Best Temperature for Sleeping: Expert Tips

Here, we’re exploring the best sleeping temperature and how to adjust it to get the good night sleep
By
Romeo Vitelli
Romeo Vitelli
Expert Writer
Received his doctorate in Psychology in 1987, spent fifteen years as a staff psychologist in Millbrook Correctional Centre. In 2003 went into full-time private practice. read more
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Last updated: August 23, 2023
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In this guide, we’re exploring the best sleeping temperature. What is the ideal room temperature for sleeping for a full night, and getting deep and restorative sleep?

You might be surprised just how much of an impact temperature makes. In the summer, you will want to know the best AC temperature for sleeping as you try and get to the point where you are comfortable, and you won’t wake up sweating through the night.

There is also a safety concern when it comes to finding the best temperature for sleeping, especially when it comes to minors.

Why Does Temperature Matter?

A lot of people are looking for the best temperature for baby sleeping. You may have heard that temperature can make a big difference to your child’s health.

It has been shown in studies that temperature can play a part in the tragic sudden infant death syndrome, which is also known as SIDS Trusted Source Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs. www.mayoclinic.org . Babies need a steady temperature, and can benefit from it not being too hot or too cold in the room where they sleep.

You can also easily monitor the temperature of your baby throughout their sleep by checking their neck. The best temperature for baby sleeping is 1-2 degrees above adults, but anywhere between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit tends to be comfy for newborns and other babies.

As we get older, temperature matters for a variety of other reasons.

Sleep cycles make a huge impact on the time we go to sleep, and other factors, but if you sleep in a room that is too hot, it can interfere with your body and the ability to regulate temperature. This is hard work for your body and it also means you feel a lot less comfortable overall. We all know how horrible it can be to try and sleep in a hot room. It’s one of the key aspects of bedroom comfort.

The Optimal Temperature for Sleep

Best Temperature for Sleeping: Expert Tips

Research has shown that for adults, 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit provide the range of sleep for adults, and 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit is the range for babies.

Obviously, it is not just about the temperature in the room, and there are all sorts of other ways to impact your body’s temperature. What you wear to bed is a massive consideration. Certain different materials can be used for your bedding to make it more breathable and easy to sleep, with many people opting for Egyptian cotton for a luxurious, but also cool, feel.

You may find that you experience more comfort at certain temperatures, especially when it comes to getting to sleep. Some people like to get into a cold bed and let their body temperature warm it up. The normal body temperature is higher than room temperature in most scenarios, with around 97-99 degrees being standard Trusted Source What is Normal Body Temperature? Low vs. High, Normal Range Do you know what your temperature should be? Find out what’s too high, too low, and (pretty much) just right. www.webmd.com .

The time it takes to get to sleep varies hugely from one person to the next, and depending on lots of factors, one of which is temperature. Many experts agree Trusted Source This Is the Best Temperature for Sleeping, According to an Expert | Health.com The temperature of your room can have a huge impact on sleep. We asked an expert what the best temperature for sleeping really is. Find out here. www.health.com on the ideal temperature to sleep in, but to actually fall asleep, you might want to try a few different temperatures to see what works for you. If you’re too hot, or too cold, you won’t get adequate rest and advance to the levels of sleep where you are getting proper rest.

In the summer, many people find the best ac temperature for sleeping is around the lower end of the scale. You can opt for anywhere between 60 and 67°F (15.6 and 19.4°C) pretty safely, so there is no harm in going to as low as 16 degrees as the best ac temperature for sleeping in Celsius.

How to Adjust Your Room Temperature

There are many ways to adjust the temperature for sleeping. Of course, you can choose to either impact the full room temperature, or the temperature of your bed itself. We’ve already mentioned that those in a warm room can enjoy cooler materials, such as using latex bedding which is more breathable. This latex topper is a popular choice in a hot room.

Of course, you can use an air conditioner for the utmost of control in the room, or a heating system to the same effect. Adjusting the temperature like this means that you can enjoy the same stable sleeping temperature no matter what time of the year it is. To achieve the best sleeping temperature in the winter, you can opt for a mattress topper or fleece bedding to keep you tucked up warmly at night.

Consider all the factors that come into play when dictating the temperature of the room, including whether you sleep with a partner or on your own, and whether you like to have a window open for a bit of cool air.

If your room is too cool, it is relatively easy to make it warmer by adding heating or even by using blankets and warm clothing and pajamas, as long as you are in a modern house with the option to heat and insulate. Cooling yourself down in a super warm environment can be extremely difficult. To reduce the room temperature, limit the use of electronics in the room throughout the day, ensure a through-breeze, if possible, and introduce a fan or air conditioning unit.

Final Thoughts

While the best temperature for sleeping can vary slightly depending on someone’s age, and we all have our preferences when it comes to bedding and getting to sleep at night, it is fair to say that there are healthy ranges for sleep, between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit tends to be comfy for babies while 60 to 67 is a more suitable range for adults. Within these thresholds you are pretty free to make some choices regarding temperature. Setting up the heating and air conditioning can ensure that you have a stable temperature for sleep and you aren’t battling to get a solid 6-8 hours every night.

References

1.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs.
2.
What is Normal Body Temperature? Low vs. High, Normal Range
Do you know what your temperature should be? Find out what’s too high, too low, and (pretty much) just right.
3.
This Is the Best Temperature for Sleeping, According to an Expert | Health.com
The temperature of your room can have a huge impact on sleep. We asked an expert what the best temperature for sleeping really is. Find out here.
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