Lumie

British light therapy company founded in Cambridge in 1991, maker of Bodyclock wake-up lights and SAD lamps, with a US office in Florida.

United Kingdom · Founded 1991 · Official site

Who Lumie is

Lumie was founded in Cambridge in 1991 as Outside In, a company that first sold bright light therapy lamps. It launched a Natural Alarm Clock in 1992, which Lumie describes as the world’s first wake-up light. The business was rebranded to Lumie in 2007. US customers are served by Lumie LLC in Clearwater, Florida.

What they make

Lumie makes two kinds of product relevant here: Bodyclock dawn simulators, which brighten gradually before your alarm, and bright light therapy lamps such as Vitamin L. That makes Lumie one of the few brands that appears on both our sunrise alarm clocks and light therapy lamps pages.

Research claims

Lumie’s about page cites a 2015 study with Dr Konstantin Danilenko comparing dawn simulation with bright light for seasonal affective disorder, and quotes it as confirming the efficacy of a dawn simulator. The evidence for dawn simulators overall is thinner than for 10,000 lux light boxes; our guide do sunrise alarm clocks work sets out what the trials show.

Trial and warranty

Lumie offers a 45-day trial on all lamps. The US site links to a warranty page but does not state the term on its homepage, so check it for the model you buy.

Lumie products we list

ProductCategoryPriceOur take
Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300Sunrise alarm clocks$169Best for long sunrises
Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 700FMSunrise alarm clocks$259A bright bedside lamp and long sunrise in one, if budget allows
Lumie Vitamin LLight therapy lamps$109Small spaces and people willing to sit within about 8 in, or to run longer sessions farther back