From extra-loud alarms to bed-shakers, these top-rated picks will help you get out of bed.
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Sure, crafting a great morning routine can help you look forward to the a.m., but sometimes, you just can’t seem to wake up when your alarm goes off. The best alarm clocks for heavy sleepers will help you get up, get moving, and get your day started.
“If you’re a heavy sleeper, you may need stronger stimuli to wake up than the typical sleeper,” says Shelby Harris, Psy.D., clinical psychologist, sleep specialist, and author of The Women’s Guide To Overcoming Insomnia. “There is research that suggests some people are more tolerant to noises, which explains why heavy sleepers may struggle to wake up to a normal alarm clock.” However, if you find that you’re constantly struggling to wake up, it may be a sign that you’re not getting enough quality sleep due to bad sleep hygiene or even an undiagnosed sleep disorder—in which case you should contact your doctor, advises Harris.
But, for those who just need some extra stimuli to wake up in the morning (or for those hard of hearing), a specific kind of alarm clock can help. “Heavy sleepers should look for alarm clocks with extra loud settings, adjustable volume levels, no-snooze button, vibrating functions, and bed-shaking capabilities to help wake them up,” Harris says. Here, we rounded up the best options to get your day started—from ones that use extra-loud alarms or vibration settings, to light alarm clocks that help you open those peepers.
Meet the Experts: Seema Bonney, M.D., longevity specialist, functional medicine doctor, and sleep doctor for Mattress Firm; Shelby Harris, Psy.D., clinical psychologist, sleep specialist, and author of The Women’s Guide To Overcoming Insomnia
Yes, these mega alarms are guaranteed to get you up and moving on time, all of the time. Check out some of the top-rated options available, below.
Part old-school alarm clock, part Armageddon, the Sonic Alert combines pulsating lights, a 12-volt bed shaker, and a siren that can reach 113 decibels (about the same level as a jet plane before it takes off) to get you out of bed. With more than 2,000 (mostly 5-star) reviews on Amazon, this is one alarm clock that looks near-impossible to sleep through.
“I basically sleep like a dead person, and I’ve tried everything,” an Amazon customer says. “I was tired of sleeping through classes, work, and just about everything else, so I decided to give this one a try. The bed shaker feature works extremely well. If you’re like me and you hit snooze while you’re still sleeping without realizing it, you need this.”
Wake-up method: Alarm sound, vibration
Good for heavy sleepers and people with hearing loss, this retro alarm clock isn’t just stylish and super loud—it also doesn’t have a snooze button. Nothing like a little tough love to get you out of bed in the morning! If you’re a heavy sleeper and think this alarm won’t get you out of bed, allow this Amazon customer to convince you: “I’m a heavy sleeper. Not the average ‘has a hard time getting out of bed’ type, but the type where I’ve been physically shaken and screamed at and not woken up. I’ve had fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars in my front yard and slept through it. This alarm scares the hell out of me every morning, but it sure does get me awake.”
Designed with a bed shaker and three alarm modes, this alarm clock guarantees you’ll get out of bed in the morning. You can preset alarms to go off on all weekdays, weekends only, daily, or just one time. “The alarm itself is very loud,” says one happy customer. “It starts out with lower beeps and then gradually gets higher until it’s screaming at you. The buzzer is a nice addition as well. It vibrates stronger than a phone would, and between the two, it will definitely make sure that you’ve woken up.” Bonus: It’s also equipped with two USB charging ports for your phone.
Wake-up method: Alarm sound, vibration
Clocky will never let you sleep in (and yet it’s hard to stay mad at him!). If you hit the snooze button more than once, “Clocky” will roll away on his two wheels and hide, beeping and whirling all the way. Not only that, he can jump up to a three-foot-tall nightstand and move quickly on carpet or wood in different directions. You’ll have to chase him down and turn him off, making this the perfect alarm clock to ensure that you actually get out of bed every morning.
“This little guy saved me. I was at the point where my light alarm clock, combined with the Sonic Bomb AND two alarms on my phone wouldn’t get me up,” one reviewer writes. “By the time I chase [Clocky] down, I’m turning off my other alarms and getting ready for my workout...This clock has made all the difference in getting me on a much-needed routine. If you abuse the snooze, give it a shot.”
Wake-up method: Alarm sound, movement
This top-rated alarm clock not only has an extra-loud buzzer and a vibrating bed-shaker—it also has a cool, handy feature that projects the time onto the ceiling, making it easy to see what time it is even while you’re half-asleep and hitting the snooze button. Translation: It’s perfect if you need a little extra reminder that you’ll be late for work if you don’t get up on time!
You can choose from five different levels of volume and also set dual alarms for multiple sleepers. Not to mention, the clock boasts over 9,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. Writes one satisfied reviewer: “As a deep sleeper, I can sleep through virtually anything. However, this alarm clock solved all of my morning issues. While I prefer the bed shaker function, the alarm is also very effective.”
Wake-up method: Alarm sound, vibration, visual projection
Made for people with hearing impairments, the Peakeep Loud Melody shuffles through seven extra-loud melodies instead of a beep or buzzing sound (who says you have to hate the sound of your alarm buzzer?). And if you need to snooze a little longer, it will cut the music and sound again five minutes later. People who struggle to fall asleep will also love this clock’s silent second hand—no tick-tock to distract you while you try to snooze.
“This is hands down the most obnoxious alarm—in a good way—that I’ve every owned,” one Amazon customer says. “It’s impossible to sleep through this. I personally only have slight hearing issues, but it usually takes like 15 alarms every minutes on my iPhone to wake me up.”
This compact, battery-powered alarm is ideal for people who travel and don’t want to rely on a hotel’s alarm clock or their smartphone to ensure they wake up on time. It’s equipped with two loud settings—70 decibels and 120 decibels—that are as body-jolting as a thunderclap or chainsaw.
“I hate this alarm but only because it scares the heck out of me every morning,” one Amazon customer writes. “My husband can sleep through anything. We’ve tried almost every heavy-duty alarm on the market, but this little bad boy wakes him up every time.” It also has a countdown timer, which can come in handy for scheduling medications and cooking dishes. Luckily—or not—it’s sheathed in an extra durable case.
If you’re looking for an alarm clock that will play your favorite tunes first thing in the morning, this device is for you. This digital FM radio/alarm clock plays from 20 different stations and automatically sets itself to the correct date and time as soon as you plug it in. You can also program it so an alarm goes off only on weekdays, weekends only, or all seven days of the week. Finally, you can get your day started by waking up to the latest news.
An Amazon customer writes: “I wake up early Monday through Friday. This alarm has a Monday through Friday setting and a weekend setting. While my wife struggles with making sure her alarm is off on the weekends, I do nothing. It auto-sets itself too. Time is always accurate, and my radio station is always digitally tuned. Sound comes on gradually so it doesn’t shock you.”
Wake-up method: Alarm sound (buzzer or radio)
Seema Bonney, M.D., longevity specialist, functional medicine doctor, and sleep doctor for Mattress Firm, recommends sunlight alarm clocks. We like this one by Hatch for its ability to mimic the sunrise. And as a bonus, it also doubles as a sound machine as it includes a library of soothing sounds for drifting off to sleep.
“I needed some sunshine to wake up to in the early morning hours in the wintertime. Set your alarm for 5 a.m. and at 4:30 it begins to gradually brighten as the sun is rising, and by 5 I find myself naturally opening my eyes, fully and gently awake. But, I had no idea I’d also fall in love with it as part of my bedtime routine,” writes an Amazon user. “One click and I fall asleep 20 minutes of ocean waves with a dim purple light followed by 20 minutes of soft rain with a dim blue light. So customizable, I didn’t think I needed all the features but I actually love them. Very very pleased.”
Wake-up method: Alarm sound, light
This product is powerful when you amp up the volume. And it’s more than just an alarm clock—it’s equipped with Alexa, video calling capabilities, and can be connected to security cameras and baby monitors. It also plays white noise and music, making this alarm clock a truly versatile find.
“I was looking for an Echo device that would double as an alarm clock and access to Alexa. I found the Echo Show 5 and have two of them,” one Amazon reviewer wrote. “They are wonderful! Small footprint but has excellent picture quality and sound. The voice recognition is, as expected, stellar. You can’t go wrong with Echo!”
While this alarm clock won’t shake your bed or make jackhammer sounds, it will definitely get you up in the morning. It has two speakers on either side of the display screen that will blast low- and high-volume alarms, which will continue to go off for five minutes. There’s also a nine-minute snooze button that you can press unlimited times until the alarm is turned off.
“If you’re looking for a simple alarm clock that gets the job done, look no further!” an Amazon customer says. “I can confidently say that this is one of the best products I have purchased on Amazon. I am a pretty heavy sleeper, and while the alarm on my phone may wake me up, it doesn’t wake me up enough for me to get out of bed. This alarm clock, however, is very loud.” This alarm clock has a backup battery as well, in case the power cuts out.
Wake-up method: Alarm sound, vibration
When it comes to finding the best alarm clocks, heavy sleepers will need stronger stimuli than typical sleepers to wake up. Here are some specific features that you should look for in alarm clocks:
✔️ Extra-loud alarms. “The louder the volume and decibel level, the more likely it will wake you up,” Harris says. But you should also be aware that an alarm that’s too loud can lead to an unpleasant wake-up. “Using too loud of an alarm clock can trigger your stress response and essentially shock your body into waking up in the morning which, in turn, can lead to other negative effects on the body,” warns Harris. In addition to your typical alarm buzzer, some alarm clocks also offer different kinds of sounds, such as music or radio.
✔️ Vibrating or bed-shaking functions. If you need different stimuli besides (or in addition to) sound, there are some alarm clocks that use vibration, shaking your bed to provide that extra jolt you need to wake up. These devices typically come in the form of a separate disc connected to the alarm clock that you can place on your bed, such as under your pillow or your mattress.
✔️ Light features. While some alarm clocks employ bright flashing lights to help you wake up, other options—like Hatch Restore—are sunrise alarm clocks, which “are designed to simulate the natural sunlight, which is essential in regards to the regulation of our sleep-wake cycles,” says Harris. However, heavy sleepers are less likely than light and normal sleepers to wake up to light alone, says Harris—which is why she recommends that heavy sleepers “should look for [sunrise clocks] that also have noise or vibration features in order for it to be more effective.”
✔️ Brain stimulation. For those that need even more stimulation, consider giving your brain some exercise to help it get out of that sleep mode. “Puzzle alarm clocks are really useful, too—ones that won’t turn off until you solve a puzzle,” Harris says, noting that this is a popular available option for smartphone apps.
✔️ No-snooze function. Heavy sleepers may struggle to get out of bed because they keep hitting the snooze button—why is why an alarm clock with no snooze function can help ensure that you actually wake up and don’t just go back to sleep.
“Being a deep or heavy sleeper can stem from a few different factors including genetics, lifestyle habits, sleep deprivation, and undiagnosed sleep disorders,” explains Harris. Some people may struggle to wake up to a typical alarm clock just because they’re more tolerant of noises. However, if you’re consistently unable to wake up to alarm clocks, it may warrant a visit to a doctor or a sleep expert. “You may not be getting enough quality sleep at night and should practice better sleep hygiene, or you may be suffering from an undiagnosed sleep disorder and should contact your doctor,” says Harris.
Your first step towards better Zs is to try to get more sleep. “If you find yourself sleeping through your alarm, it’s because you more than likely need more sleep,” explains Dr. Bonney. “The optimal amount of sleep is seven to nine hours each night, and it needs to be high quality. If you’re not sure about how you’re sleeping, wearable technology such as the Oura ring or Fitbit can be super helpful.”
She recommends setting the stage for better sleep throughout the day. “It starts in the morning by getting your body’s circadian rhythm in the right pattern. This internal clock responds to light—which signals your body that it’s time to be awake,” she says. “If you’re having trouble falling asleep, a deep dive into sleep hygiene is important—and setting best practices as to how to fall asleep quicker.”
Try dimming the lights to create a darker room to tee the body up for sleep, Dr. Bonney says. “Try to stay away from blue lights (yes this includes your iPad),” she says. “In some cases, certain types of magnesium are also helpful for deep restorative sleep.” If all else fails, try getting a new mattress, like one meant for your sleep position (like swapping for the best mattress for side sleepers). Check-in with your doctor if you continue to experience sleep issues, as Dr. Bonney says medications and health issues may contribute to poor sleep.
We consulted Seema Bonney, M.D., longevity specialist, functional medicine doctor, and sleep doctor for Mattress Firm; Shelby Harris, Psy.D., clinical psychologist, sleep specialist, and author of The Women’s Guide To Overcoming Insomnia for their recommendations regarding getting the best night’s sleep and what to look for in an alarm clock for heavy sleepers. We used their insight and poured through countless user reviews to find the best options.
For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.
Maria Masters is a contributing editor and writer for Everyday Health and What to Expect, and has held positions at Men's Health and Family Circle.
Hannah Jeon is an Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention, where she covers expert-driven commerce content for all things health, beauty, and wellness. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Good Housekeeping, she earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not on the hunt for all the best products online, you can often find her trying out new food spots in New York City or clicking away behind a camera.
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