The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?ExtrasIndyBestTechMood-boosting light therapy can help to brighten the dreariest time of year SAD lamps work by reducing melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep, and increasing your serotonin levels (Kat Bayly/The Independent)Our Top Picks12Lumie task light therapy desk lampRead review£279Buy now345During the winter months, our light exposure is often short as the UK skies fill with clouds and daylight hours are reduced. Some suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is brought about by this reduced light exposure. That’s where the best SAD lamps come in – sitting in front of one can help boost your mood as they are thought to directly increase levels of serotonin (our feel good hormone). Expert Dr Victoria Revell, associate professor in translational sleep and circadian physiology at the University of Surrey, offered some advice on how to get this exposure. “Traditionally, it has been recommended that individuals use light boxes for 30 minutes upon waking and sit so that they bathe their face in light – no need to look directly at them,” she said. “This can be done while getting ready, having breakfast, checking emails etc. Simply having the light on in the room while you are getting dressed and organising yourself for the day will increase your light exposure.”I’ve reviewed a number of SAD lamps over the years and have discovered they come in all shapes and sizes. Understanding why you’d opt for one over another often comes down to style preferences, size and how comfortable they are to sit in front of. However, not all of them are medically certified devices to treat SAD. If you have a diagnosis of SAD, you want to opt for the medically certified devices. These emit 10,000 lux at a tested distance. Dr Victoria Revell offers some advice on ensuring comfort: “When you are selecting, also look at the light intensity and the distance that you need to be to receive the required intensity”.Read more: Do SAD lamps work? Experts explain how to beat the winter bluesI tested these for weeks with daylight therapy sessions at various times throughout the day (Kat Bayly/The Independent)The best SAD lamps for 2026 are:Best overall – Beurer TL 35: £69.99, Amazon.co.ukBest for versatility – Lumie task light therapy desk lamp: £279, Lumie.comBest for style – Lumie halo: £219, Lumie.comBest portable – Lumie vitamin L: £99, Amazon.co.ukRead more: 9 best weighted blankets to ease stress and anxiety, tried and tested1Beurer TL 35Best SAD lamp overallWhy we love it Space-saving designDifferent colour temperatures for different parts of the dayDimmableTimer functionTake note Stand makes product feel unevenly balancedHave to sit 13cm away to achieve 10,000 luxShow moreShow lessWhile the Lumie task will set you back £279, the Beurer TL 35 comes in much cheaper with some similar features to the task. For example, you can adjust the strength and colour of the light on the Beurer TL 35. While it may not be dimmable in the same way, this option is a great extra for such a cheap product, especially as most SAD lamps are on or off. There are four brightness settings and three colour temperatures. The colour temperatures are to help your day-night rhythm, offering different colours for different times of the day, specifically morning, midday and evening. I found this particularly useful – using it during the day boosted my mood but by night, it helped me unwind. The softer orange hues of the evening light helped me to feel less stressed and eased me into solid sleep.This offers great value for money (Kat Bayly/The Independent)There’s an additional feature of a timer which I found particularly helpful, allowing me to leave the light on while using it and it turning itself off once the session was complete. You can have it running from 30 minutes to 120 minutes in four increments – perfect for busy people who may not remember to time their sessions.Some SAD lamps can take up a considerable amount of space (the Lumie halo for example) but the TL 35 is compact, meaning it’s not too much trouble to find a surface to place it on. However, Beurer’s cheaper products tend to include a removal stand. This stand allows you to use the product either vertically or horizontally but I always find it to be temperamental, making the lamp feel a little wobbly. However, I found this light easy to use (there’s really no need to look at the manual) and comfortable during sessions thanks to the range of lighting and brightness options available. It’s packed with features, and is a registered medical device, making it the best budget SAD lamp.Key specificationsDimensions: 25cm x 15.5cm x 2.1cmWeight: 0.54 kgMax lux level: 10,000 lux at 13 cmLight colour: WhiteColour temperature: 6500KDimmable: YesBack to top2Lumie task light therapy desk lampBest SAD lamp for versatilityWhy we love it Adjustable light head and swivel standDimmable to suit needsDiffused light makes sessions comfortableSturdy, good quality buildPractical use as a desk lamp, tooTake note Easy to accidentally knock light into wrong place due to swivel standSensitive dimmerShow moreShow lessThe Lumie task is stylish and simple to use, either at your desk while working or purely as a daylight therapy lamp. It’s a sturdy lamp made from metal and, unlike other SAD lamps that come as a rectangular or circular unit, it takes up less space on a surface thanks to its desk lamp-like design. The adjustable head makes this versatile (Kat Bayly/The Independent)What I love about the task is the adjustable light head and swivel of the stand making it versatile, letting me angle the light in most directions. Other SAD lamps, like the Beurer TL 35 or Lumie vitamin L, are often fixed so this feature was a particular draw for me – it meant I could use it for daylight therapy when doing various tasks such as working, cooking or reading, I wasn’t glued to one spot thanks to its height. It’s also dimmable by running your finger over the logo on the base, and, as the light itself is diffused, it was not garish or too bright when sitting in front of it, even at the maximum setting. The LEDs with CRI 95+ help to offer balanced light that mimics natural light and I’d agree – I enjoyed using the task and felt it offered the closest thing to natural light. Thanks to all of its design elements, I used this lamp a lot and found it helped improve my mood and focus, offering me a boost regularly throughout the day.If you’re looking for a desk lamp, opt for the task. You can up the brightness for a daylight therapy session or reduce it when needed. Plus, being able to angle the light means you can use it for focused work, too. However, if you do suffer from medically diagnosed SAD, note the task is not a registered medical device.Key specificationsDimensions: 55cm x 17.5cm x 18cm Weight: 1.69 kgMax lux level: 10,000 lux at 15 cmLight colour: Cool whiteColour temperature: 5000KDimmable: YesBack to top3Lumie haloBest SAD lamp for styleWhy we love it Super stylish designVarious modes including backlight for ambienceComfortable distance for therapy sessionsTake note Its size may be an issue for smaller or cluttered homesShow moreShow lessThe halo is a thing of beauty, looking nothing like the white plastic SAD lamps you often see. I was blown away when I opened the box – it’s a very sexy lamp, boasting copper and black tones and looking more like an old film light than a therapy light. I was excited to get testing it, however, I quickly realised placing it in my medium-sized home was trickier than expected. Its huge size will be an issue for anyone else, like me, who has surfaces covered with things. This is sleeker than other designs I’ve tested (Kat Bayly/The Independent)One thing I can’t fault about the halo is its build quality. Again, made from metal like the task, it’s a sturdy lamp. It also boasts a similar dimmable function as the task where you run your finger over the logo to adjust the brightness. It was generally simple to use, or at least turn on. You have two modes – one for daytime (the brighter light) and one for evening (the softer, orange light). You can adjust both in terms of intensity and there is the option to have just the backlight on, lighting up the copper shell, for ambience. However, this function did require a look in the manual to accomplish. Overall, the halo was comfortable to sit in front of for a daylight therapy session, especially as you can adjust the brightness. I found the daylight function helped to sharpen my mind when used first thing in the morning while the evening light was helpful in creating an ambient light to relax, which I found helped me sleep better.Bear in mind, you do need to sit 20cm away with it at full intensity to experience the benefits. The Halo would suit anyone with space to spare who is looking for a stylish SAD lamp to add to their home.Key specificationsDimensions: 33cm x 32.4cm x 19.7cm Weight: 2.22 kgMax lux level: 10,000 lux at 20 cmLight colour: Cool and warm whiteColour temperature: 3000K & 5000KDimmable: YesBack to top4Lumie vitamin LBest portable SAD lampWhy we love it Diffused, orange tinted light for more comfortable sessionsRemovable stand for easy packing and travelSingle button for on and offNot oversized and easy to find room for itTake note Not dimmableFlimsy in landscape modeShow moreShow lessThis has been my go-to SAD lamp for multiple winters now and one reason is its portability. Its slender design and single button-use make it appealing and easy to turn on and off for a session. It easily fits on a shelf or surface and, thanks to its compact design and removable stand, it’s just as easy to move rooms with it or pack it if you’re going away. The compact design makes this portable (Kat Bayly/The Independent)This is one of Lumie’s bestselling SAD lamps and it’s easy to understand why. Costing around £99, which is mid-range in terms of SAD lamps, the vitamin L is a decent product in terms of build quality. It’s not made of flimsy, lightweight plastic and definitely has a little weight behind it. It also comes with a stand that has a rubber base to avoid the lamp slipping and a diffused, orange tinted light, making it comfortable to sit 16cm away from for a daylight therapy session. Unlike the Halo and Task though, this lamp isn’t dimmable. I’ve never found this to be an issue though, and can testify that it’s helped my mood for many winters, especially when used first thing on a dull morning – I start the day more positively and feel more able to focus.While the removable stand is generally robust, Lumie claims you can use this lamp either in portrait or landscape. I have often found it is entirely unshakeable in portrait mode but rather easily knocked over in landscape. The vitamin L is also the only SAD lamp that Lumie has had medically certified, so for anyone looking to specifically treat the symptoms of SAD, this should be their first choice from Lumie. Key specificationsDimensions: 28cm x 20cm x 8cm Weight: 0.83 kgMax lux level: 10,000 lux at 20 cmLight colour: Cool whiteColour temperature: 4000KDimmable: NoBack to top5Beurer TL 50Best SAD lamp for simplicityWhy we love it Up and running within secondsNo complicated modesSturdy standMedically certified to treat SADTake note Intense brightness which some may struggle withConsiderable space required for placement of this lampShow moreShow lessSimilarly to the Lumie vitamin L, the Beurer TL 50 has a single button that turns the device on and off. There are no settings to faff with and you can be up and running within seconds, hence why I think this is the best SAD lamp for simplicity. Costing around the same as the vitamin L (when not on offer), the TL 50 is also a certified medical device for the treatment of SAD. Personally, I found the light quite offensive compared to the vitamin L that has a softer, orange hue, especially when you have to sit only 15cm away from the device. However, although I found the brightness intense, it is ideal for those needing a good boost to combat SAD – it definitely got rid of any cobwebs when I used it in the mornings. As soon as I switched it on, my tired eyes were gone and I was able to tackle my day.The bright light offers a kick (Kat Bayly/The Independent)Although being a mid-range product, the TL 50 is remarkably lightweight, compared to the vitamin L, for example. Its stand is unmovable and holds the light steady. However, it did feel rather cheaply made in comparison to the task or even the TL 35. This shouldn’t put you off though as there was nothing wrong with the device and everything felt solidly put together – nothing rattled or came loose when I moved it. Sizewise, it’s a little bigger than some, optimising the light therapy surface which is a bonus. But, on the other hand, it may limit where you can place it as you’ll need a fair bit of room for this lamp. Key specificationsDimensions: 24.6cm x 26cm Weight: 0.815 kgMax lux level: 10,000 lux at 15 cmLight colour: WhiteColour temperature: 5300KDimmable: NoBack to topWhat is the best SAD lamp? While I was impressed by the Lumie task (it’s hard to beat in terms of versatility), it does come with a hefty price tag. Because of this, the Beurer TL 35 is my choice for the best buy overall – it’s a great option for those with less to spend, offering diffused light, three colour temperatures, four brightness levels and a time. For those with space to spare, the Lumie halo is a must. It looks good on and off and offers two settings for day and evening, plus a stunning backlight if you want to create some ambience in your home.How I tested SAD lampsI tested these SAD lamps for a few weeks, incorporating daylight therapy sessions at various times throughout the day. For those lamps with morning and evening functions, I conducted therapy sessions at the appropriate times to test the various light modes. I tested these lamps using the following criteria:Ease of set up and use: I focused on how simple these SAD lamps were to get using straight from the box. This included being able to access the various modes and functions and whether or not the manual was required to figure out set up. Comfort during a daylight therapy session: Most SAD lamps require you to sit in front of them for a minimum of 30 minutes. This is a long time in front of a bright light so I kept notes on how comfortable each lamp was to sit in front of at the specified distance and for the suggested time period. Size and practicality of use within the home: The size of a SAD lamp can impact whether it’s a practical choice for your home. I tried these SAD lamps on various surfaces around the home to see the size of their footprint and how this might interfere with ease of use. Build quality: When purchasing a SAD lamp you want to know that you’re getting a decent product, this is why I tested their build quality, making notes on whether or not the lamps felt sturdy, flimsy or anything in between. Extra features and functions: All extra features and functions were tested on each SAD lamp with notes made about how easy they were to access and use, and how helpful they were. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Kat Bayly is a writer who specialises in wellness and mindfulness as she is also yoga teacher and founder of Kalindi Yoga. She has reviewed a number of SAD lamps over the years so know what it takes for a product to impress.For more ways to brighten your days, read our review of the best sunrise alarm clocks