The best room temperature for sleep

The best room temperature for sleep

We spend nearly a third of our life sleeping, so it’s important to take sleep seriously! There’s a lot that goes into a quality sleep, from your mattress to your sheets, and your pajamas to your room temperature, it takes a lot of work to get the right conditions. Now we aren’t mattress or pajama experts, but we know comfort! So what is the best room temperature for sleep?

How does room temperature influence sleep?

Your body temperature fluctuates throughout the day. It begins the day low and ends the day high. The average body temperature is roughly 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the night it can lower by as much as 2 degrees Fahrenheit. This is part of what is called your circadian rhythm, the natural processes of your body throughout each day. When your sleep environment is too warm it disrupts the natural cooling of your body.

REM sleep, the most important part of the sleep cycle for feeling rested, can be particularly influenced by a warm room. During REM sleep your body ceases natural functions like temperature regulation through sweating or shivering, leaving you more sensitive to the ambient room temperature. Sleeping in a warm environment will cause you to get less REM sleep, which can make you feel fatigued even after a long night of sleep.

What should your temperature be?

There is a lot of information out there regarding what your thermostat should be set at. However, there does seem to be a general consensus that when sleeping your room should be roughly 65 degrees. If that feels a little off to you, stay within a range of 61-66 degrees instead. Anything outside of this range could lead to disrupted sleep patterns.

Exceptions can always be made to this rule, of course. Infants and the elderly likely need a room to hover around 67 degrees to be comfortable and healthy. Children, teens, and most adults will benefit from staying close to 65 degrees instead.

Need help?

If your room temperature won’t stay within your acceptable range, it could be a problem with your system or thermostat. In this case, a tune-up or repair might help! The expert technicians at Western Heating and Air are always ready to assist.

Give us a call at (385) 273-3200 or visit us at westernheatingair.com for ways that we can give you the comfort you need to sleep soundly tonight!