How to Know What’s an Ideal Room Temperature for Sleeping

Because most people spend about one-third of their life asleep in bed, the ideal room temperature for sleeping is an important statistic. First, it should be conducive to falling asleep. Then, the ideal room temperature for sleeping should also allow you to sleep comfortably through the night and awaken thoroughly refreshed. Knowing your temperature preference is helpful so you can accurately program your HVAC thermostat to provide consistent comfort throughout the night.

What You Need to Know About Sleeping Temperatures

Here are some relevant facts about the optimum temperature for sleep:

The ideal room temperature for sleeping differs from what most people prefer during waking hours. That’s because your body temperature naturally drops during sleep, usually declining one or two degrees. A temperature level that might feel a bit chilly while you’re awake is usually beneficial for sleeping.

Setting the ideal room temperature for sleeping also requires taking into account the specific needs of occupants:

• Comfortable sleeping temperatures vary according to age group.
• The best temperature range for children and adults is 68 to 72 degrees.
• Infants should be a bit lower: in the range of 65 to 70 degrees.
• Elderly persons generally require a setting somewhere in a wider range: between 65 and 78 degrees, with the precise room temperature depending on specific health issues and/or medications.

Humidity Matters Too

Because the humidity level in the air affects perception of temperature, maintaining indoor humidity within a proper range is also conducive to a good night’s sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends a relative humidity range of 30% to 50%. If the outdoor humidity in your local climate frequently exceeds that range, such as here in Northeast Ohio, installing a whole-house dehumidifier in your HVAC ductwork can help promote better sleep, as well as enhance indoor comfort during waking hours.

For more about setting and maintaining the ideal room temperature for sleeping, contact the indoor-comfort professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.