The Best SAD/Light Therapy Lamps of 2024

Canadians across the country know how dark Canada can get in winter. Chances are that you or someone you know is impacted by Seasonal Affective Disorder – or SAD – during the winter months, which manifests as a type of depression. While the specific cause of SAD is still unknown, factors like serotonin levels, Vitamin D intake and your biological clock (or circadian rhythm) seem to be connected to SAD. While SAD tends to lift in springtime, getting through those winter months can be incredibly difficult.  

A few things happen to your body when the days start to get shorter as winter progresses: the amount of sunlight the body gets diminishes which often leads to Vitamin D deficiency, and without the guide of the sun rising when you are, your circadian rhythm is prone to get thrown off. These factors become easily avoidable with light therapy, where exposure to bright light everyday can help you solidify your circadian rhythm and produce vitamin D. While it is scientifically unclear if and how light therapy is effective in treating SAD, many people are finding improved mood, sleep and energy levels after introducing a session of sitting by the bright light of a SAD lamp in their everyday morning routine.  

Below, you will find out choices for the best SAD lamp or light therapy lamps in Canada.  

There are many factors that set different SAD lamps apart. While we recommend you confer with a medical professional about whether light therapy for depression is right for you, here are some other recommendations of things you should consider before buying a SAD light.  

• Size – Size is always a factor when shopping for furnishing or an appliance, but size proves important in other ways for SAD lamps. Experts recommend a lamp with a larger light surface, above 12 by 18 inches, for optimal retention of the full-spectrum light. Smaller lamps may require you to be much closer for the light to have the same impact. On the other hand, smaller SAD lamps are much easier to transport, meaning you could take your lamp between home and the office if you needed to.    
• Adjustability – Getting a lamp that has an adjustable stand or variety of ways to hold it up. Experts recommend using a SAD lamp from above that is angled down, to maximize the light your body is getting and so you can avoid looking directly into the lamp. However, you will most likely find a set up that works for you, so finding an adjustable lamp that can move or be places in a variety of places will be useful in the long run.  
• Lux – we recommend getting a lamp with 10,000 Lux, and using it at the recommended distance, to see the best results for treatment of SAD. Less Lux means the longer you will need to use the lamp to see results. 
• Price – When isn’t price a consideration before buying anything? The best lamps on this list include a big screen, adjustable stand and soft, non-overwhelming light and are generally more expensive. 
• You – Light therapy works for some people and does not work for others. It is important to note that this type of therapy is designed to combat seasonal affective disorder specifically, and other forms of mental illness might respond negatively or not at all with light therapy. If you feel bummed out in winter months and want to add some brightness into your life, this is a product that is suited for you. We highly recommend talking to a medical practitioner before hitting “Buy Now”.  

For this buying guide, we chose SAD Lamps and related products with a 4+ star average or higher online. We found that people are primarily looking for a lamp that provides 10,000 Lux for use at decent distance, while cost, look and size are other important variables. 

For a technology that is relatively new and unproven, you might not know where to begin when shopping for a light therapy lamp. It was our goal to not only give a range of SAD Lamps so at least one would appeal to a shopper, but also to provide information in a clear, uncomplicated way.  

Our team spent over 12 hours reviewing and choosing the best lamps designed for treatment of seasonal affective disorder, based on the top user reviews online and expert analysis. 

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?  

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a mood disorder that leads to increased levels of depression in the winter months generally. While the exact cause of SAD is not known, one theory posits that the lack of sunlight most people receive in the winter months leads to a downturn in serotonin production.  

What is a SAD lamp? 

SAD Lamps are lamps that are designed to alleviate symptoms of Seasonal affective disorder by recreating natural daylight, which in turn can encourage your brain to produce serotonin. SAD Lamps can also help adjust your circadian rhythm when the days get shorter.  

Are SAD lamps worth it? Do they work?  

Light Therapy from a SAD Lamp may improve symptoms, including increasing energy levels and improve your mood, however it is important that light therapy probably will not cure Seasonal Affective Disorder. We recommend if you are struggling with SAD, you should discuss using SAD lamps as treatment with a health care practitioner. 

What are the benefits of light therapy for SAD? 

While mileage associated with light therapy and SAD lamps varies, the benefits associated with light therapy include improvement of seasonal affective disorder, better mood and improved sleep cycles as a result of adjustment of your circadian rhythm.  

How to use a SAD lamp?  

To use a SAD Lamp, you sit or work near it while on, so that the light from the lamp will enter your eyes indirectly. You will want to position the lamp in such a way that you will get the benefit of the light without it affecting your sight or blinding you. These lamps produce bright light that can potentially cause damage if you look directly into it. You should use it only for the recommended amount of time (between 30 minutes or 2 hours a day, but we recommend you talk to your doctor about this) and use it at roughly the same time every day. For best results, it is recommended you use a SAD lamp in the morning after you wake up.  

Should I do light therapy at night? 

It is recommended you do Light Therapy in the early morning. We recommend against doing light therapy at night, as it could interfere with your circadian rhythm and the other benefits that light therapy provides.  

Do SAD lamps boost vitamin D production?  

Yes, in clinical trials it has been found that light therapy with the help of SAD lights help create Vitamin D, and Vitamin D deficiencies have been correlated with Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

Will a SAD Sun lamp make you happy?  

While a SAD lamp will help people deal with symptoms related to seasonal affective disorder, with people seeing improved moods after daily light therapy, it may not have impact on non-seasonal forms of depression. Also, this lamp will not fix your love life or stop your mom unfavorably comparing you to your overachieving sibling.  

What are the types of light therapy?  

Other solutions that could help improve symptoms of people with SAD include sunrise simulators, installing natural spectrum light bulbs throughout your home, or using Bluewave blue lights. 

Can you use a SAD light too much?  

Overuse of a SAD lamp can lead to insomnia and other side effects. 

What is the best time of the day for light therapy? 

Experts seem to recommend using a sad lamp as light therapy in the morning. While schedules and people vary, it seems that getting your 10,000 Lux in with breakfast or while checking emails at work proves effective with users online. We suggest talking with your healthcare practitioner to help figure out when light therapy would be best for you.  

What is the best position for a SAD lamp? 

The best position for a SAD lamp is somewhere that it can sit at 16 to 24 inches from your face, so that is angled downward so you do not get the bright light directly into your eyes. You will use it from anywhere up to 30 minutes to an hour, so placing it at your desk at home or at the kitchen table might be advantageous, or if you apply makeup, in your bathroom might be an appropriate spot.  

What are the side effects of SAD light therapy?  

Some side effects of Light therapy include Eye strain, headache, nausea, or insomnia. If you also battle bipolar disorder, SAD therapy lamps have been known to trigger mania, euphoria or hyperactivity.  

What is the average price for SAD lamps? 

You can find SAD lamps from between $50-200 on average.  

Verilux HappyLight VT22 Lucent

Verilux seems to be one of the companies who are leading the design and utility of lamps designed for light therapy for depression and other ailments that winter brings, and the Verilux HappyLight VT22 Lucent is one of their flagships.  

This Verilux model offers 10,000 Lux of full spectrum, UV-free light up to 24 inches away from your face, although users have noted this light needs to be much closer for you to get the full effect.  

This lamp is also solidly portable with a small footprint. We recommend this lamp to you if you were turned off by the fact that the HappyLight Liberty was not fully 10,000 Lux 

Carex Daylight Sky-Bright Therapy Lamp

For a cheaper Carex Day-Light Therapy Lamp, we recommend The Light Sky Bright Light Therapy lamp for all the important features of the Day-Light Plus.  

This model of the Carex is flare free and UV filtered, for comfortable, safe light therapy sessions at home, providing 10,000 Lux of light at 12 inches away. The 13.5 x 10–inch screen is very effective at delivering full-spectrum light.  

This Carex lamp also comes with adjustable base so you can find the height and angle that works best for you.