travel uv lamp

The Best UV Sanitizers to Keep Phones, Surfaces, and Rooms Clean

UV light is one of the most effective and convenient ways to sanitize phones, surfaces, and even whole rooms—although they do carry some risks.

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UV sanitizers use a particularly damaging band of ultraviolet radiation known as “UV-C” to kill germs, including both viruses and bacteria. According to some research , UVC may even be effective at killing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. But not all UV sanitizers are alike—they vary greatly in design, cost, and function. So let’s take a look at 10 of the best UV sanitizers available.

What to Consider

While UV lights are known to be effective at killing germs, they come with some risks you should know about. The FDA warns , for example, that direct UVC exposure to skin and eyes can cause burn-like skin reactions and eye injuries—so don’t look into or expose yourself to the light! Some UVC sanitizers also contain or generate noxious compounds like ozone and mercury, so if the sanitizer breaks it should be immediately disposed of. Ozone, while harmful, is used in the sanitation process of some UV lamps, so operation of these products should always be carried out remotely in another room.

Warnings aside, the majority of UV sanitizers work very well at killing germs. Most are wands, lamps, or cases; you either bathe the device you want to sanitize in the emitted UV light, or you place it in a case to soak up those rays. While cases keep light enclosed and safe from human exposure, they cannot be used to disinfect surfaces. Lamps and wands, on the other hand, run the risk of direct exposure—and, in some cases, ozone exposure—but they can be used to disinfect a wide variety of surfaces and materials.

With all sanitizers, the effectiveness depends on the dose and duration of the UV radiation administered.

How We Selected

We combed through countless user reviews, product specs, and scientific research to identify 10 of the best UV sanitizers around. We did not seek out a specific type of UV sanitizer, and instead sought to provide a balanced mix of cases, wands, and lamps. Because some of these products run with greater health hazards than others, we made sure to point out those risks where appropriate.

The COVID-19 pandemic drove a surge in demand for disinfectants and sanitizing devices, resulting in an impressive range of nifty perks and capabilities. For example, some UV sanitizers include built-in chargers and timers, while others are capable of disinfecting water. In making our picks, we tried to offer a balance of options to suit the full range of needs people may have.

PhoneSoap HomeSoap UV Sanitizer

It’s easy to imagine a situation where, having completely sanitized your phone, you find yourself wanting to disinfect other household items, such as keys, utensils, credit cards, baby bottles, TV remotes, toys, and tablets. The HomeSoap UV Sanitizer can handle all of that and more with complete 360° UVC light penetration.

With an interior spacious enough to sanitize an Apple iPad, the HomeSoap is a fully capable tool for keeping your home (mostly) free of germs. It’s certainly not cheap, but users credit its stylish design and lasting performance.

Some people have also complained about a metallic odor that gets emitted when in use, but in all, it’s still one of the most highly praised and reviewed UV sanitizers around.

VANELC VANELC UV Light Sanitizer Wand

The chief appeal of UV sanitizing wands is that they’re mobile; you can simply wave the device over a surface or item to sanitize it. The Vanelc UV Light Sanitizer Wand is among the best reviewed and most popular wands available. It emits UVC light and claims to be able to sanitize 99.99 percent of germs within eight seconds. Conveniently, it also includes a USB-C charger.

As you might expect, UV sterilizer wands run with higher health risks than cases, as the emitted light can irritate or damage exposed eyes or skin. It’s recommended that you keep the wand away from children, avoid touching your skin or eyes while in use, and avoid any long-term exposure.

Tool Klean Tool Klean UVC Tabletop Room Sanitizer

If you’re looking for a whole room sanitizing solution, you might consider a UV sanitizer lamp. Just like sanitizing wands, tabletop UV emitters bathe an area in UVC light. That means no humans or pets can be present while the lamp is in operation! (The delay timer helps toward that end.)

The lamp design allows for a more seamless and hands-free experience, allowing you to disinfect whole rooms in 15 minutes. It’s a good solution for salons, medical offices, or other public environments with lots of germs coming and going. One bit of warning: User reviews warn that indoor plants don’t fare well under the Tool Klean’s harmful rays, which makes sense.

Munchkin Munchkin Portable UV Sterilizer and Sanitizer Box

Smartphones are not the only everyday items in need of occasional cleaning. Pacifiers, toys, baby bottle nipples, and other common baby items often run a direct line from germ to mouth with no intervention. The Munchkin Portable Sterilizer is designed to safely sanitize all those baby items in less than a minute.

User reviews praise the compact, child-safe design and long lifespan. However, many people were quick to complain about how the device is powered. While it can plug into a wall socket via USB, it requires AA batteries for on-the-go use. Not a bad trade for $20.

Black Magic 3D Black Magic 3D Germicidal UV Sanitizer Light Bulb

Another highly effective but potentially risky solution, the Germicidal UV Sanitizer Light Bulb is designed to plug into any light socket for disinfecting large rooms. Like the tabletop lamp, the UV Sanitizer Light Bulb emits UVC light and is meant to operate with no humans or animals in the room.

The lightbulb design means it’s a lot cheaper than tabletop UV lamps, but also more rudimentary. The bulb has no delay timer, so it’s best to install it in a lamp with a timer or in a light fixture with an outside wall switch. (You could also remotely control it via a circuit breaker.) The bulb also emits ozone, which is meant to disinfect areas that the light cannot reach.

Clearly, this sanitizer bulb from Black Magic 3D is fit for people who know what they’re doing.

CrazyCap CrazyCap 2.0 UV Water Purifier

When you’re in the great outdoors, water is always a concern. To properly sanitize water collected from natural sources you either need to boil it, filter it, or sanitize it with purification tablets—sometimes all three. Another option is to sanitize it with UVC light.

The CrazyCap 2.0 is a basic water bottle with a UV light in the cap. When screwed on and activated, the light can kill 99.9% of germs that may be lurking in your water in only a minute. It’s also insulated and BPA-free, making it a fresh and healthy container for water on trips to the outdoors. That being said, as a battery-powered device, you wouldn’t want to rely on this thing as your only means of disinfecting water in the wild.

PROALLER Proaller UV Germicidal Lamp

UV sanitizer lamps may offer the whole-room disinfecting solution you’re looking for, but maybe you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars for the privilege. This 36-watt UVC lamp with ozone is just $40 and can disinfect a full 360-degree area. It includes a timer switch with remote control, allowing you to operate the lamp safely out of sight.

The ozone smell may prove irritating, but the lamp is designed to work with the ozone to disinfect areas of a room not reached by UV light. Again, that means not entering the room for perhaps an hour or more after sanitation. Some user reviews complain about the lamp having a short lifespan, but that’s a risk you always run with products this cheap.

Homedics HoMedics UV Clean Sanitizer Bag

Bring your UV sanitizer on the go with the HoMedics UV Clean Sanitizer Bag. This secured, zipper bag allows you to sanitize all kinds of handheld and pocket items with the efficacy of a tabletop UV lamp. It uses UVC light to kill 99.9% of germs, and can complete a disinfecting cycle in less than a minute.

The HoMedics bag is ideal for travel or anyone who has a need for a more on-the-go sanitation solution. It’s small enough to fit in a backpack or handbag, but large enough to fit smartphones, keys, wallets, eyeglasses, baby bottles, and other common items inside of it. There are a lot of user reviews complaining about the HoMedics bag’s effectiveness, so consider those claims as you will.

PhoneSoap PhoneSoap 3 UV Cell Phone Sanitizer and Universal Cell Phone Charger

Another compact, portable option for smartphones, the PhoneSoap 3 adds charging capabilities to a familiar UV sanitation package. Although the case is designed to fit most smartphones, anything smaller can also be placed inside and disinfected, such as keys, credit cards, watches, and headphones. The USB and USB-C ports provide extra convenience with universal charging capabilities, and it comes in six different colors.

For all its convenience, however, the PhoneSoap 3 has quite a few user reviews complaining about longevity. The sanitizer is not exactly cheap, so those reviews may be worth thinking about.

SAMSUNG Samsung Electronics Samsung Qi Wireless Charger and UV Sanitizer

If you’re in the market for a phone sanitizer but want to spend less than the PhoneSoap 3, check out this cheaper phone sanitizer. It also includes full UVC disinfecting but costs about half the price. The magnetic cover helps protect your items while secured inside, and operation usually only takes about 10 minutes. That’s a bit longer than some competing models, but not likely to ruin your day.

The sanitizer also offers USB and Qi wireless charging, making it a viable universal phone charger as well as a sanitizing tool.

Once again, long-term reliability with this sanitizer is questionable, especially when you consider it’s not an official Samsung product. It is merely brand-licensed by Samsung, and some user reviews bear out that warning.

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10 Best UV Sanitizing Wands in 2024

Written by Hayley Ianna

Updated - November 14th, 2023

When proper hygiene and cleanliness are of utmost importance in recent months, it is imperative to continue keeping everything around us clean, thanks to a worldwide pandemic. It isn’t always enough to just clean tables, packages, and our electronics with a rag but to sterilize them further, killing viruses and bacteria alike.

CleanPod UVC Sterilizer

• Chemical-free
• Eco-friendly
• Portable design
• Can kill up to 99.9% of bacteria and other pathogens
• Lack of auto-off function

59S UV Light Sanitizer Wand

Premium Pick

• Powered by 20 V UVC LED lights
• No water or chemicals needed
• Portable and easy to use
• Lightweight
• Automatic shut off sensor

Suncatcher UV Sanitizing Wand

• EPA and FDA registered
• FCC and CE approved
• It kills up to 99.9% of viruses, germs, bacteria, and allergens
• Battery operated

Best UV Sanitizing Wands

1. our pick: cleanpod uvc sterilizer, uvc steriliser in action.

Have you been searching for a portable sterilizing wand to take with you on the go? The CleanPod is a perfect choice that works a charm any day. The CleanPod has high-energy ultraviolet lights that come from specialized LED’s that have the ability to kill up to 99.9% of bacteria on your possessions.

The lights are also able to eliminate other pathogens that may be present on items. The lights are able to effectively clean germs and bacteria off any surface within 30 seconds without a release of chemicals, taking away the frustration of residue on your belongings like other forms of sanitization.

Features of the CleanPod UVC Sterilizer Wand include;

• It is chemical-free which is unlike other disinfectants on the market, there will be no residue left behind when used.
• The CleanPod is an eco-friendly alternative to other forms of disinfectants like disposable wipes or spray bottles that end up in landfills and cause a higher pollution problem.
• Sterilizer wands tended to be bulky until more sophisticated and sleek designs came onto the market like the CleanPod. It is a slim and easy to handle device.

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Easy to use and quick power up time

2. Premium Pick: 59S UV Light Sanitizer Wand

Learn about the 59s wand.

During the global pandemic, have you been looking for a better way to effectively clean items and surfaces free of unwanted bacteria and viruses? The 59S UV Sanitizer Wand is a great way to meet this desire. The automatic shut off feature to this sanitizer wand makes it the ideal portable sanitizer wand for home, the office and travel with the fold over portion to hide the LED lights.

The automatic shut off is also a great feature if you have little kids around, as they are unable to operate it. Other sanitizing wands have been found to be heavier to hold and carry around with you, however, the 59S is a lightweight model which makes it the ideal portable option while also being made of durable materials for everyday use.

This premium UV Sterilizer wand has many benefits for everyone;

• The 59S has a one button child lock feature that keeps your sanitizer wand safe from little hands that tend to reach and try to grab everything. Keeping your little ones safe if they tried to open it and stare into the bright cleansing lights.
• The slim design of the 59S makes it easy to clean any surface from your laptop and keyboards to mugs, bathrooms, remote controls and more.
• Instead of other wands where you need to hold it over a surface for 30 seconds or more, the 59S simply needs to be swiped over five times to clear up to 99.9% of germs.

Portable design for quick use

3. Best Value: Suncatcher UV Sanitizing Wand

Behold the suncatcher uv sanitizer wand.

Are you sick and tired of holding large and outlandish sanitizing wands just to keep your space free of bacteria and germs? The Suncatcher UV Sanitizing Wand is an option that removes that big and bulky feeling of old sanitizing wands. With its compact and professional style, it is a portable wand that looks sleek while also killing up to 99.9% of germs, allergens, bacteria and viruses.

There are some fabulous benefits to the Suncatcher UV Sanitizing Wand that make it an ideal budget choice;

• Using ultraviolet LED lights that kill germs and viruses, you can rest assured knowing that foreign items entering your home are cleaned and protected before you even touch them.
• The Suncatcher UV is EPA and FDA registered as well as FCC and CE approved making it one that is classified as a true sanitizing wand.
• The Suncatcher UV is a battery-operated sanitizing wand as opposed to a rechargeable one, however the charge does still last for a long time before a change of battery is required.

Compact and professional-looking UV sanitizing wand

4. Feeke UV Light Sanitizer Wand

Observe the feeke uv wand.

Are you finding other sanitizing wands too big and bulky to be carrying around? The Feeke UV Light Sanitizing Wand is a smaller option if you are searching for something more compact. With the ability to disinfect quickly by simply swiping the wand across the surface, the lights eradicate the bacteria and the viruses found on the surface.

There are some desirable benefits to the Feeke UV Light Sanitizing Wand;

• With rechargeable batteries, you can rest assured that you can continuously keep your workspace clean from germs day in and day out.
• There is no automated turn off function like other wands, however your batteries are rechargeable which means if you accidentally leave it on, you won’t run the batteries out.
• The Feeke UV Light Sanitizing Wand can be used on all surfaces such as keyboards, laptops, work desks or packages entering your home so you don’t have to worry if it can or can’t be used on a surface.

Portable and lightweight design

• Disinfect quickly and effectively
• Small in size
• No automated turn-off function

5. Sharper Image TrueUV Light Sanitizer

Clean your home with the sharper image.

Are you wanting a portable sterilizing wand? One that can shrink and fit into tiny spaces like a tiny purse or your back pocket in a quick hurry? The Sharper Image TrueUV Light Sanitizer is ideal for those who are searching for ease and efficiency. Not only does the Sharper Image truly clean and sanitize the area around you, but it is also an efficient and protective item.

There are many benefits as to why the Sharper Image is to be the best sanitizing wand for you;

• This is the perfect sanitizing wand for travel. Many are small and can fit in your bag yes, however the Sharper Image sanitizing wand folds over. Hiding the UV lights and sliding into small sections of your bags, taking up little to no space.
• There is an automatic safety feature to the Sharper Image, as when the sanitizing wand is facing upwards it will automatically power down, removing the fear of damaging your eyes from UV lights.
• The UV lights work to destroy the DNA of bacteria and viruses before germs themselves begin to produce and scatter all over your times. There are no chemicals involved to the Sharper Image so the wand will simply clean and not damage your belongings or surfaces you plan to clean.

Compact and chemical-free

• Automatic safety function
• No residue left behind
• Weaker design model in comparison to others on the market

6. The Germ Reaper – Ultraviolet Light Sanitizer

Kill germs with the germ reaper.

For a sanitizing wand that can work on surgical masks and our areas around us, the Germ Reaper is a great option. We are constantly trying to find other ways to sanitize the toughest and trickiest of areas to maintain our cleanliness. Sanitizing wands take cleaning to a whole new level and the Germ Reaper is just another addition to making the world clean again.

There are many amazing ways that Germ Reaper is a new way to keep your home and other places as clean as they can be;

• The Germ Reaper can work on facial masks as that is something we are constantly having to wear in different circumstances these days. Between deep cleans the Germ Reaper can keep it protected.
• It is easy to travel with this sanitizing wand as it can easily be carried in your purse, luggage or a briefcase.
• The Germ Reaper not only cleans the surface and destroys drug-resistant bacteria but it can also remove foul smelling odors that would otherwise take a long time to remove.

Excellent for pandemic season

• Works on masks
• Easy to use
• Not a compact design

7. Wodesid Portable LED Light Wand

Convenient clean with wodesid portable led light wand.

For a quick and effective sanitizing wand that can kill bacteria and germs from different surfaces, the Wodesid Portable LED Light Wand is a fantastic choice. Within ten seconds, the Wodesid sanitizing wand will remove bacteria and germs from your surfaces. It is an easy way to maintain a level of cleanliness around you and within your own home.

There are many benefits to owning one of these handheld sanitizing wands;

• Being a handheld UV light cleaner, it is a convenient design for the user to hold the wand with nothing but ease while being able to clean anything from your work desk to cutlery.
• The Wodesid Portable LED Light Wand comes with easy to follow directions which makes it easy to set up and clean within a moments notice.
• UV Light is not only a fascinating way to clean your home, but they are also a safer way, as wipes and sprays still can risk the germs and bacteria on our hands being smeared all over the counter tops or our belongings, UV Light wands don’t use our hands to clean and therefore there is nothing in between the surface and the cleaner.

Able to sanitize a wide variety of items and surfaces

• Easy to follow directions
• Bright light can be potentially damaging

8. Gakus UV Light Sanitizer Wand

Take a look at the gakus uv light.

Many of us are getting sick and tired of the residue that comes with cleaning and protecting ourselves from harmful germs and bacteria. Chemicals can ruin and damage our surfaces and the materials of our belongings if we clean them too much, but what if there was a way to change that? Something like the Gakus UV Light Sanitizer Wand can take that frustration away while also keeping our belongings clean. The removal of chemicals from our cleaners while also producing the same level of cleanliness is ideal.

The UV light is a great way to clean but there are many reasons as to why the Gakus UV Light Sanitizer Wand is a the choice sanitizing wand for you;

• With its portable aspect, you can protect both your home and public places you frequent both quickly and effectively.
• The UV Sterilizer can clean many different products and places such as your cosmetics which are known to harbour unwanted bacterias and allergens, your bathrooms, countertops, smart devices and well used areas of your car.
• With its easy to hold size as well as the wrist strap attached to the base of the Gakus UV Light Sanitizer to keep it safe when you are walking about, you will find it even easier to use.

Travel-sized and perfect to move around with

• Advanced UV-C light technology
• Proven effective

9. HISAN UV Light Sanitizer

An easy clean with the hisan.

Do you need to make certain that your surfaces are free of bacteria and germs? We all know that it is of high importance, especially now and with the HISAN UV Light Sanitizer, we now have a viable option to keep our space clean and sanitized to the best of our ability. This singular device can be taken anywhere in your home as well as in frequented public places.

There are many reasons as to why the HISAN UV Light is an option for many people when looking for a sanitizing wand;

• There is a child lock inbuilt to the sanitizing wand so then little hands won’t start using it unsafely as well as their eyes will be protected from harsh UVC lights.
• The HISAN UV Light sterilizes up to 99.9% of all germs, viruses and bacterias.
• The HISAN UV Light is a rechargeable sanitizing wand that comes with an easy to use USB charging cable that can plug into any USB outlet that you already own so there are no extra parts needed.

Rechargeable and portable for everyday use

• Automatic timer
• Child lockable
• Intense light may be damaging on some surfaces

10. Leadlife UV Light Sanitizer Travel Wand

Travel clean with the leadlife.

Have you found that you want to clean your areas in an easier more time efficient manner? It has been proven the ultraviolet light can sanitize and cleanse the area of harmful bacteria and germs and eliminate viruses. The Leadlife UV Light Sanitizer Travel Wand is an ideal purchase for those who like to keep their spaces free of germs.

The Leadlife Sanitizer Wand is a smart choice for someone who is looking to stay safe and protected on the go thanks to its many benefits;

• The Leadlife sanitizer wand has lights spaciously spread out to clean large surface areas while also being a compact size that can be transported from home to work.
• It is a portable design meaning that you can take it wherever you want, whether it is hard to reach places in your home, or at your office building where desks and work areas are shared.
• Some have found the wand to be too light for their liking, others love the fact that the light design doesn’t weigh down their bags which could make it difficult to travel with.

Latest cleaning technology in a handheld device

• Compact and portable

Rechargeable

• Customers feel it’s too light

Buying Guide

In buying sanitizing wands, you want to make sure that it fits well within your budget both in the short and long term. Some of these wands are battery-operated, and some are rechargeable. Others are too large to travel, and others are perfectly portable. It is necessary to recognize your needs.

When searching for a sanitizing wand that is a perfect all-rounder, you want one that is portable. Rechargeable with a USB cable is ideal for travel and office use, making it easy to keep running on the go. Sanitizing wands like the Hisan Sanitizing Wand, Sharper Image TrueUV Light Sanitizer, and the 59S UV Light Sanitizer Wand are rechargeable so they can be constantly used.

Portability

Traveling with your sanitizing wand is possible if you purchase a wand of the right size. Some of them are larger than others, and others fit in your handbag if you want to go to work or travel with your wand to keep your space clean. The Feeke UV Light Sanitizer Wand, Leadlife UV Light Sanitizer Travel Wand and the Ultrawand UV Light Sanitizer Wand are all portable sanitizing wands perfect for travel.

With the quick rate that viruses, not only COVID-19, spread and circulate it is imperative that we stay clean, protected and efficient. Sanitizing wands in my opinion take cleaning and bacteria elimination to a whole new level. Being able to use them to clean my packages from months of online shopping before it enters my home, to keeping my work space clean after eating, drinking and working. It is important in times like these to stay as safe and protected as possible and sanitizing wands only help to enhance your own protection against bacteria and viruses.

What is a UV Sanitizer Wand?

UV sanitizer wands are long sticks fitted with ultraviolet lights that kill germs and viruses on surfaces such as phones, tables, and even the masks that we are mandated to wear during the pandemic.

How do sanitizer wands work?

Turning the lights on, you simply need to wave the wand over the item you plan to sanitize. Whether it be your phone, tablet, masks, or packages from online shopping, the UV light will eliminate 99% of bacteria on the surface, resulting in a clean item.

Are sanitizing wands necessary during this pandemic?

If you are searching for a different way to sanitize items in your home or traveling, keep up with the best possible hygiene tools. As COVID-19 is sensitive to high ultraviolet light and proper hygiene and cleanliness, it helps reduce the virus’s spread. Sanitizing wands can be considered necessary to those who feel they need an extra layer of protection.

Hayley is one of the most respected woman tech editors in Australia. She is a professional and creative writer from Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria.

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The Best Light Therapy Lamp

By Kit Dillon , Anna Perling and Nancy Redd

Shifts in the number of daylight hours—due to changing seasons or long-distance travel—can have varying effects on people. For some, limited daylight hours can sap energy. For others, the effects can be more serious. After putting in 33 hours of research—including reading two books and five comprehensive studies on the subject and interviewing one of the scientists who discovered seasonal affective disorder (SAD) —we’ve concluded that the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus is the best light therapy lamp to treat SAD symptoms.

Everything we recommend

Carex Day-Light Classic Plus

The best light therapy lamp.

This light has all of the specs our expert sources recommend, as well as a reasonable price and a generous warranty.

Buying Options

Northern Light Technologies Boxelite

More streamlined, warmer hue.

Of all the larger light therapy lamps we considered, the Boxelite has the most unobtrusive design.

Budget pick

Verilux HappyLight Luxe

Compact design, less powerful.

The compact HappyLight Luxe shines brightly in multiple color temperatures and brightness levels, and it has an automated shutoff feature. It’s the best sub-$100 lamp we’ve considered. However, its light is less powerful than that of our other picks, and it provides 10,000 lux only at a distance of six inches.

What to look for

The more light a lamp can safely deliver, the less time you need to use it. Thirty minutes in front of a 10,000-lux lamp is generally sufficient.

The farther a person can sit from a lamp and still receive the stated 10,000 lux, the easier it is to position.

Although many people might catch a case of the blahs when the weather turns colder and the days get shorter, that’s far different from a clinical case of SAD, which should only be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional . You should use a SAD lamp or light box only under medical supervision, as it is in fact a medical device.

The Carex Day-Light Classic Plus meets all of the criteria necessary to be considered therapeutically effective and safe, and it’s cheaper than many of its competitors. The lamp’s “99.3 percent UV-free” LED light and 10,000-lux light intensity at 12 inches, combined with its large, 15½-by-12½-inch face, mean you won’t have to sit in front of it for more than 30 minutes (the minimum length of time that experts recommend) to experience its physiological benefits. It has a color temperature of 4,000 Kelvin.

If you’re willing to pay a bit more for one of the sleekest large light therapy lamps we looked at, or if our pick is unavailable, we recommend the Northern Light Technologies Boxelite . With a minimalist, rectangular design, the Boxelite is the lamp we’d like to put on our own desks. Its light face is about the same size as that of our top pick (15 by 12 inches), and it provides 10,000 lux of fluorescent, “UV-free” light at 14 inches (two more than our top pick). The Boxelite also has a warmer color temperature (3,500 Kelvin) than our top pick, which may better suit your taste. As with our top pick, you have to sit in front of it for only 30 minutes to benefit. But the Boxelite isn’t adjustable, unlike the Day-Light Classic Plus.

At nearly half the price and a quarter of the size of our top pick, the Verilux HappyLight Luxe provides 10,000 lux of “UV-free” LED light at six inches, according to the manufacturer. Its 9-by-6-inch light surface has three color temperatures to choose from (3,500, 4,250, and 5,000 Kelvin, more choices than on our top pick or our also-great model), and it comes with a useful countdown timer. However, it isn’t position-adjustable like our top pick, and its small overall size and light face mean you may need to get creative with positioning to ensure an effective angle during use. And in a side-by-side comparison using a commercial luxmeter , we found that the HappyLight Luxe’s light appeared less powerful than that of our other two picks.

The research

Why you should trust us, what is seasonal affective disorder (sad), who should (and should not) get this, how light therapy lamps work, how we picked and tested, our pick: carex day-light classic plus, also great: northern light technologies boxelite, budget pick: verilux happylight luxe, another good light therapy lamp, the competition.

We looked at 50 lamps for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and eventually tested 15 top-rated best sellers. We spent a weekend reading Winter Blues by SAD expert Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, and spoke at length with Alfred Lewy , MD, PhD, one of the first doctors to report on SAD in 1980. We also reached out to psychologist Elizabeth Saenger, PhD, who was then the director of education for the Center for Environmental Therapeutics, and Teodor Postolache , PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Additionally, we read through many research papers from the past three decades.

Many people experience some emotional or physical changes with the arrival of new seasons, especially winter: Your mood may swing, your eating habits might shift, and your energy levels may rise or fall. Some people are less able to cope with these changes. SAD is a seasonal pattern of major depressive episodes as diagnosed by a physician according to criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (per DSM -5, SAD is a form of depression called “Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern.”). This diagnosis can be made only by a medical professional.

For many people, seasonal shifts in their mood and energy might be unpleasant or annoying, but they’re fairly simple to manage.

Other people feel the weight of these changes in a more serious manner. Maybe the symptoms aren’t quite severe enough for them to seek a doctor’s opinion, but the effects certainly make it hard to get out of the house in winter. It’s what folks sometimes informally call the winter blues.

A third group experiences these changes so severely that their lives are seriously disrupted. If you have true SAD, the darker months may feel like a physical exhaustion that will never end.

It’s important to note that not everyone experiences SAD symptoms at the same time or in the same way. In Winter Blues , Rosenthal writes, “Just as the degree of seasonal difficulties may vary from one person to the next, so may the timing of the problem. For example, one person may begin to feel SAD symptoms in September, whereas another will feel well until after Christmas.”

Therapeutic light boxes are not the only available treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you think you’re among the roughly 5% in the United States who suffer from SAD , talk to your doctor to figure out your best course of treatment (which might include anything from more time outside to cognitive behavioral therapy or medication).

For most people with only mild seasonal mood disorders, the risk of using a therapy light is relatively minimal; eyestrain and headaches (especially in migraine sufferers) are the most commonly reported side effects. However, people with a history of  bipolar disorder may suffer an exaggerated response while using a light box and should consider this therapy only in close consultation with a physician.

In 1980, Alfred Lewy published the finding from a small study indicating that sufficiently intense artificial light suppressed humans’ nighttime production of melatonin—a hormone linked to the regulation of the sleep cycle. According to interviews with Lewy, prior to that moment there was more or less uniform agreement among medical professionals that artificial light had little to no effect on people’s circadian rhythms. As it turned out, most experiments up to that moment had not used lights bright enough to induce a measurable change in human melatonin or circadian physiology.

“[Dr. Robert] Sack and I realized that humans really don’t have seasonal rhythms like animals do, like breeding and hibernation and reproduction,” Lewy explained over the phone. “We proposed a ‘phase shift hypothesis’ that is still the leading hypothesis for how bright lights treat SAD, which is that in the winter, with the shorter days, most people’s circadian rhythms drift late with the later dawn, out of phase with their natural sleep-wake cycle. It’s like having jet lag for five months. With morning bright-light exposure, those rhythms are pushed back earlier, back into phase with their sleep.”

Today, “bright light therapy is recommended as the first-line option” for the treatment of SAD, according to a 2003 review (PDF) in the journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. Far from being a fringe or “alternative” purported remedy for SAD, light therapy has been clinically shown in many studies to work to alleviate symptoms .

When you’re shopping for a SAD lamp, to ensure that you receive the full therapeutic benefits of the light, there are a few important factors to consider, namely how much light it delivers and how close to the lamp you need to sit for the treatment to be effective.

First, know that the FDA does not test, approve, or regulate light-box devices. As such, you should not use one without a physician’s guidance. We based our picks on research, customer feedback, and product specifications—including optimal sitting distances—provided by manufacturers, as well as conversations with experts who study and prescribe these units.

A light box should deliver between 2,500 and 10,000 lux. A lux is a unit that measures 1 lumen per square meter. The more lux a light delivers, the less time you need to spend positioned in front of it. For most 10,000-lux lights, 30 uninterrupted minutes per day, preferably in the morning , should suffice. “If you’re going to sleep too early and want to stay awake longer, a little bit of light therapy in the afternoon can help mitigate that,” said Teodore Postolache, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

We also looked at how close to each box you need to sit to score the maximum results. Light intensity is subject to the inverse square law , which says that the intensity of light falls off by the square of the distance that you move away from it. For instance, if you are 2 feet away from a light source, you see a fourfold decrease in intensity. The farther away a person is able to sit from a lamp and still receive 10,000 lux for maximum efficacy, the more flexibility they have in terms of what they can be doing and how they can be sitting during treatment. “I insist, absolutely, that any reputable, reliable manufacturer has to tell the consumer what the distance it should be from the eyes to achieve 10,000 lux,” Lewy said. “If a light box doesn’t have that information, I wouldn’t use it.”

The larger the surface of the light box, the better. In Winter Blues , Rosenthal notes that the lights “used in almost all research studies … have an illuminated surface that is at least about one foot square.” For that reason, and the fact that smaller therapeutic lamps have not undergone the same kind of rigorous study that their bigger cousins have received, we strongly recommend light boxes with the largest surfaces. (We do recommend a smaller lamp, the HappyLight Luxe, which we think is a serviceable option if you don’t have the space or budget for one of our larger picks. However, our top pick has a longer track record of efficacy in home and academic use, and in a side-by-side comparison that we performed with a commercial luxmeter, the HappyLight Luxe’s light output did not seem as strong.)

We avoided any lamps that did not have a plastic filter to remove most if not all ultraviolet waves (which are potentially harmful to the eye), and we avoided those with incandescent bulbs, which can build up a lot of heat, as well as models that used blue LEDs, as there’s still some controversy over whether blue light, which is different from blue-enriched white light (PDF) , is harmful to the eyes.

Although many SAD lamps fit the above specifications, we discounted a number of them because of their high price, overly cumbersome design, too-small size, or dubious claims about features like “ion therapy.”

Because we are not qualified or equipped to evaluate SAD lamps for efficacy, we focused instead on how easy they were to use, how much space they took up on a tabletop, and whether they met their stated specs, including their total size and weight, light-face dimensions, cord lengths, and approximate light intensities. In a nonscientific test, we compared lux readings obtained with a commercial luxmeter to check for any significant inconsistencies between stated light intensities and real-world readings.

For this review, we focused on light therapy lamps. We did not consider dawn simulators, sunrise alarm clocks , or so-called light therapy glasses.

The Carex Day-Light Classic Plus has the largest light face of all our picks and an impressive record of efficacy, as reported in customer reviews and academic research alike. At a distance of 12 inches, this lamp projects 10,000 lux of “99.3 percent UV-free” LED light from its 15½-by-12½-inch lamp face, the same amount of lux as all of our other picks provide and the minimum lux that any SAD lamp needs to be therapeutically effective according to the doctors we interviewed. The lamp face mounts to a weighted horseshoe base by way of an adjustable arm. This arm allows you to adjust the lamp’s angle and vertical position, reducing overall glare and increasing the flexibility of where and how you can use the lamp. For instance, you can set up the Day-Light Classic Plus in such a way that it allows you to read a book beneath it while keeping most of your face positioned well within the therapeutic 12-inch range of the lamp face. In contrast, to read in front of lamps that sit directly on a desk, you would need to either place the book upright between you and the lamp, which would shield you from some of the light, or lay the book down in front of you, possibly extending your position outside of the lamp’s therapeutic range.

Assembling the Day-Light Classic Plus is easy and takes less than five minutes. An on/off switch on its side powers the lamp; when switched on, it starts illuminating instantly, in one of two intensities (7,000 or 10,000 lux). Fully extended, the Day-Light Classic Plus is 28½ inches tall. The lamp angle can swing approximately 65 degrees from fully vertical to nearly horizontal, which adds flexibility, though this design makes the entire lamp more cumbersome to move around compared with other lamps we’ve tried.

Compared with the cooler tones of other lamps, the Day-Light Classic Plus emits a pleasant, warm light with a color temperature of 4,000 Kelvin. You can also adjust the intensity, choosing between a high setting (10,000 lux) and a low setting (7,000 lux). Unlike on our also-great pick, this model’s cover, which protects the LED lights, creates an airtight seal, which makes the lamp easier to keep clean. The lamp comes with a standard AWG 6-foot grounded power cord, which is plenty long enough for most people’s needs and interchangeable if it gets lost. That interchangeability also means you can buy a longer AWG cord and use that instead if you need to.

The Day-Light has been used for years by scientists and physicians who study and treat SAD. The Center for Environmental Therapeutics , a nonprofit collective of scientists and clinicians dedicated to research and education about environmental therapies, previously recommended the Day-Light for years. According to psychologist Elizabeth Saenger, who was the CET’s director of education at the time of our interview, it’s the go-to light for many clinical trials that aim to study the effectiveness of light therapy. In October 2017, former CET board member Dorothy K. Sit, MD, and her colleagues used the Day-Light in a study described in an American Journal of Psychiatry paper, “ Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy for Bipolar Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial .” A January 2016 article in New York Magazine also touted the Day-Light Classic Plus, quoting psychiatrist James Phelps’s description of it as the “official research rig.”

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Day-Light Classic Plus is unwieldy and, some would argue, unattractive. The weighted base has a large (12-by-16-inch) footprint, so this lamp is not ideal for smaller spaces. If you don’t like the way it looks, you may prefer the simpler design of our also-great pick or our compact budget pick .

Like any heat-producing device, the lamp should be used in an open, ventilated space (a company spokesperson said to avoid putting it on a desk with a hutch, for example).

Carex’s five-year warranty for the Day-Light Classic Plus does not apply to “use other than for personal, family or household purposes and excludes shipping and handling charges.”

If design is your priority, we like the Northern Light Technologies Boxelite . This lamp is more expensive than our top pick but looks the sharpest on a desk or table. Similar to the Day-Light Classic Plus, the Boxelite provides 10,000 lux at a distance of 14 inches, and it emits light from a 15-by-12-inch face. According to Northern Light Technologies, the light is fully UV-free, a slight enhancement over our top pick’s “99.3% UV-free” claim. The Boxelite provides an even warmer light than the Day-Light Classic Plus, with a 3,500-Kelvin color temperature. The Boxelite is not adjustable, but its slim, basic design helps it look the least obtrusive of the lamps we considered.

An on/off switch at the base powers the lamp. The bulbs take a few seconds to illuminate, but that is normal for fluorescent bulbs. The lamp also comes with a 7-foot cord, the longest of any of our picks.

Our favorite aspect of the Boxelite is its sleek design. The Boxelite has a picture-frame setup, minimal design with few accents, and clean edges. The back of the Boxelite is contained in a single smooth, black panel. It also comes with a seven-year warranty, longer coverage than for our pick. Note, though, that this warranty (PDF) covers everything but the tubes, and the customer is responsible for the shipping costs to send faulty units to Northern Light Technologies.

Our main two issues with the Boxelite are its lack of adjustability and its higher price, although it does come with that seven-year warranty. Also, since the Boxelite’s plastic cover does not feature an airtight seal (unlike on our other two picks), dust and grime easily slip into the hard-to-clean space between the cover and the lights.

In side-by-side comparisons, the light output of the Verilux HappyLight Luxe was significantly lower than that of our other two picks. However, this small lamp is a solid option for newcomers to light therapy who don’t have the space or the budget for our top pick or also-great pick . At less than a foot tall and 7½ inches wide, it also packs easily for travel. The HappyLight Luxe’s 9-by-6-inch light surface still shines brightly, though not as brightly as those on our other, larger picks. According to Verilux, the lamp’s claimed 10,000-lux, “UV-free” light projection is adjustable from 3,500 to 5,000 Kelvin, so you can pick the light warmth that feels best to you.

However, the 10,000-lux is only feasible at a distance of six inches, which is half that of our other picks.

This model also features a countdown timer that lets you set the lamp to stay on for five-minute increments up to an hour; when the timer is done, the lamp shuts off automatically.

The HappyLight Luxe has the appearance and approximate size of a Kindle or a tablet, and unlike our other two picks, it comes with a detachable stand that can also serve as a wall mount. Its small footprint makes it easy to adjust and move around for proper, effective placement and for making sure it is within the company-reported therapeutic 24-inch range of the lamp face, which is twice the distance allowed by our top pick.

Like the cover on the Day-Light Classic Plus, the HappyLight Luxe’s cover, which protects the LED lights, has an airtight seal, so the lamp is easy to keep clean. The HappyLight Luxe comes with a three-year warranty that excludes bulbs and parts, which are covered by only a 60-day warranty. At 67 inches long, the cord on this model is shorter than those of the Day-Light Classic Plus and the Boxelite.

If you dislike the flat, rectangular light surfaces of most SAD lamps: Consider the cylindrical Bright Health 24-Inch Light Therapy Lamp . It emits the same 10,000 lux of 4,000 Kelvin light at a distance of 12 inches and is covered by the same five-year warranty as the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus . Yet it has a smaller overall footprint and feels far less clunky in our living space. “While most devices have a broader surface to reduce glare and increase comfort, the main issue is whether people will use it routinely,” said Dr. Jamie M. Zeitzer , a co-director at Stanford University’s Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences. Some users may find the cylindrical design difficult to look at or to position in a way to get the enhanced light, but “if the cylindrical design makes the user feel better about having it out in the abode, then that’s great.” (The Bright Health lamp also comes in a 14-inch-tall version , but we think most people will find the taller lamp easier to position for maximum efficacy.)

If our top pick is unavailable, or if space is a concern, consider the Carex Day-Light Sky , which is a slightly smaller version of the Day-Light Classic Plus. Both have a long neck and swivel head for custom positioning. The Day-Light Sky’s base is teal.

For smaller spaces, Carex's TheraLite Aura is a serviceable budget option with a reported 10,000-lux output at 12 inches. Its overall footprint is less than half the size of our top pick’s; its light surface, in particular, is significantly smaller. This lamp is also less adjustable, allowing only repositioning of the light surface’s upward/downward angle (you cannot change the height). The smaller size and reduced adjustability limit your positioning options.

The compact Carex  TheraLite is less expensive than our budget pick , but it’s nearly half the size. Its 3,000 Kelvin color temperature also isn’t adjustable.

We chose not to test the compact Amazon Basics Light Therapy Lamp (currently unavailable) due to middling reviews.

In 2020, Carex came out with three new TheraLite lamps, all of which reportedly project 10,000 lux of light and have interesting features, but their one-year warranties aren’t competitive with our picks’ longer coverage periods. The Halo includes Qi wireless cell phone charging and six levels of brightness, while the Radiance includes a built-in alarm clock plus Qi wireless cell phone charging and five levels of brightness. The Aura Qi is an updated version of the Aura and includes a built-in alarm clock plus Qi wireless cell phone charging and four levels of brightness. In our tests, however, after 30 minutes of use it became very hot to the touch, reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Verilux HappyLight Full-Size (VT20) is about the same price as our budget pick but lacks a countdown timer.

The Circadian Optics Lumine Light Therapy Lamp is extremely small, with a light surface of only 6 by 6 inches, which makes it difficult to achieve the optimal distance for therapeutic benefit.

Northern Light Technologies’s Boxelite-OS seemed like a promising alternative to the comparatively clinical-looking Carex Day-Light Classic Plus, but we found its two-legged adjustable design unwieldy. We also discovered that the light surface quickly collected dust and put off a considerable amount of heat (including for quite a while after we had switched the light off). The Day-Light Classic Plus, which we tested in a side-by-side comparison with the Boxelite-OS, seemed to produce much less heat when it was on and became cool to the touch just moments after we switched it off. Although both models have rather large footprints, we found it easier to position a laptop beneath the Day-Light Classic Plus than under the Boxelite-OS, especially within a small workspace.

The Aura Daylight Therapy Lamp , which regularly costs more than our top pick , has a streamlined design like our also-great pick ’s with a slightly smaller footprint. Although it’s typically less expensive than the Boxelite, you need to sit much closer to this lamp to receive 10,000 lux of light, the manufacturer says (positioning yourself no more than 8 inches away from the light surface). The Aura Daylight also has a shorter warranty period—two years—than our picks.

The Sphere Gadget Technologies Lightphoria  (currently unavailable), a best seller on Amazon, is too small to provide enough of an illuminated surface.

We dismissed the Travelite and the Luxor , both by Northern Light Technologies, for their smaller light panels and lesser reviews, respectively. The company’s Flamingo lamp, affixed to a 4-foot-tall floor stand, regularly costs more than twice as much as our top pick and almost $100 more than our also-great pick .

Although the Alaska Northern Lights NorthStar 10,000 meets the recommended criteria for a light therapy lamp and has excellent customer reviews, at a typical price of $300 it costs over two times as much as our top pick.

This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.

Raymond W Lam, et al., Efficacy of Bright Light Treatment, Fluoxetine, and the Combination in Patients With Nonseasonal Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial , JAMA Psychiatry , January 1, 2016

Nicole Praschak-Rieder, MD, Matthäus Willeit, MD, Treatment of seasonal affective disorders , Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience , December 1, 2003

Canadian Consensus Group on SAD, Canadian Consensus Guidelines for the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder

CI Eastman, MA Young, LF Fogg, L Liu, PM Meaden, Bright light treatment of winter depression: a placebo-controlled trial. , Archives of General Psychiatry , October 1, 1998

Robert N Golden, et al., The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence , American Journal of Psychiatry , April 1, 2005

Raymond W Lam, et al., The Can-SAD study: a randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of light therapy and fluoxetine in patients with winter seasonal affective disorder , American Journal of Psychiatry , May 1, 2006

Alfred Lewy, MD, PhD, director, Sleep and Mood Disorders Laboratory at Oregon Health & Science University , phone interview

Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, Winter Blues , September 4, 2012

Elizabeth Saenger, PhD, director of education at the Center for Environmental Therapeutics , interview

Teodor Postolache, PhD, professor of psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine , phone interview

Jamie M. Zeitzer, PhD, co-director, Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences , email interview , November 1, 2022

Meet your guides

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

Anna Perling

Anna Perling is a former staff writer covering kitchen gear at Wirecutter. During her time at Wirecutter, she reported on various topics including sports bras, board games, and light bulbs. Previously she wrote food and lifestyle pieces for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines. Anna is a mentor at Girls Write Now and a member of the Online News Association.

Nancy Redd is a senior staff writer covering health and grooming at Wirecutter. She is a GLAAD Award–nominated on-air host and a New York Times best-selling author. Her latest nonfiction book, The Real Body Manual , is a visual health and wellness guide for young adults of all genders. Her other books include Bedtime Bonnet and Pregnancy, OMG!

Further reading

Small Bedroom Ideas: The Best Ways to Maximize Your Tiny Space

by Caroline Biggs

We consulted five design experts and tested gear in a 275-square-foot apartment to find the best multifunctional decor to maximize space in a tiny bedroom.

What to Buy: How Not to Feel Dead Tired This Winter

by Joanne Chen

Many sleep-promoting products don’t actually do much. Here are four expert-approved strategies for improving sleep quality.

I’ve Never Slept Better Than on a Japanese Futon

by Courtney Schley

One of the editors on the Wirecutter sleep team has tested dozens of mattresses, but she still misses her Japanese futon.

The Best Blankets

by Jackie Reeve

These seven good-looking, durable blankets will work for a variety of seasons and styles, on top of the bed or layered with other bedding for extra warmth.

The 17 Best UV Nail Lamps for At-Home Manicures

Take your DIY mani to the next level.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Of all of life’s greatest pains, few come close to the moment you leave the nail salon and smudge your fresh set on the commute home or within the first few days because you opted for regular polish instead of a gel formula. If that’s not enough, it’s an even greater pain watching your costly gel manicure chip day after day before your next monthly session. Luckily, there’s a simple fix for this that’s likely been sitting in your Amazon cart for weeks: UV lamps.

Best for Gel-X Application

Apres omega mini flash cure light.

Best for Flexibility

Klazz led black light lamp with gooseneck & clamp fixtures.

Best for Nail Accessories

Xfzm mini uv led nail lamp for gel nails.

Best for the Busy-Body

Liteland uv gel nail lamp.

Best for Aspiring Nail Artists

Beyond pro rechargeable led lamp volume ii.

Best Splurge

Gelish 18g led nail lamp with comfort cure.

Best for Gel Extensions

Beetles mini nail led lamp with smart sensor.

Best for Travel

Makartt mini uv led nail lamp.

Best for the TikTok Obsessive

Kocecer uv led nail lamp with phone holder.

Best for Comfort

Sunuv 48w uv led nail dryer light for gel nails.

Keep in mind that your hands will be exposed to UV rays, so remember to protect your skin by applying sunscreen and moisturizing hand creams beforehand. Ahead, we consulted customer reviews to find the 17 best UV lamps for at-home manicures. Additionally, we spoke with Molly Romah , lead nail artist at NYC-based spa Chillhouse , and dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara to answer all your pressing questions about at-home nail lamps and how to use them.

Gone are the days of twisting and turning your fingers under a five-hand lamp to ensure every corner is dry. This flash cure light from Apres fits firmly in your hands to give each finger the same time to dry before one last cure under a larger lamp. Small but mighty, this nifty gadget holds up to four hours of charge, which makes it the ultimate gift for a fully booked nail tech.

Weigh t : 0.55 lbs

Battery : Rechargeable

Apres rating : 4.1/5 stars

An Apres reviewer said: “I liked this little light. It’s easy to use and I love that it’s rechargeable and wireless. It makes it more convenient to flash cure without having to maneuver the person’s finger into awkward positions. Always had trouble with air bubbles because of this.”

Klazz LED Black Light Lamp with Gooseneck & Clamp Fixtures

The gooseneck feature on this UV lamp is a godsend for nail technicians who pride themselves on precision, whether for the actual nail itself or nail art.

Weight : 5.3 oz

An Amazon reviewer said: “You can clip this light to any desk/table, and it cures gel nails/tips when you have to hold and do one nail at a time. Super helpful!”

This UV light may be compact, but it cures more than just nails on the go. For those nail artists skilled with embellishments and accessories, this handheld lamp lets you get up close and personal with your nails to keep all rhinestones and charms intact.

Weight : ‎1.44 oz

Battery : AAA

An Amazon reviewer said : “It’s great for fixing any mistakes when you’re on the go or even for travel purposes. I tested it out while doing nail art on one of my tip stand holders, and it was amazing. I could focus on one nail without worrying about plugging in my nail lamp and holding it over my nail tip stand. I love the pink color, too.”

Big enough for both hands—or both feet—this 150-watt lamp has multiple timer modes, a motion sensor, and detachable plates to ensure every inch of your nail will be dried evenly.

Weight : 15.2 oz

Battery : Cord plug-in

An Amazon reviewer said : “Lamp is very lightweight and made a huge difference in how long my at-home gel polish lasts. I can easily get more than two weeks out of a manicure with just a little chipping. The higher wattage is the key!”

A professional-grade UV lamp, Kiara Sky’s 48-watt iteration is powered by LG technology and rechargeable so that you can work for hours without long, tangled cords getting in your way. Plus, the bubble pink packaging elevates any nail station.

Weight : ‎4.55 lbs

An Amazon reviewer said: “This works so much better than my old nail lamp and dries super fast! Looks so pretty and sleek.”

Touted as the “most reliable light ever,” Gelish’s 36-watt UV lamp works best with its Gelish soak-off polishes, but can still deliver fast results in just 60 seconds. Thanks to its Comfort Cure technology, you won’t feel the flash of heat you’ve likely experienced from other UV lamps.

Weight: 3.7 lbs

An Amazon reviewer said: “I’ve had my machine for four years now, and it still works great! I’m a professional nail tech, and I’ll definitely rebuy this machine again.”

If you like to give every nail its own moment, this mini lamp ensures each one is properly and evenly cured, especially for those who prefer gel extensions. A built-in sensor guarantees you don’t have to fiddle with any on/off buttons either.

Weight : 0.25 lbs

An Amazon reviewer said: “This makes it so easy to hold tips in place while curing. I wish I could give it more stars.”

Powered by a USB cable, this UV lamp is compact and portable enough for travel. The battery lasts up to three hours, so you can cure your nails as you watch, pause, and rewind your favorite movie.

Weight : 5.82 oz

An Amazon reviewer said: “What was I doing before this product? This is one of the best things I’ve purchased in a long time. I love that it has a 30-second and a 60-second setting. It’s easy to hold and works fast. I’m so happy.”

If nail art is your thing, try this handy nail lamp complete with a phone stand for watching tutorials. The large display timer makes it easy to keep track of curing while you copy and paint. A powerful 168-watt machine, it also has four timer settings for convenience.

Weight: 1.17 lbs

Battery: Rechargeable

An Amazon reviewer said: “I love this light! It’s large enough to easily fit my whole hand or foot. It has an option to select different time settings, or you can just stick your hand or foot into it and it will turn on automatically, which I love, because who wants to be messing with buttons when your nails are wet? It cures my nails quickly and effectively.”

Thanks to 48W high-power LED beads designed for even and quick gel curing, dry time is a breeze. The large opening allows up to five fingernails or toenails to be dried at once and comes with a pink hand pillow at the top to make polishing more comfortable.

Weight: 2.3 lbs

Battery: Cord plug-in

An Amazon reviewer said: “This light is a great deal! There are different time settings, and the ‘low-heat’ mode actually feels low heat. The padding on the top is a nice extra touch.”

Le Mini Macaron DIY Gel Manicure Kit With LED Nail Dryer Lamp

Is there anything cuter than this mini UV lamp shaped like a macaron? This kit also has a mini gel polish, cuticle stick, nail file, and remover wraps.

Weight : 0.33 lbs

An Amazon reviewer said: “Took this on vacation; this will be in my emergency travel kit for sure. It’s super easy to use; just apply and cure. No mess, and it doesn’t take up any space in luggage. Gel stays on for a couple of weeks, and it’s easy to take off with the acetone wipes and file that come with it.”

Ultra Cure 30 LED Light

Doing your nails means carving out some time for yourself, but that doesn’t mean you want to wait forever for them to dry. Let us introduce you to this 30-watt LED light that’s made to cure all your fingers or toes in 30 seconds.

Weight : 1.98 lbs

An Ulta reviewer said: “I am a beginner nail tech, and this is perfect. It cures extremely well, is easy to carry around, and it’s sleek and stylish, too.”

OPI Dual Cure LED Light UV Gel Nail Polish Curing Lamp

The nail pros at OPI created this 30-watt, salon-favorite lamp using two different light frequencies, a spacious drying chamber, and LG technology. The price tag is worth the professional-grade results.

Weight: 4.4 lbs

A Walmart reviewer said: “My clients love how roomy it is inside, the handle is GREAT for moving and handling purposes, and it looks very professional and clean. Also, there’s ample room for clients to rest on top as I polish.”

CND LED Light Lamp Version 2

Offering a solid 36 watts of power, CND’s sleek nail lamp is a new and improved version that boasts preset controls for each gel manicure step, no-fail bulbs, and acetone resistance. It’s also designed for easy pedicures, thanks to its removable base plates.

Weight : 5 lbs

A Walmart reviewer said: “I’ve used this once along with CND gels. Six days and no lifting. I originally used Gelish with a cheap lamp, and my polish lifted and turned yellow. So far, no lifting. It’s very clear and shiny. I highly recommend.”

OVLUX UV Nail Dryer 72W

Bypass buttons with the automatic sensors of this popular Amazon pick. An extra spacious drying chamber allows both hands to be cured simultaneously by 36 high-power LED bulbs. The box also has nail accessories such as buffing blocks and nail files to create the picture-perfect mani.

Weight: 1.94 lbs

An Amazon reviewer said: “This lamp worked perfectly for my gel fill and gel OPI polish change. I like how it will turn on when you put your hand inside and will stay on for one minute and 20 seconds. It also has the option to use 10, 30, or 60 seconds with the push of a button. It has a nice-sized opening, so I wasn’t worried about messing up my nails (or toenails) when inserting them into the light. It’s not heavy, and the top snaps on or off to make it easy to clean.”

Kepma UV LED Mini Portable Curing Light

Don’t let this mini nail lamp fool you. While you can tote it anywhere thanks to its compact size, the six-watt style can get the job done. Plus, it has three versatile time settings and is incredibly affordable.

Weight : 1.76 oz

An Amazon reviewer said: “This little light is small enough to fit inside my nail polish bag and take on the go. It works beautifully, and there is a timer, so there’s no need to stress whether you’ve left your fingers under the light long enough.”

MelodySusie UV LED Nail Lamp 48W

With a strong 48W light, this lamp also features thoughtful details that’ll make your mani or pedi much easier to complete, including a clear LCD display, four timer settings, and a handy countdown function.

Weight: 13.44 oz

An Amazon reviewer said: “It’s powerful and cures fast yet does not give that burning/hot feeling on my hands. I also like that it has a sensor so you can place both hands at a time, and you don’t have to press anything for the light to turn on.”

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“According to The Skin Cancer Foundation , both LED and UV lamps used for nail grooming emit ultraviolet (UV) light,” says Dr. Gohara . “They primarily are sources of UVA, which is a risk factor for aging and skin cancer. That said, the risk is considered moderate and significantly less than the risk incurred from a tanning booth.”

To help minimize potential risks and protect the skin, Dr. Gohara suggests taking a few precautions. “Keep your skin barrier strong by using gentle cleansers that moisturize as they cleanse,” she says. “I love the Dove Deep Moisture Hand Wash , followed by further strengthening of the skin barrier by using a corresponding lotion (she also recommends Dove’s Sensitive Care Hand Cream ). Also, wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher and apply 20 minutes before your treatment.”

Is UV light necessary for gel nails?

Whether from a UV or LED source, gel nail polish must be cured with UV light. “This light emits UV wavelengths that hit molecules in the gel called photoinitiators, or compounds, that absorb light and convert it into the energy needed to drive the polymerization process,” explains Romah. “When the light from the UV waves bonds with those molecules, it activates them, making the gel cure into a hard plastic.”

Is a LED or UV lamp better for gel nails?

According to Romah, the answer really comes down to personal preference. “When you decide to choose between an LED and UV nail lamp, you should focus not only on your budget, but also on what you want to accomplish,” Romah says. Although typically more expensive, LED lamps cure gel nails faster than UV lamps—which can be a plus if you tend to be impatient or short on time. “LED lamps emit narrower UV wavelengths than UV lamps with higher concentration and more energy,” she explains. “These light-emitting diodes target specific photoinitiators in the gel polish, which enables the gel to cure much faster than UV lamps.”

Also, remember that LED lamps tend to last longer, while the bulbs in UV lamps often need replacing. However, not all gel polishes can be cured by LED lamps. “Salons that use strong gels like UV gel, or hard gels, will likely use UV lamps, which cure all gels,” she says. “UV lamps are also more effective at curing clear gel nails.”

As far as Romah’s favorite type of device? “I like LED lamps better because they dry faster, save time on getting gel manicures done, and last longer,” she says. “But that’s also because I only work with soak gels.”

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Does UV Light Kill Viruses and Germs?

We first heard about the disinfecting powers of UV-C light (ultraviolet light with a wavelength between 200 and 280 nanometers — and the same light that causes sunburn and skin-cell mutation in humans) while talking to certified sex coach Gigi Engle about the best rabbit and bullet vibrators you can buy online. She uses a UV-light sterilization pouch to clean her sex toys of bacteria that could lead to yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis. According to her, UV light is much more convenient than soap and water . “You just need to wipe off your toys and pop them in the pouch and you’re done,” she says.

That made us wonder: If UV light is better than soap at cleaning sex toys , what else might it be useful for cleaning? To find out, we talked to five medical professionals (and one Strategist staffer who swears by her UV-light-blasting water bottle ). Eric Lee, a St. Louis–based physician, says that “UV light, the type used in most common devices on the market to clean household objects, has been shown to be effective in laboratory studies at killing bacteria on computer screens , toothbrushes, and other objects. It has also been shown to affect viruses in similar ways that it affects bacteria .” According to Alex Berezow, a microbiologist and senior editor at Big Think who has written on the topic, “UV light is lethal to bacteria and viruses because of its high frequency that scrambles and damages their nuclear material. When it damages the DNA (or RNA) code of these pathogens, it also triggers lethal mutations that prevent them from reproducing properly.” (As we all protect ourselves from unnecessary coronavirus exposure, we also asked if the existing technology was effective against it. According to Dr. Aaron Glatt, the chair of medicine at  Mount Sinai South Nassau  and a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, “there’s just not enough evidence to say whether [UV light devices] are an effective tool against COVID-19 or not.” Berezow, however, says, considering that “UV light kills everything — bacteria, fungi, viruses — it should kill coronavirus.” What we do know for sure is that it is effective against other viruses like the flu .)

With their advice in mind, we found a number of devices that use UV light to kill a range of dangerous bacteria and viruses from MRSA to E. coli . One of them is a UV-light-emitting robot that quite literally zaps operating rooms clean of all pathogens. Another is a giant UV light wand designed by Boeing to disinfect the insides of airplanes.

Outside of those industrial uses, there are a bunch of portable UV sanitizing boxes, wands, and water bottles that claim to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses on phones, toothbrushes , pacifiers , and a number of other surfaces. We’ve found the best available online and included them below. Note that, while none have been proven to kill the coronavirus, a number of them have been put through rigorous third-party lab testing to support their claims. And just in case we need to say it, UV light should never be used on the skin or any other part of the body. Also, you should be careful not to look at it when using a UV-light device to clean objects or surfaces.

[ Editors’ note: No matter how effective these devices are at killing germs, none of them can replace frequent hand-washing, social distancing, and wearing face masks . ]

Linda Lee, environmental health expert and chief medical affairs and science officer at UV Angel, says UV light and chemicals like bleach or ethanol are equally effective methods for sanitizing surfaces. She suggests using whatever cleansing method is available to you, but points out that, in some situations, UV treatment can be superior. “For instance, chemical treatment might be difficult for a baby’s pacifier, because the way chemicals work, there’s a residual left behind that continues to treat the surface,” she says. So maybe don’t scrub your baby’s pacifier with a Clorox wipe and then hand it right back to them. Another benefit of UV light over wipes or paper towels is that you create less waste. Although Linda Lee has not tested this product, Munchkin claims that it has been put through rigorous testing by an independent lab.

This sanitizer, also made by Munchkin and 59S, is designed to sanitize larger things like kids’ toys, baby bottles, cell phones, or other household items. It takes just five minutes to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses. Plus, it’s lightweight and folds down for easy carrying.

Here’s a similar sanitizer from Coral UV that fits up to four bottles with caps and nipples. And its effectiveness has been tested by an independent laboratory.

The skin in and around your private parts is extra sensitive. So whatever you use to clean your vibrators , butt plugs , and menstrual cups should be gentle and shouldn’t leave a chemical residue. Cleaning sex toys is especially important if they are used by more than one person, says Eric Lee, an ER physician, medical director of several nursing homes, and medical expert for  Invigor Medical . “It is completely appropriate to want to disinfect it thoroughly between uses. A single exposure to certain pathogens during sex can lead to lifelong illness,” he says. Engle uses bVibe’s pouch sterilizer because it’s way less bulky than the bigger boxes like the Uvee Home Play and easier to travel with. “That’s a big plus because I’m international,” she says.

Berezow, Eric Lee, and Linda Lee all agree that UV light is most effective when used to disinfect something that is likely to come into contact with germs from multiple people. So under normal circumstances, or if you’re staying mostly home due to social distancing and not touching anything from outside your personal bubble because of coronavirus, “the germs on your phone are most likely the same germs that are normally found on your hands,” says Berezow. Since most people touch their phones thousands of times a day, killing those germs is rendered pointless once you pick it up and start swiping again. That said, if you leave the house to go grocery shopping, you should be cleaning your phone when you return — preferably before cleaning your hands. You can do that with an alcohol or Clorox wipe, or you can drop your phone in a box like this (though, again, UV light has not yet been proven to kill the coronavirus). And in general, if your baby drops their pacifier on the grocery-store floor or shares a toy with every kid on the playground, disinfecting it with UV light could reduce the spread of germs. This UV sanitizer from 59S can be used to disinfect phones and keys as well as small objects like pacifiers, toys, or even teething rings.

This UV-light sanitizing box fits a phone, keys, or other small objects. Plus it doubles as a wireless charger.

“I think these devices would make more sense in public places,” says Berezow, who strongly believes that industrial UV-light devices could reduce the transmission of diseases on a large scale if used in airplanes, restaurants, and other places where people congregate. “Unfortunately it’s an inconvenience and expensive,” he says. For now, and as an alternative to chemical cleaners, many UV sanitizing wands have been shown to work about as well as a Clorox wipe at killing bacteria and viruses on smooth nonporous surfaces like airplane tray tables or cell phones. After looking into the research around UV wands for the Strategist, Berezow says, “I would say that UV-light wands may be useful as an alternative to chemical cleaners on tabletops or other ‘plain’ surfaces.” But he couldn’t find any information regarding rough services like fabric or hotel bed sheets. Purvi Parikh, an immunologist and allergist with  Allergy & Asthma Network , says that portable devices such as this “are helpful on surfaces and objects such as your phone but should not be used on your skin.” 59s recently came out with this folding UV-light wand that shuts off automatically to protect your eyes when it is turned upside down. According to the manufacturer, its lights have a life span of 10,000 hours, and it can kill up to 99.9 percent of germs on keyboards, desks, sofas, and bathtubs in just three minutes.

During the pandemic Canadian luggage company Monos pivoted from making hard-shell suitcases to this sleek UV-light sterilization wand. Monos is donating a portion of the proceeds from sales to the United Way India COVID-19 National Response Fund.

Like the options above, this portable UV-light wand is designed to kill 99.9 percent of surface bacteria as well as most viruses and mold spores. For best results, the brand recommends holding it two to three inches away from the object you want to sterilize, for at least ten to 20 seconds. It’s also important to note that this wand will not shut off when turned upside down. So you should use caution to not look directly at the light when using it.

There are also several water bottles and bottle caps that harness UV light to kill germs in your water, reducing bad odors and in some cases making the water safer to drink. Strategist associate director of audience development, Stephanie Downes, who is immunodeficient and extra sensitive to bacteria due to her Crohn’s disease, got a Larq water bottle as a gift from her sister after several water bottles with built-in filters didn’t work for her. She says “because of my Crohn’s I can’t drink water from the tap. At home, I have a Berkey filter , but it’s nice to have this with me when I am out of the house so I can pour tap water in, press a button, and make it drinkable.” For a slightly less expensive way to sanitize your water, you can purchase this UV bottle cap that fits most S’well-shaped water bottles.

The rechargeable Katadyn SteriPEN water purifier uses UV-C light to kill 99.9 percent of protozoa (including diarrhea-causing Giardia and Cryptosporidia), bacteria and even viruses. It was designed for backpackers and travelers as a waste-reducing alternative to buying bottled water. The company claims it can sterilize 16 fluid ounces of hot or cold water in less than a minute and 32 ounces in 90 seconds.

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The Best UV Lamps for Nails on Amazon That Dry Polish in Minutes

And they’re all available for under $50

Shop the Best UV Lamps for Nails

MelodySusie

Uv led nail lamp true professional nail dryer.

UV LED Nail Lamp

Gel Nail Polish Kit With UV Light

Gel UV LED Nail Lamp

80W Nail Lamp

Gel UV Nail Lamp

UV LED Nail Dryer

UV Light for Nails Lamp

UV or LED lamps may seem like high-tech, professional-level gadgets accessible only to nail salons, but it’s actually easier than ever to bring these expert-level tools straight to your kitchen or coffee table for less—especially with so many available on Amazon.

From top-rated nail tools designed to dry two hands at a time to more portable options that fold up and fit in your carry-on, we’ve narrowed down the best UV lamps for nails, to dry down your favorite polish in a literal flash.

Related: The Best Nail Drills for Expert-Level Buffing and Shaping

This UV LED lamp features three timer options to choose from to dry polish fast, starting at 30 seconds and laddering up to 90. It also includes an LCD display and removable magnetic tray spacious enough to cure both hands at the same time.

One satisfied customer writes: “I got one of those tiny lamps with a gel starter kit and let me tell you that does not cure the gel properly. Works great no issues. Long cord to plug in easily and having the 90 second timer for a slower full cure is a must. No heat spikes! Finally can do my nails correctly without them breaking in a day.” — Amber

Featuring a near-perfect rating on Amazon and over 46,000 customer reviews, this best-selling nail lamp uses a built-in sensor and adjustable timer to cut down on drying time. And did we mention it’s on rare sale right now for 33 percent off?

One satisfied customer writes: “I’ve been using this UV light to cure my gel nails at home. It’s light, works great and is small enough to store easily. I use gel nail polish and this lamp, I don’t feel the need to go to a salon again! Woohoo.” — Kayla W.

Not only does this versatile kit include a powerful UV lamp, but it also contains a number of nail care tools and essentials. From files, and clippers to a range of gel polish for your base, color, and top coats.

One satisfied customer writes: “The lamp is easy to use, the cord is a good length, there is a good amount of room for you hand, the buttons are simple, overall good. I like the colors in the set. The kit came with some basic, but good, nail tools which include a cuticle pusher, nail file, nail trimmer and a brush to dust dust away. The lamp actually dries your nails (as long as you cure it long enough). I am SO glad I bought this and will definitely be using it a lot and saving money by not going to nail salon!” — Angell

Here’s an option that takes the guesswork out of the number of seconds left for your nails to dry—its built-in LCD touch screen makes it crystal clear. Plus, the lamp also features four preset timers (up to 120 seconds) that make tailoring your curing time simple.

One satisfied customer writes: “I love this product! I was contemplating purchasing a $250 light, but after reading the reviews, I gave this one a shot. I am so happy I did! I used standard gel products, but would also recommend gelish nail hardener, and looks and feels just like my $60 salon nails.” — Mel R.

This powerful device has a voltage of up to 40 watts, and uses a soft light in its drying process to minimize skin tanning. It must also be a hit among Amazon’s nail lovers, since it currently holds over 54,000 customer reviews and a 4.5-star rating.

One satisfied customer writes: “I have had several lamps through the years. This one for the money is by far the best I have purchased on Amazon! Great lamp, easy to use!” — Anonymous

The handle on this UV lamp makes it practically seamless to move from room to room. Plus, it uses a dual light source to dry a wide variety of gel polish—from Shellac to more sculptural gel work.

One satisfied customer writes: “This is a very good lamp. It’s powerful so you spend less time under it to cure nails. I wish I’d seen it and paid attention to wattage before buying like 3 others that aren’t nearly as effective. Great lamp for a great price. Highly recommend!” — Anonymous

Here’s another UV lamp with a handle that uses up to 80 watts of power to dry manicures quickly. It also features a magnetic, removable bottom that makes it easier to clean and more spacious when drying down polish on your toenails, too.

One satisfied customer writes: “This light is amazing! My other one gave out on me so I needed a new one and I’m glad I chose this one, it’s nice and spacious, it’s quick, and the reflective bottom makes sure curing gets all the way through! It’s also super high quality. I recommend it for sure!” — Courtney P.

This streamlined UV lamp turns on with the touch of a button, and uses an automatic sensor to power up when you’re ready to dry. It also has a lower wattage than other devices at 24, which helps minimize potential skin damage.

One satisfied customer writes: “For a ‘cheaper’ UV nail lamp, this is a great option! Small, but big enough for your whole hand, easy to store and use, and has worked well. Thrilled with the value for the price.” — Calie C.

This top-rated drying device can fit in the palm of your hand, and is practically a steal at under $10 ( plus an additional 30 percent off). At just 0.11 pounds, it nicely fits in a tote bag or carry-on, just in case you need a quick mani change while on the go.

One satisfied customer writes: “Small, portable and works great.” — Harmony J.

The domelike design of this lamp contains 39 lamp beads for a salon-worthy finish. It also prevents light from leaking out while you use it, helping to protect your eyes and skin from potential UV damage.

One satisfied customer writes: “ Exactly what I needed. Works great for gel nails.” — Amelia P.

Dry both hands (or feet!) at once with this roomy device that contains 57 LED bulbs that last for up to 50,000 hours—talk about bang for your buck. It even uses infrared sensors to sense your hands and feet, which automatically turn off its curing lights when they’re not in use.

One satisfied customer writes: “This product got here super fast and is so easy to use, I was able to get the ‘fresh out of the nail salon’ look and I’m so happy.” — Shanti

This curved UV lamp automatically activates when it senses your hand or foot, and switches between a regular and lower temperature level if it senses its light is too hot for your skin. And as a bonus, it’s extremely budget-worthy at under $10.

One satisfied customer writes: “Great product. Lightweight, easy to use. I highly recommend.” — Yoshiko L.

Professional Pro 45 LED Nail Light

Here’s a nail light that works in 45 seconds to dry gel polish, using an eight-watt LED bulb that you’ll never have to worry about changing. And since it has a compact design, the powerful tool won’t take up too much real estate on your bathroom counter.

One satisfied customer writes: “I’ve been using this light for over a year now, It works like a charm. I was a little put off when i first received this, taking it out of the box it just felt like a toy, very light weight, it didn’t feel like heavy duty salon style equipment, but it works just as well. I’ve saved so much money by doing my own gel manicures at home, use this machine twice and it’s already paid for itself.” — Anonymous

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UV Light Sanitizer, UV Sanitizer Lamp Portable Travel UV Light Sanitizer Wand for Hotel Household Wardrobe USB Rechargeable Handheld Ultraviolet Light Sanitizer Germ-Killing Function

Purchase options and add-ons, about this item.

• 【Effective Disinfection】: The product with advanced ultraviolet sterilization technology. UV light sanitizer wand can Kill up to 99.99% of Harmful germs in short time .Est:NO.97239-CHN-1.
• 【 Portable 】: UV light Sanitizer is compact at a little over 10" long, lightweight ,its easy to store and carry it anywhere.
• 【Easy to use】: UV sterilizer only needs to be charged for one hour and can be used for five hours, which is more convenient to use. Just turn on the ultraviolet light sanitizer, then you can sterilize the object you think it is dirty.
• 【Wide Application】: UV light sanitizer suitable for home, office, business trip, travel, car.home, hotel,office,school,factory,shop,supermarket,restaurant,pet areas and various places and also can be used for the surface of various objects such as sofa,bed, bathtub,door handle,towel,mobile phone,keyboard,toy,children's articles and personal goods. The UV wand protects form all aspects of our life.
• 【 Rechargeable】: UV light sanitizer with USB rechargeable cable ,only needs to be charged for one hour and can be used for five hours, which is more convenient to us.

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Product information

Technical details, additional information, warranty & support, product details.

• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.39 x 0.01 x 13.78 inches; 7.48 ounces
• Batteries ‏ : ‎ 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ September 10, 2020
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ IXZCV
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08HS1MCJM

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Customer Review: ~ Lightweight, Nice Size, Easy to Use and Control, Comfortable, & Handy. ~

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Customer Review: Works amazingly!

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Product Description

br>Why choose UV sanitizer wand? UV sterilizer light is fresh and clean. It can keep your home and stuff real clean, effectively improve living environment.. Our UV disinfection light use ultraviolet rays to disinfect the air and surfaces around you without any chemicals, residue, odor or pollution, making it very safe to use everyday. The sterilization rate is up to 99%. Convenient portable hand-held design, you can use UV sanitizer light wand to sterilize your personal daily necessities at any time,such as,mask,clothing, tableware, phones, watches,gloves,desks, toilets, bedroom, toys,elevator buttons,hotel, cars, pet area,etc. Specifications Size: 37.5*4*3.5CM Material: ABS Disinfection time:120 seconds will be better Effective sterilization distance:smaller than 1.18inch Package include : 1x UV light Sterilizer 1x USB cable for recharging (Adapter not included) 1x Instruction manual Warming Tips:Please don't use this UV light sanitizer on human body, pets, plants. Don't direct your eyes .

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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the ease of use, cleanliness, portability, quality and performance of the light bulb. They mention that it's a great way to sanitize everything, great for disinfecting paper mail and that it holds a charge well. They are also satisfied with compactness, dimming, and magnetic base.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the light bulb easy to use, convenient, and handy to have ready for use. They also say it's easy to charge and use, and holds a charge well. Some customers also mention that it'll be useful for daily use and is a great product in today's Covid environment.

"...IXZCV UV Light Sanitizer Wand is a nice size and very lightweight for easy use . The controls are comfortable and handy to use...." Read more

"Lightweight, easy to use , and don’t have to worry about damaging devices with a chemical spray! Absolutely worth the purchase!" Read more

" Easy to use in . I use it to sterilize the inside of my shoes. Works well." Read more

"...This device is easy to use , and I look forward to packing it in my luggage when I travel...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the cleanliness of the light bulb. They mention it's a great way to sanitize everything, great for disinfecting paper mail, and easy to keep clean. They also appreciate that it kills germs and helps with peace of mind.

"...Love that this kills germs and helps with peace of mind. May need to pick up a couple more of these!" Read more

"I started using this today to disinfect around the house. I don't see any germs anywhere , so it must be working!..." Read more

"It is exactly what I was looking for. It’s perfect for sanitizing your Grocery bags , groceries shoes inside of my car, leather purse, cell phone or..." Read more

"This product is really good for sanitizing thing in 5 seconds. Just wave it over the spot you want to clean and there you go!..." Read more

Customers find the light bulb easy to carry, charge, and store. They also say it's great for travel, and the hanger on the top makes it easy to store. Customers also mention that it'll kill germs on the go.

"...] This IXZCV UV Light Sanitizer Wand is a nice size and very lightweight for easy use. The controls are comfortable and handy to use...." Read more

" Lightweight , easy to use, and don’t have to worry about damaging devices with a chemical spray! Absolutely worth the purchase!" Read more

"Decent unit. Lightweight and dimmable. More than anything, I appreciated the hanging loop...." Read more

"...I will use it for travel also ; so easy to bring . Rental car and so on. Very clever productI highly recommend it!" Read more

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the light bulb. They mention it's well-built, reliable, and sturdy. Some say it'll make them feel more secure.

"...Other brands charge more but works the same as this product. Seems sturdy and reliable. Compact and easy to use." Read more

"Received item sooner than requested. Quality made , large scan area with LEDs better than bulb. swivel base and hanging loop very handy...." Read more

"...The magnet on the base is very high quality and strong . This is a good buy for the price." Read more

"...Easy to use and well built " Read more

Customers are satisfied with the performance of the light bulb. They mention that it works better than expected, is very effective, and convenient. Some say that it is a great product and a powerful light for the money.

"Easy to use in. I use it to sterilize the inside of my shoes. Works well ." Read more

"... Very effective And convenient. It stays charged and it has a hanger on the top of it it’s easy to store...." Read more

" Works great . The light is dimmable from very low to very bright. The magnet on the base is very high quality and strong...." Read more

" Better than expected . Size, strength, charging magnet base is outstanding. Color indicator is good, changes color when charged." Read more

Customers find the compactness of the light bulb convenient and practical. They also say it's compact enough to use for travel.

"...It's small enough that I can toss it in my purse and my husband can put it in his computer bag and have it available for travel/hotel rooms...." Read more

"...Seems sturdy and reliable. Compact and easy to use." Read more

"...Also compact enough to use for travel . I wish I bought it sooner!" Read more

"Love the convenient practical size of the product...." Read more

Customers like the dimming of the light bulb. They mention that it works great, the light intensity is adjustable, and has a nice UV-B light source. Some say that the light wand has plenty of LED elements and that the bulb strength is adjustable.

"Decent unit. Lightweight and dimmable . More than anything, I appreciated the hanging loop...." Read more

"I love this device. I love that you can control the intensity of the light being emitted . I love the magnet at bottom of the device...." Read more

"This is a nice UV-B light source, USB charging, and has variable output / light intensity ...." Read more

"Light, and easy to use. The bulb strength is adjustable , and I love that it's re-chargeable so that I don't have to deal with batteries...." Read more

Customers like the magnetic base of the light bulb. They mention that the size, strength, and charging magnet base are outstanding. The magnet on the base is very high quality and strong.

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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