What is a comfortable indoor temperature in winter?

Author: Savanah Bruen  |  Last update: Monday, April 7, 2025

The U.S. government Department of Energy (DOE) states that people should set their thermostats to 68 degrees F. This is the optimal temperature for keeping a home comfortable. The DOE also informs us that a home's thermostat should be turned down below 68 degrees when a person goes to sleep.

What temperature should indoor room be in winter?

A detailed study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found residents preferred a wintertime heater setting between 67 °F and 70 °F (19 °C to 21 °C). The Department of Energy recommends a winter heat setting of 68 °F (20 °C), which matches up very well with the temperatures most of us are comfortable with.

Is 72 a good temperature for heat in the winter?

While there are occupants in the house, it is advised for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 and 72 degrees to promote maximum comfort. A pleasant temperature for everyone in the house, regardless of the apparel they are wearing, is between 68 and 72 degrees, which is neither too warm nor too cool.

What is the most comfortable room temperature in the winter?

The ideal thermostat temperature in the winter is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home. Energy.gov suggests that 68 degrees is a good room temperature while you're awake at home but recommends lowering it while you're asleep or away.

Is 78 too hot for a house in winter?

Quick answer: The ideal house temperature is room temperature, which ranges from 68 to 78 degrees F, though this may vary from season to season. In winter, the average room temperature is generally 62 to 68 degrees, whereas in the summer, the average temperature is 72 to 78 degrees.

Where should you set your thermostat when the temperatures are cold?

Is 78 too hot for sleeping?

For most people, 75 degrees is too hot to sleep, per the National Sleep Foundation. But the new study found that in people 65 and up, sleep efficiency only started to decrease when temperatures were above 77 degrees.

What is an unhealthy indoor temperature?

It's advisable to keep your home below 80 degrees throughout the summer. A house that's too warm can be dangerous to people, pets, and the soft surfaces in your home. Set the winter temperature to 68 degrees when you're awake and 62 degrees when you're sleeping.

What is the cheapest temperature to keep your house in winter?

To save money, aim to have your temperature set around 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home and awake. This is a comfortable temperature for most with the help of a light sweater. Overnight and when you're out, around 64 degrees Fahrenheit will keep your home at a good temperature.

Is 65 too cold for a house in winter?

The World Health Organization recommends keeping indoor temperatures between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for healthy people. The minimum temperature should be kept above 68 degrees Fahrenheit to protect the very young, the elderly, or people with health problems. Watch out for signs of hypothermia.

Why does my house feel cold at 72?

If you're cold even though your thermostat indicates you shouldn't be, your furnace likely isn't the problem. In most cases, it's working just fine. It's your home that needs attention. Lack of insulation, severe air leakage, and/or unbalanced ductwork are frequently to blame.

Is 76 too high for a thermostat in winter?

In the winter, experts recommend that you set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're home, and 60 to 65 degrees when you're asleep or away. You can set it higher, but that will reduce efficiency and lead to higher energy bills.

What should I set my thermostat to in the winter at night?

The U.S. Department of Energy says an indoor temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night is best. Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature at night may actually help you sleep better. Medical experts know that our body temperature drops at night.

What temperature should my room be in winter?

The NHS recommends the ideal room temperature should be between 18-21°.

What temperature do most people keep their homes in in winter?

In general, the ideal room temperature and your home for both efficiency and comfort fall somewhere between 68° and 76°F. What should the average room temperature be in winter? In the winter, you might choose to keep your thermostat set lower around 68° in order to save energy and dollars on your next heating bill.

What temperature should you keep your house in winter to keep pipes from freezing?

In interior spaces, if pipes are near cracks or openings that let in cold air, they may develop ice blockages even if they are in a heated space. To keep your pipes from freezing and bursting, make sure they are not exposed to temperatures approaching the alert threshold of 20 degrees.

What is the healthiest temperature to keep your house in the winter?

The U.S. government Department of Energy (DOE) states that people should set their thermostats to 68 degrees F. This is the optimal temperature for keeping a home comfortable. The DOE also informs us that a home's thermostat should be turned down below 68 degrees when a person goes to sleep.

Can you get sick from sleeping in a cold room?

Keeping your room too cold can even inhibit your body's ability to fight a cold or flu. Although cold temperatures will not cause you to get sick, it can diminish your body's immune function.

How cold is too cold for humans in house?

As far as the normal hours of the day when everyone is awake and active in the home, we do recommend the WHO's guideline of 64 degrees (F) as a minimum. Being in a house for long periods of time that is constantly chilly can have negative health effects.

What is the coldest you should allow your house to get?

In general, it's recommended to set your thermostat to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This may seem high compared to the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but it'll help keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities – where your plumbing is often located – safely above freezing temperatures.

Is it better to set AC at a constant temperature?

On the one hand, keeping a constant temperature can be more energy-efficient in some cases because your HVAC system doesn't have to work as hard switching between temperatures. However, this approach can also lead to wasted energy if you're heating or cooling your home when no one can enjoy it.

What temperature should I keep my house to save money at night?

Alternate forms of heat can help you lower that temperature for an additional cost and energy savings. Nighttime: “Lower the thermostat setting by a few degrees during the night, ideally around 62°F-65°F,” suggests Roberson.

Is 64 too cold for a house?

But don't take it from us, take it from the World Health Organization: They recommend a temperature of at least 64°… and raising that to at least 70° if there are babies, elderly people, or otherwise immunocompromised people in the home.

What is an unsafe temperature to sleep in?

Sleeping too hot

“Heat is a huge disruptor for REM sleep,” Dr. Drerup says. With the heat of the room, your body temperature will also rise, thus undoing the sleep initiation process entirely. If your bedroom temperature is above 70° F, it's too hot.

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