Best for sitting farther back · Light therapy lamps
Alaska Northern Lights NorthStar 10,000
Full-size fluorescent light box rated 10,000 lux at 24 in, a figure Yale found close to its own measurement. The pick if you want to sit back.
Specs
| Rated output | 10,000 lux at 24 in |
|---|---|
| Lab check | Close to 10,000 lux at 24 in (Yale) |
| Light area | 21.5 x 11 in (Yale) |
| Color temp | 4,100K |
| UV | UV-free bulbs (brand) |
| Flicker | Flicker-free, 25 kHz ballast (brand) |
| LightSource | 2 fluorescent bulbs, CRI 84 |
| Power | 140 W |
| Size | 22.5 x 12.5 x 4.5 in |
| Weight | 10 lb |
| Mounting | Table, wall or optional floor stand; horizontal or vertical |
| Warranty | 7 years, original owner |
| Returns | 60-day money-back trial, free return shipping |
Specs from the manufacturer and the sources listed below. Last verified Oct 20, 2026.
Good
- Rated 10,000 lux at 24 in, and Yale found output close to that
- 21.5 x 11 in light area, about 236 sq in
- Yale names it as a full-size unit it most recommends
- 60-day money-back trial that includes return shipping
- Seven-year warranty
Not so good
- Most expensive pick, $354 on sale against a $487 list price
- Uses fluorescent bulbs, which the brand sells as replacement parts
- Yale advises buying the optional legs for table use
- Heavy and wide at 10 lb and 22.5 in across
The NorthStar 10,000 is a large fluorescent box of the kind Yale’s light therapy group says resembles the devices used in research. Alaska Northern Lights rates it at 10,000 lux from 24 inches, twice the 12 inches most desk-style lamps here are rated at. Yale measured a value close to that claim and names the NorthStar as one of the full-size units it most recommends. In Yale researchers’ 2019 comparison of 24 devices it was device X3, one of 7 that met all three criteria.
Distance changes how a session feels. At two feet there is room for breakfast or a laptop between you and the light. The light area, which Yale measured at 21.5 x 11 inches, is about 236 square inches, so moving your head a few inches does not drop you out of the therapeutic zone.
Inside are two fluorescent bulbs at 4,100K with a CRI of 84, behind a prismatic diffuser. The brand says the bulbs are UV-free and that the 25 kHz electronic ballast runs without flicker. It draws 140 watts, more than the LED picks.
The box can lie flat, stand upright or hang on a wall. It does not tilt toward you on its own, and Yale recommends adding the optional legs for table use so the light comes from slightly above. A floor stand bundle costs more.
At $354 on sale it is the priciest lamp here. What the money buys is the most generous return terms here, a 60-day money-back trial with free return shipping, plus a seven-year warranty. If you sit close and want to spend less, the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus is the better buy.
Sources
Alternatives
- Best overallCarex Day-Light Classic Plus$170
- Northern Light Technologies BOXelite OS$255
- Best for small desksCarex Day-Light Sky$140
- Circadian Optics Langham$225