The best sunrise alarm clocks for dark UK mornings.
The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, and from then until March most of us get up in the dark. A sunrise alarm clock brightens slowly over 20 to 60 minutes before your alarm, so you wake to light instead of a phone screeching in a black room.
I read the Amazon UK reviews for the most popular models, checked the manufacturers’ specs and Which?’s research on whether they actually work, and narrowed it down to four, from about £32 to £130.
Quick picks
Short on time? Buy the Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150. It has a proper colour sunrise you can set to 20, 30 or 45 minutes, 10 sounds and a 3-year warranty. On a tighter budget, the Lumie Sunrise Alarm is the UK’s best-selling wake-up light at about £40.
- Best overallLumie Bodyclock Glow 150 Wake-up LightCheck price ↗
- Best valueLumie Sunrise Alarm Wake-up LightCheck price ↗
- Best budgetARTINABS Sunrise Alarm Clock (JN01)Check price ↗
- Brightest sunrisePhilips SmartSleep Wake-up Light HF3519/01Check price ↗
Sunrise alarm clocks compared
| Sunrise alarm clock | Power | Cost / hour* | Sunrise length | Brightness | Wake sounds | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150 Wake-up LightBest overall | 12W | 0.3p | 20, 30 or 45 min (sunset too) | Adjustable; Lumie doesn’t publish a lux figure | 10, including white noise; no radio | 3 years |
| Lumie Sunrise Alarm Wake-up LightBest value | 5W | 0.1p | 30 min, fixed (sunset too) | About 70 lux (Which? estimate); 10 levels | Beep or 5 natural sounds | 3 years |
| ARTINABS Sunrise Alarm Clock (JN01)Best budget | 10W | 0.3p | 10–60 min; sunset 10–120 min | Up to 200 lux (seller’s figure); 20 levels | 7 sounds plus FM radio | Not stated on the listing |
| Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light HF3519/01Brightest sunrise | 16.5W | 0.4p | 30 min (sunset too) | Up to 300 lux; 20 levels | 5 natural sounds plus FM radio | 2 years |
*At 26.32p per kWh: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (direct debit average). Power is the maximum rating on each Amazon UK listing, so real costs are lower.
Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150 Wake-up Light
£118.96 · ★ 4.4 from 1,316 Amazon ratings · about 0.3p an hour to run
Check price ↗The sweet spot in Lumie’s range. The sunrise moves from red through orange to warm white like the real thing, you choose 20, 30 or 45 minutes, and the display dims itself at night. No radio, but 10 sounds including white noise, and Lumie’s 3-year warranty.
What UK buyers sayOwners say it genuinely helps on dark winter mornings, and the light builds slowly to a nice brightness. One owner who bought several cheaper clocks first says they should have bought this from the start. The recurring gripes: the buttons are hard to find and need pressing and holding, some sounds are grating or too loud, and a long-time Lumie owner finds it lighter and flimsier than older models.
- Power
- 12W
- Sunrise length
- 20, 30 or 45 min (sunset too)
- Brightness
- Adjustable; Lumie doesn’t publish a lux figure
- Wake sounds
- 10, including white noise; no radio
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Display
- Dims itself automatically at night
- Size
- 16 × 19 × 12 cm; 565 g
What buyers like
- Colour sunrise from red to warm white, which buyers say feels natural
- Choose a 20, 30 or 45-minute sunrise and sunset
- Display dims automatically, good for light sleepers
- Longest warranty here alongside the other Lumie (3 years)
What buyers complain about
- Buttons aren’t obvious in the dark and some need holding down
- Some of the 10 sounds are grating, and a few find them too loud
- Feels lighter and less solid than older Lumie models, one owner says
- One buyer in Ireland received it with an EU two-pin plug; check yours
Best for: Most people: a proper colour sunrise and quiet, dimmable display without paying for features you won’t use.
Skip it if: you want an FM radio to wake to (get the Philips) or you mainly want a cheap trial of the idea (get the Lumie Sunrise Alarm).
Check today’s price on Amazon ↗Lumie Sunrise Alarm Wake-up Light
£39.99 · ★ 4.3 from 3,403 Amazon ratings · about 0.1p an hour to run
Check price ↗The cheapest way to get a Lumie, and £10 less than on Lumie’s own site. You get a fixed 30-minute sunrise and sunset, six mood colours and optional sounds, plus battery backup for the clock. It’s noticeably dimmer than the others: Which? estimates about 70 lux.
What UK buyers sayThe UK’s best-selling wake-up light on Amazon, with 4,000+ bought last month. Buyers say it makes dark mornings far easier and one calls it the best thing they’ve bought on Amazon. The complaints repeat, though: the red clock display is very bright at night, the sunrise brightens in visible steps rather than smoothly, and some say the clock drifts or the unit stopped working after a month.
- Power
- 5W
- Sunrise length
- 30 min, fixed (sunset too)
- Brightness
- About 70 lux (Which? estimate); 10 levels
- Wake sounds
- Beep or 5 natural sounds
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Backup
- 3 × AAA keep the clock and alarm going (no light)
- Size
- 18 × 17 × 9 cm; 505 g
What buyers like
- Low price for a Lumie, with the same 3-year warranty
- Buyers say it makes winter mornings noticeably easier
- Six mood colours and a dimmable bedside light
- AAA backup keeps the alarm working in a power cut
What buyers complain about
- Red display is very bright at night, a common complaint
- Sunrise steps up in stages instead of a smooth fade
- Fixed 30-minute sunrise; some want 45 or 60
- Some report the clock drifting or the unit failing within weeks
Best for: Trying a sunrise alarm for the first time, or a teenager’s room.
Skip it if: you’re sensitive to light at night (the display is bright) or you want a strong, smooth sunrise.
Check today’s price on Amazon ↗ARTINABS Sunrise Alarm Clock (JN01)
£31.99 · ★ 4.3 from 3,511 Amazon ratings · about 0.3p an hour to run
Check price ↗More features than either Lumie for under £35: a sunrise you can set from 10 to 60 minutes, up to four alarms, an app, FM radio and 11 colours. It’s a lesser-known brand without Lumie’s warranty, so it’s a value pick rather than a buy-for-years one.
What UK buyers sayBuyers rate the looks and the value: one says it’s reasonably well made for the price, another bought it for a daughter on shifts and says it’s been a life changer. The alarm is loud enough that you won’t sleep through it. Set-up splits opinion: there are a lot of buttons, the sunset settings are confusing, and one buyer’s second unit kept switching itself off.
- Power
- 10W
- Sunrise length
- 10–60 min; sunset 10–120 min
- Brightness
- Up to 200 lux (seller’s figure); 20 levels
- Wake sounds
- 7 sounds plus FM radio
- Warranty
- Not stated on the listing
- Alarms
- Up to 4, with custom days (listing title still says dual)
- Power
- USB, 5V; must stay plugged in
What buyers like
- Cheapest pick, with the most adjustable sunrise here
- Up to four alarms with custom days: handy for shift workers
- Loud alarm, so you won’t sleep through it
- Optional app sets the time and alarms for you
What buyers complain about
- Lots of buttons; set-up is fiddly without the app
- Sunset mode is poorly explained, buyers say
- One buyer’s unit kept switching itself off
- No battery backup and no stated warranty
Best for: Shift workers, students and anyone who wants lots of settings for little money.
Skip it if: you want something simple to set up once and forget, or the reassurance of a long warranty.
Check today’s price on Amazon ↗Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light HF3519/01
£129.99 · ★ 4.4 from 164 Amazon ratings · about 0.4p an hour to run
Check price ↗The brightest light here at up to 300 lux, with a 30-minute sunrise that goes from red to bright yellow. It adds an FM radio and works as a reading lamp. Philips gives a 2-year warranty, and on Amazon it’s £20 below Philips’ £149.99 list price.
What UK buyers sayOwners say it changes their morning routine, and one replaced the same model after 12 years. Buyers like the bird-song wake sound, the sunset and being able to switch the display off completely. The recurring complaints: the sound quality and radio are poor, it’s pricey, and one buyer found the two alarms and snooze confusing.
- Power
- 16.5W
- Sunrise length
- 30 min (sunset too)
- Brightness
- Up to 300 lux; 20 levels
- Wake sounds
- 5 natural sounds plus FM radio
- Warranty
- 2 years
- Display
- Dimmable, or off completely
- Extras
- FM radio and reading lamp
What buyers like
- Brightest sunrise of the four (300 lux)
- Display can be dimmed or switched off for light sleepers
- Bird-song wake-up and sunset are well liked
- Doubles as a reading lamp, with an FM radio
What buyers complain about
- Wake sounds and radio sound poor, buyers say
- The most expensive pick, with a shorter warranty than Lumie
- Two alarms and snooze can be confusing at first
- Fewer UK ratings for this model than the others (164)
Best for: Very dark bedrooms and people who want the strongest light, or to wake up to the radio.
Skip it if: you care about sound quality, or you’d rather have Lumie’s longer warranty for less money.
Check today’s price on Amazon ↗Do sunrise alarm clocks actually work?
For most buyers, yes, in the sense that matters: thousands of UK reviews say waking up to light makes dark mornings feel less brutal than a phone alarm. But the science is thinner than the marketing. A Which? scientist says there’s a lack of research backing the claims and that the physical effect is probably small, while noting that many users, including her, feel the benefit.
So treat one as a nicer way to wake up, not a treatment. Be wary of “clinically proven” and “medical device” labels: Which? calls the “medically approved” wording potentially misleading. Lumie’s medical-device certification is a regulatory class, not proof it will fix your mornings. This is the same evidence-first approach I use for every pick: here’s how I research products.
Sunrise alarm clock or SAD lamp?
They do different jobs. A sunrise alarm peaks at around 200–300 lux, which is enough to wake you gently but, as Which? puts it, not strong enough to treat seasonal depression on its own. SAD lamps give out around 10,000 lux and you sit near one for a set time each day.
If winter really flattens your mood, talk to your GP: the NHS guidance on SAD covers light therapy alongside other treatments. If you just hate getting up in the dark, a sunrise alarm is the cheaper, easier fix.
Sources: Which? (Lumie estimate, window and SAD lamp figures), Philips, and the ARTINABS Amazon listing. Lumie doesn’t publish a lux figure for the Glow 150.
Can a sunrise alarm wake a heavy sleeper?
Usually not on light alone. Owners of both Lumie and Philips wake-up lights say the light gets them most of the way there but it’s the sound that actually wakes them. That’s fine: every pick here has wake sounds, and the ARTINABS alarm is loud enough that buyers say you can’t sleep through it.
If you’re a heavy sleeper, pick the brightest light you can (the Philips), face it towards your pillow rather than the wall, and keep a sound alarm on. Blackout blinds make a big difference too: the clock is competing with less light, so the sunrise stands out more.
Are sunrise alarm clocks good for kids and teenagers?
For teenagers who struggle with school-day mornings, a simple, cheap model like the Lumie Sunrise Alarm or the ARTINABS is a sensible way to get the phone out of the bedroom. A few buyers bought them for their sons and daughters, and one says it has been a life changer.
For younger children, look at a “stay in bed” or OK-to-wake clock instead. Those show a colour or picture when it’s time to get up, which is what most parents of toddlers actually need. A sunrise alarm wakes someone gently; it doesn’t keep an early riser in bed.
How much electricity does a sunrise alarm clock use?
Hardly any. Even at full brightness, the most power-hungry pick here, the Philips, uses 16.5W, less than half a penny an hour. Run every morning and evening for a year, the worst case is under £2.
For more small upgrades that make winter at home easier, see all tech finds.
Calculated at 26.32p per kWh from the maximum power on each Amazon UK listing. The light only reaches full brightness at the end of the sunrise, so real costs are lower, plus a little standby power for the clock.
Frequently asked questions
Do sunrise alarm clocks really work?
Most UK buyers say they make waking up in the dark easier and more pleasant. Which? says there’s little research proving a physical effect, so think of one as a gentler way to wake up rather than a medical treatment.
What is the best sunrise alarm clock in the UK?
For most people, the Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150: it has a colour sunrise you can set to 20, 30 or 45 minutes, a self-dimming display, 10 sounds and a 3-year warranty. On a budget, the Lumie Sunrise Alarm is about £40.
Is a sunrise alarm clock the same as a SAD lamp?
No. Sunrise alarms peak at around 200–300 lux to wake you gently. SAD lamps give out around 10,000 lux and are used for set periods to help with low mood in winter. If you think you have SAD, speak to your GP.
Lumie or Philips: which is better?
Lumie gives you a 3-year warranty and more choice of sunrise length for less money. The Philips HF3519 is brighter at up to 300 lux and has an FM radio, but costs more, has a 2-year warranty and buyers find its sounds poor.
Will a sunrise alarm clock wake a heavy sleeper?
Often not on light alone. Many owners say the sound wakes them, not the light. Choose a bright model, point it towards your face and keep a sound alarm switched on.
Are sunrise alarm clocks good for kids?
They can help teenagers get up for school without a phone in the room. For toddlers and young children, an OK-to-wake clock that shows when it’s time to get up is usually more useful.
How much does a sunrise alarm clock cost to run?
Almost nothing. The models here use 5–16.5W at full brightness, under half a penny an hour at the October 2026 price cap. Even used for an hour every day, that’s under £2 a year.
How I picked these
I read the Amazon UK reviews for each sunrise alarm clock, looking for the praise and complaints that come up repeatedly, then checked manufacturer specifications and independent tests and worked out running costs at the current Ofgem price cap. I haven’t used every sunrise alarm clock myself. Where I have hands-on notes, they’re labelled. Read how I pick products.
