Set Alarm for 5 am
An alarm pre-set for 5 am. It will ring .
Keep this tab open for the alarm to ring — browsers can't fire sound while a tab is fully closed.
About a 5 am alarm
A 5 am alarm suits early commuters, shift workers heading for airports and anyone fitting exercise before work. It is before dawn for much of the year, so a lamp or a sunrise-style light helps. Because it falls exactly on the hour, this alarm lines up with the pips on BBC radio and with most train and bus departures, which makes it the easiest time to remember and to coordinate with other people. It is also the time most calendar reminders default to, so it rarely clashes with a meeting that starts on the half hour.
In London the sun is already up at 5 am in June and July. It is still dark, or already dark, at that time in January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November and December.
When to go to bed for a 5 am alarm
Sleep runs in roughly 90-minute cycles, and waking at the end of one tends to feel easier. These bedtimes include about 15 minutes to fall asleep.
- Bed at 19:45 for 6 cycles (9 hours of sleep)
- Bed at 21:15 for 5 cycles (7.5 hours of sleep)
- Bed at 22:45 for 4 cycles (6 hours of sleep)
Frequently asked questions
What time should I go to bed to wake at 5 am?
Allowing about 15 minutes to fall asleep, bedtimes of 19:45 (9 hours), 21:15 (7.5 hours) or 22:45 (6 hours) line up with 90-minute sleep cycles.
Will the alarm ring if I close the tab?
No. Keep this tab open, in the background is fine, and turn the volume up. The alarm uses your device's own clock.