Shop the best alarm clocks to improve your morning routine

Waking up early makes it easy to plan the day and maintain morning routines, such as workouts, reading, meditation and more. However, for some people, it's not always easy to ensure consistency, with some days coming up shorter than others.

Thankfully, an alarm clock can help streamline your waking experience. It’s a thoughtful option for people who don’t like having their phones in the bedroom. Plus, modern units have additional features like interactive displays, soothing sounds and voice assistants.

To find your perfect alarm clock, we recommend comparing price points, brands and features. Wondering which models our shopping editors think are best? Lucky you. We researched different options and listed our top picks to help you find the best alarm clock for you.

Read more: Find the best mattress toppers for a sound night's sleep

Explore the best alarm clocks for you

Best overall alarm clock

Sharp 1-Inch LCD with Top Control Clock

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$6 at Target

Best alarm clock for heavy sleepers

IKEA DEKAD Alarm Clock

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$9.99 at IKEA

Best sunrise alarm clock

Wake-up Light

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$59.95 at Philips

Best electric alarm clock

Sharp LED Night Light Alarm Clock

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$15 at Target

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Best overall alarm clock

Sharp 1-Inch LCD with Top Control Clock

$6

$6 at Target

Specifications

• Material: Plastic

• Power: 2 AA batteries

• Dimensions:  2.3 H x 1.5 W x 3.25 D in

Pros & Cons

• Ascending alarm volume

• Easy-to-set control buttons

• On-demand backlight to save power

• Basic option

• Batteries not included

The Sharp 1-Inch LCD with Top Control Clock makes an excellent choice for most people. Its 1-inch LCD time display allows for a clear view of time and it has an on-demand blue backlight for a quick display of time in dark rooms — just press the snooze button to turn it on.

This compact alarm saves space on your nightstand and the ascending alarm volume is subtle to avoid startling you. Its soft rubber finish makes it difficult for the clock to knock over, while the control buttons at the top allow for seamless operation.

Best alarm clock for heavy sleepers

IKEA DEKAD Alarm Clock

$9.99

$9.99 at IKEA

Specifications

• Material: Alloy steel

• Power: 2 AA batteries

• Dimensions: 5.5 H x 4 W x 2.3 D in

Pros & Cons

• Sturdy construction

• Silent quartz movement

• Mechanical technology

• Can’t view time in the dark

• Batteries sold separately

If you’re a heavy sleeper, you should get this IKEA DEKAD Alarm Clock. Thanks to its flawless mechanical technology, it is able to deliver an alarm loud enough to wake you from your deep sleep. This clock is analog but it features a silent quartz movement to eliminate the disturbing ticking sounds.

The nightstand clock is made of alloy steel for a durable, sturdy construction, and it has a clean classic design, making it a great addition to retro or farmhouse bedroom styles.

Best sunrise alarm clock

Wake-up Light

$59.95

$59.95 at Philips

Specifications

• Material: Plastic

• Power: Electric powered 100/240 V

• Dimensions: 7 H x 7 W x 4.5 D in

Pros & Cons

• Customizable brightness

• Attractive design

• Gradual alarm sound

• Offers only one tone

• Resets when the power goes out

Get your personal sunrise experience with the Philips Wake-up Light. This bedroom clock uses a combination of light and sound to provide you with the experience of gradually waking up to nature’s sunrise, delivering a natural touch to your mornings. It features 10 light settings of up to 200 lux for you to personalize your light intensity.

Its ascending alarm volume offers a gentle wake-up experience without startling you, and you can simply tap the clock to snooze. It has four display brightness levels, which you can adjust to your preference, while the light moves from yellow to bright yellow to simulate the flow of sunrise.

Best electric alarm clock

Sharp LED Night Light Alarm Clock

$15

$15 at Target

Specifications

• Material: Plastic

• Power: Electric powered with one 9-volt alkaline battery backup

• Dimensions: 3.55 H x 7.09 W x 3.23 D in

Pros & Cons

• Simple to use

• Easy nighlight control

• Big, easy-to-read numbers

• Makes a low buzzing sound

• Only available in black

If you’re looking for an electric alarm clock, the Sharp LED Night Light Alarm Clock is perfect for you. The alarm clock is good to go once it is plugged to power and in case of an outage, it has a single 9V back-up battery to wake you up without fail. This clock features a classic simple design with a jumbo 1.8-inch red LED display for easy time viewing.

You can turn the nightlight on or off by just pressing a button and the easy keyboard-style controls on the front allow for simple operation. It also features a beeping sound to make sure you wake up, making it perfect for heavy sleepers. There’s also a 9-minute snooze option, which you can continually press to switch off the alarm.

Best alarm clock for kids

Sharp Ready to Wake Bear Sleep Trainer

$21.99

$21.99 at Walmart

Specifications

• Material: Plastic

• Power: Electric powered with battery backup

• Dimensions: 6.2H x 4.8W x 0.01 D in

Pros & Cons

• Includes a projector

• Color-coded display

• Automated Sleep/Wake settings

• No alarm sound

• Contains chemicals known to the State of California

Wake your little ones early for school with this Sharp Ready to Wake Bear Sleep Trainer. The cute panda design adds a playful touch to your kid’s room, and the color-coded display lets kids know when it’s time to sleep or wake up - orange is for staying in bed, while green is for waking up.

The most interesting feature is its night-time projector, which illuminates a galaxy scene on the ceiling. You can set it to project for 15, 30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes before it automatically shuts off. It also saves the Sleep/Wake settings, so you don’t need to configure it again, and it has a lock feature to prevent your kid from changing the settings.

The AC-powered clock operates silently to avoid distraction but uses 3 AAA batteries for backup.

Best smart alarm clock

Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light

$179.95

$179.95 at Philips

Specifications

• Material: Plastic

• Battery: Electric with battery backup

• Dimensions: 4.7 H x 8.8 W x 8.6 D in

Pros & Cons

• Self-adjusting brightness

• Supports FM radio

• Offers relaxation sounds for sleep

• Complex configuration settings

• High price point

This Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light is the ideal pick if you’re looking for a smart clock. The clock has the flow of sunrise. It offers up to five different adjustable colors and the light gradually changes from a morning red to orange to bright yellow.

It also has the RelaxBreathe functionality that allows you to enjoy a light-guided wind-down function to help you sleep better using relaxation sounds or light rhythms. Its anti-slip rubber feet allow it to sit stably on your nightstand, and you can also use it to charge your phone.

With 25 personalized brightness settings, you can select the intensity level that’s ideal for you and it even doubles as a reading light if needed. This clock lets you choose the sound or music you want to wake up to, including your favorite local FM radio station.

Best-rated alarm clock

Hatch Restore Personalized Sleep Solution

$129.99

$129.99 at Target

Specifications

• Material: Plastic

• Battery: Electric

• Dimensions: ‎6 H x 7 W x 2.75 D in

Pros & Cons

• Includes soothing sounds

• Control through mobile app

• Easy to operate

• Requires monthly subscription for additional features and sounds

• High price point

With a 4.4-star average rating, the Hatch Restore Personalized Sleep Solution is an impressive digital alarm clock option to add to your room. The sleek design takes up minimal space on your nightstand, while the soft-touch control allows for seamless operation — or you can use its mobile app.

The clock allows you to create a personalized sleep routine for peaceful nights and effortless early mornings. It includes a library of soothing sounds to help you wind down and prepare your body for sleep. This clock also features a reading light for convenient reading without the eye-straining blue hues.

What is the best alarm clock?

The best alarm clock is one that gets you up every day without fail, so it’s essential to find one that offers pleasant sounds or tone and features that suit your lifestyle. This means you have to choose between analog and digital options.

You must also consider factors like ease of use, design, customizability and legibility. The clock should be dimmable to avoid lights that might disrupt your sleep. It should also be easy to read when checking time, even without eyeglasses or contacts.

If you’re looking for a digital clock, consider extra features like internet connectivity, USB ports, Bluetooth, radio, soothing sounds, and a backup power source. Some bedside clocks even come with subscription packages, which offer access to additional features like sleep trackers — if you require one.

Which are the best alarm clocks?

Alarm clocks may seem somewhat old-fashioned, but they’re still great options for early mornings. They’re even ideal if you prefer turning off your phone at night or putting it in silent or sleep mode. We believe we’ve listed the best alarm clocks for everyone, but if we had to choose, these are our top three picks.

• Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake Up Light: This model makes a great smart clock with different sound and light settings. Apart from simulating sunrise, it also lets you wake up to your FM radio of choice.

• IKEA DEKAD Alarm Clock: This is a classic clock that is great for heavy sleepers. It delivers a mechanical sound to get you ready and energized for the day.  

• Sharp 1-Inch LCD with Top Control Clock: This on the other hand would make the perfect choice for those who prefer a simple clock for everyday use at a good value.

Prices updated on 07/25/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.