if you are not When you feel rested when your alarm goes off, the problem may be with the alarm itself. Waking up to a sudden, loud alarm isn't a fun way to start your day, and the damaging jolt may not tell your body it's time to get up. I'm a chronic snoozer, and I find the sunrise alarm clock helpful because the brighter light helps tell my body it's time to wake up—and bright light is harder to ignore.
After a few weeks of sleeping with a sunrise alarm clock next to my bed, I noticed a huge improvement in my morning alertness. I'm still not a morning person, but I find myself actually staying awake under the soft glow of these sunrise lights after my alarm goes off, rather than just going back to sleep for another hour. Plus, as someone who has trouble falling asleep at night, an alarm clock with a sunset routine option has been a boon in helping me fall asleep and wake up.
While you're here, don't miss our other sleep guides, including the best extreme alarm clocks , best sheets , best pillows , best weighted blankets , best sound machines , and best mattresses .
Update January 2025: We've added Casper Glow Light as a new option. We also add that Hatch has replaced Hatch Restore 2 with the new Hatch Restore 3, which we plan to test soon.
Unrestricted access at startup wired. Getting top-notch reporting is too important to ignore $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe now.
Your body naturally wakes up at sunrise and feels sleepy at sunset. The light at the beginning and end of the day is a warm, golden hue, unlike the bright, bluish midday sun that keeps you awake. A sunrise alarm clock mimics this transition from morning to bright daylight, helping to signal your body to wake up (or fall asleep, if the clock also has a sunset option).
Each alarm clock below offers a sunrise routine, which means you choose a time to wake up and the alarm clock will begin to display a deep orange glow that transitions to bright lights when the alarm is set. Some offer customization, allowing you to choose the duration of your artificial sunrise, while others have set timers. Some also allow reverse selection through sunset routines and can double as sound machines. Most of these plug into the wall like a classic alarm clock and stay put, although sometimes there's a companion app or charging functionality (if that's not mentioned, assume it isn't).