educated on the use of a light therapy lamp in their daily routine. These lamps come in multiple styles and can really help patients suffering from SAD or milder forms of the winter blues.

A light therapy lamp works by emitting rays that are very similar to UV rays emitted by the sun. The light stimulates certain chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and melatonin, to help with mood and improve sleep cycles. Patients are instructed to sit by the lamp for a suggested amount of time and/or during a specific time of day. The light must enter the eyes without directly looking at the lamp itself. This can even be achieved just by letting the light hit your skin. Refer to your doctor for instructions.

There is a combination of things to remember for a light therapy lamp to effectively work: intensity, duration and timing. There is a range of light intensities for the lamps. However, 10,000-lux lights are the most popular. The biggest concern with this intensity is to be sure you get a lamp that blocks 100% of the UV rays, such as the Verilux HappyLight Full-Size Lamp.

The proscribed duration is typically 30 minutes with a lamp that has 10,000-lux light but for a weaker lamp, you may need a longer session. The timing is the third factor, and most doctors recommend timing your sessions in the early morning. Because the light therapy lamps mimic the sun rising, they can create a normal circadian rhythm if used regularly during the wintertime. A doctor might recommend other times as well, depending on your diagnosis.

Consumers can choose from several different types of light therapy lamps. There are dawn simulators that come in two types: naturalistic dawn and sigmoidal-shaped dawn. The lightboxes are the most common light therapy lamps. Natural spectrum light bulbs are another way to help get your circadian rhythm back on track. Bluewave technology also suppresses melatonin so you don’t feel that extreme fatigue. You can also choose to use a bright light sun visors which is a hat with a built-in lightbox. Doctors don’t frequently suggest using these because it places the light very close to your eyes so always use them with caution.

A light on a timer is a simple way to help get your circadian rhythm back on track. You can easily find a lamp with a timer and set it to act as a superficial dawn for everyday use, however, this method is not extremely effective as it is a sudden switch of the light instead of a gradual increase in light like a normal sunrise. All of these light therapy lamps and treatments have been proven to help with SAD and even patients with low Vitamin D and mild wintertime blues. Find the one that works best for you by relying on fellow consumer reviews and suggestions from your physician.

Our Picks For The Top Light Therapy Lamps

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Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
  The Best Overall

Carex Day-Light Classic Plus Bright Light Therapy Lamp

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Carex

Day-Light Classic Plus Light Therapy Lamp

The Day-Light Classic Plus Light Therapy Lamp by Carex offers incredible flexibility in positioning and placement. The weighted footing and angled neck are easy to move. It also has the filtered UV rays, as well as the common features recommended by physicians.

Overall Take

Easy to UseFlexible positioning and placement, plus an angled neck and weighted footing make this lamp a winner.

Pros
" The Day-Light lamp face mounts to a weighted horseshoe base by an adjustable arm. This arm allows the lamp’s angle and vertical position to be adjusted, reducing overall glare and increasing the flexibility of where and how you can use..."
Cons
"The large lightbox and welcome maneuverability means this therapy lamp can be difficult to position and move, with a large weighted base with a footprint nearly a foot-and-a-half wide and a foot deep."
 Best Overall

Verilux HappyLight Light Therapy Full Spectrum Lamp

Verilux

HappyLight Full Spectrum Therapy Lamp

The Verilux HappyLight Full Spectrum Therapy Lamp offers the best value for those looking for an affordable light therapy option. This model has special settings for the way that you want to use it in your life. The easy assembly and fuss-free adjustability also make this lamp a great purchase. In our testing, we liked that it came with two differ...

Overall Take

Lots of SettingsAn affordable light therapy lamp that's easy to assemble and adjust.

Pros
" Delivers therapeutic white light customizable settings in a model that falls in the middle of the price spectrum."
Cons
"Tespite having a large surface area, the HappyLight Full-Size’s coverage wasn't great compared to other lamps’. The luminous intensity measured at only 200 CD, which means the light's intensity diffuses very quickly. This explains why the 10,000-lux reach was so..."

Aura Daylight Therapy Lamp

Aura Daylight

Therapy Lamp

The Aura Daylight Therapy Lamp offers priceless features for the customization therapy that you seek. There are six different timers to choose from so you can set it and let it do the timing for you. The adjustable swivel bottom is a key feature, as well as the ability to mount the unit on the wall for a full sun effect. Its adjustable lux strength...

Overall Take

Customizable TherapySix different timers and adjustable lux strength make this lamp totally customizable.

Pros
" Great timer, very adjustable and can even be mounted on a wall."
Cons
"The lamp earned a C grade for its overall light therapy performance."

Northern Light Technologies Boxelite Light Therapy Light Box

Northern Light

Boxelite Light Therapy Light Box

The use of Northern Light Boxelite Light Therapy Light Box can help ease your wintertime blues. This huge-faced lamp offers 10,000 lux with 100% UV-free rays to brighten up your winter without affecting your skin. The adjustable softness of the light color is an added bonus for those early mornings when you need a softer ambiance.

Overall Take

Adjustable SoftnessGoodbye wintertime blues, thanks to this 10,000 lux light therapy lamp with UV-free rays.

Pros
" With a minimalist, square design, the Boxelite is the lamp we’d like to put on our own desks. It has a large light face, which provides 10,000 lux of UV-free light at 14 inches (a farther distance than both our..."
Cons
"This model isn’t built in the shape of a transportable suitcase. It’s more of a standalone unit, sized 15 x 12 inches with a desk stand like our #1 and #3 choices, and it’s not adjustable."
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16

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the light therapy lamps available to purchase.
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In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Happy Body Formula, Best Reviews Guide, Review Meta, Best Brand Reviews, Best Products.

31,887

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Our experts reviewed the top 9 Light Therapy Lamps and also dug through the reviews from 99 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Light Therapy Lamps.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

Verilux HappyLight Light Therapy Full Spectrum Lamp

Our Expert Score

8.5
16 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.0
1,087 user reviews

Our Take

The Verilux HappyLight Full Spectrum Therapy Lamp offers the best value for those looking for an affordable light therapy option. This model has special settings for the way that you want to use it in your life. The easy assembly and fuss-free adjustability also make this lamp a great purchase. In our testing, we liked that it came with two different lenses, one for comfort and one for high energy.

What other experts liked

Delivers therapeutic white light customizable settings in a model that falls in the middle of the price spectrum.
- BestReviews
It is easy to adjust the light’s angle.
- Top Ten Reviews
November 9, 2018 | Full review
It was even easier to assemble and lighter to move around than our top pick, but cost about $40 more. If you somehow get your hands on one, it’s still a great lamp.
- New York Times Wirecutter
Whenever there is a need to change the lens, it is easy and simple to do so – even without the use of tools.
- The Top Pro
It is space saver and can be mounted on the wall.
- Top 5 Reviews
This light therapy lamp has a sleek design and is very easy to use. Because of its light design, it can easily be moved from home to office.
- Best Brand Reviews
A therapy lamp doesn’t need to take up a lot of space, and the HappyLight embodies that. It weighs in at 2 lbs, making it very portable and light to carry around. You can easily take it with you as you travel or go about your day.
- Happy Lamp
February 1, 2019 | Full review
There is a switch that turns the unit from “high-power” to “low-power” and back, which means there are a total of 4 different settings available, from a single lamp – at a very reasonable price.
- Light Therapy Device
The photoreceptors in the eye are more stimulated with this type of light and the result is a generalized improvement in mood, energy and function for people affected by the lack of sun in the winter, or who experience a lack of sunlight in general no matter the season.
- Review Daily
It has light weight – less than four pounds
- SAD Lights Headquarters
October 6, 2014 | Full review
With High-Low intensity controls, no tools required for interchangeable lenses – Optix glare-diffusing lenses and a tilt feature, the controls and the generous size of the light face, allows you maximum flexibility without compromising therapy effectiveness to design the program of each light therapy session that works best for you.
- Light Boxes for SAD
The lamp can tilt forward and backward to 15 degrees, so you can find the position that is just right for you
- Jenie's Lamps
Customizes to your personal preference for light intensity with high or low settings, includes two easy to install no glare lenses for high energy or comfort.
- New Age Aids
The natural light 100 times brighter then indoor lighting
- Colored Sunrise
What I liked about this energy box is its portable and sleek design that makes it fits in any platform. It helps to boost my mood and energy level and doesn’t flicker at all. It also prevents harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching me and enhance my sleep.
- Sad Lamps USA

What other experts didn't like

The sliding on/off switch is somewhat awkward to use. A faulty units have been reported.
- BestReviews
Tespite having a large surface area, the HappyLight Full-Size’s coverage wasn't great compared to other lamps’. The luminous intensity measured at only 200 CD, which means the light's intensity diffuses very quickly. This explains why the 10,000-lux reach was so short.
- Top Ten Reviews
November 9, 2018 | Full review
However, this is not an adjustable light therapy lamp
- Best Brand Reviews
The replacement bulbs are a bit on the pricey side should you need to replace the bulb.
- Review Daily
Replacement bulbs are too pricey.
- SAD Lights Headquarters
October 6, 2014 | Full review
It is necessary to sit quite close to get the benefit for SAD treatment; this may limit some of the activities you can choose during the treatment time
- Jenie's Lamps
The lamp doesn’t have a good lux output.
- New Age Aids
It doesn't come with a timer.
- Colored Sunrise

What to Look For

  • The most effective light therapy lamps are going to be at the 10,000 lux intensity.
  • Look for a light that offers bright white light without the damaging UV rays. (99% or more of the UV rays should be filtered out.)
  • The light therapy lamp or box should be positioned around eye level or a little higher, so you get the feeling you are out in the full sunshine of the summer.
  • Roughly two feet from your eyes is said to be the magic positioning of the lamp for the best effects. (This is if you have a 10,000 lux light. If you have a weaker lamp, sit closer.)
  • Placement should be off to your right or left, not directly in front of your face.
  • Morning has been found to be the best time to use the light therapy lamps. You can use it from 20 minutes to up to an hour. This doesn’t mean that you have to be sitting in front of it the entire time — grab a coffee, breakfast or even do your makeup routine while being nearby.
  • Patients who do the therapy every day have the most success, so add it to your daily routine.
  • Always tell your physician if you are using one so they can check any medications you may be using that could make your skin photosensitive (i.e. antibiotics).
  • Be sure to take notice of mood and energy levels as the weeks go by after starting it. Most see noticeable improvement by week two.

Light Therapy Lamp Rankings

1. Carex Day-Light Classic Plus Bright Light Therapy Lamp

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 13

2. Verilux HappyLight Light Therapy Full Spectrum Lamp

Overall Score: 8.7
Reviews Included: 21

3. Aura Daylight Therapy Lamp

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 14

5. Circadian Optics Lumos 2.0 Light Therapy Lamp

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 14

6. NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 18

8. Sphere Gadget Technologies Lightphoria Light Lamp

Overall Score: 8.0
Reviews Included: 13

More to Explore

Light therapy has had effects on not just SAD patients and wintertime blues. It has helped patients suffering from lupus, eczema, psoriasis, rickets and sleep disorders to name a few.

Niels Ryberg Finsen was the leader in pursuing the effects of light on suffering patients. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1903 for his successful studies on the topic. He was, ironically enough, from the Icelandic region of the globe, where they experience quite long winters.

In the 1920s-1930s, light therapy was used in most homes, most commonly for tanning since the UV rays were not filtered out. This was later to be discovered as a harmful practice excess, and UV rays are now filtered up to 100% for the therapy lamps.

More to explore