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$70 at Walmart
Best overall light therapy lamp
Verilux HappyLight Luxe
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$40 at Walmart
Best budget light therapy lamp
Verilux HappyLight Lumi VT31
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$53 at Amazon
Best light therapy lamp for small spaces
Circadian Optics Lumos Therapy Lamp
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$200 at Amazon
Best large therapy lamp
Northern Light Technologies Boxelite
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Getting enough sunlight is essential, but it can get trickier as we head into the colder months. To help counter that, light therapy lamps work to mimic natural light to give you some mood and health benefits associated with light exposure. Light therapy is typically associated with depression during the dark winter months or for those with seasonal affective disorder. However, it may be beneficial for other types of depression or offer a mood boost during every time of year.
There are plenty of light therapy lights on the market, so it can be hard to find the right one for your needs. You can get them with varying intensities and some even offer extra features like adjustable brightness. To help make the choice easier for you, we put several popular models to the test. Since we’re not physicians or psychiatrists, we can’t comment on the effectiveness of these lamps in treating your depression, winter blues or SAD symptoms. However, if you want to give it a shot, investing in a SAD lamp is a relatively low-risk way to try to boost your mood.
Best light therapy lamps compared
| Price | Extra features | Size of light panel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verilux HappyLight Luxe VT43 | $70 | 4 brightness and 3 color temperature options, 1-hour timer with 5-minute intervals | 6 x 9 inches |
| Verilux HappyLight Lumi VT31 | $40 | 3 brightness options | 4.5 x 7 inches |
| Circadian Optics Lumos | $65 | 3 brightness options, adjustable stand | 1.37 x 6.25 inches |
| Northern Light Technologies Boxelite | $200 | Lightbulbs you can change | 12.25 x 15.25 inches |
| Verilux HappyLight Alba | $50 | 4 brightness and 3 color temperature options, 1-hour timer with 10-minute intervals | 5.5 x 6.5 inches |
| Theralite | $32 | Built-in cover/stand | 5 x 8 inches |
| Carex Day-Light Classic Plus | $120 | Adjustable stand and two brightness options | 13.5 x 15.5 inches |
Best overall light therapy lamp
At the time testing was done, we found the Verilux HappyLight Luxe to be the best overall light therapy lamp. It has a simple design, four brightness settings, three color temperature settings and — importantly — comes at a fair price point.
Best light therapy lamps for 2024
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The most important features you should be looking at when buying a light therapy lamp are the light intensity and the type of light that’s emitted. Research supports using a SAD lamp with up to 10,000 lux as a therapy for depression.
Another key is that you don’t want a sun lamp that emits UV rays, as they can cause damage to your eyes and skin. While you’re not supposed to stare directly into a light therapy lamp, you still don’t want to expose yourself to daily UV radiation while trying to treat your seasonal depression.
Size is important, to a point. A bigger light panel allows you to position the light farther away while you’re using it, so keep that in mind when shopping. A smaller lamp needs to be closer to your face and set so it’s at your eye level. You might need to spend up to an hour each day using a small SAD light, but just half that with a larger lamp.
As the Mayo Clinic notes, “The effectiveness of a light box depends on daily use, so buy one that’s convenient for you.”
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People with seasonal affective disorder may opt for a light therapy lamp, as well as anyone else who notices shifts in their mood along with shorter days or less sunlight.
But it’s best to consult with your doctor or psychiatrist for guidance on light treatment. Light therapy isn’t suited for all kinds of mental health issues — many doctors recommend that people with bipolar disorder avoid it, for example. Light therapy can also irritate your eyes or skin if you have certain medical conditions or are taking some prescription medications.
There are some general guidelines you can follow:
- Position the light therapy lamp about 12 to 18 inches from your face.
- Use the lamp for 30 minutes in the early morning, ideally shortly after you wake up.
- Don’t stare directly at the light.
- Go about other activities while using it, as long as your eyes stay within 12 to 18 inches of the lamp.
Some people experience headaches, jitters or insomnia with light therapy, so be aware of those symptoms while using a light therapy lamp.
