What is the proper location of a thermostat?

Author: Marcia Trantow II  |  Last update: Monday, October 20, 2025

Best Places To Put Your Thermostat Ideally, your thermostat should sit between 52 and 60 inches above the floor. If your thermostat sits below 52 inches above the floor, it could produce too low readings. Conversely, if it sits above 60 inches, it could have temperature readings that measure high.

Where is the best placement for a thermostat?

The thermostat should be in a neutral area on an interior wall away from doors, windows, and heat sources. Across from the pantry might be the best spot for it. The interior wall near the living room can work, but people gathered in that area will generate heat and through it off and the fireplace will too when in use.

Where is the best place to keep your thermostat?

Location within a room

Heat circulates around rooms naturally, so we'd recommend placing your thermostat in a central position and around 1.5m off the ground for the most balanced view.

How far should a thermostat be from the heater?

Better yet, install your thermostat at least 1 stud away from the heater. Moving a thermostat out of the same wall cavity as a heater will help performance.

What is the height code for thermostats?

(They do not apply to private homes that rent fewer than five rooms.) To ensure that people in wheelchairs can reach and adjust the setpoint without assistance, ADA rules specify thermostat placement to be no higher than 48 inches (121 cm) above the floor (assuming no other obstructions are below it).

Where should a thermostat be? Should a thermostat be in the hallway?

What is the correct height for a room thermostat?

5ft above the floor

Heat rises, so if your thermostat is very high up the wall it will give you an inflated reading and tell your boiler to cool the house down. About 5ft above the floor is the most common place to install your thermostat for an accurate average reading.

Should a thermostat be in a hallway?

Your thermostat should be in an area that your family spends a good amount of time in, and we're guessing your hallway isn't one of those places. This, combined with the fact that hallways can restrict airflow, means that a thermostat in a hallway won't get an accurate reading of your home's temperature.

Does it matter where thermostat is located?

Ideally, you should place your thermostat in a room that you use frequently so your thermostat is reading accurate temperatures. You should also place your thermostat on an interior wall that is unobstructed by household items.

How high can a thermostat go?

Think of your thermostat as similar to your car's speedometer. Your car can go 120-140 mph according to the speedometer. But you shouldn't go that fast under almost any circumstances for safety (and legal) reasons. Your thermostat can go up to 90°F, but you shouldn't push it that far for monetary reasons.

Should a thermostat be near the furnace?

While keeping it near the return will accurately read the temperature of the air returning to your air handler, placing your thermostat too close to the intake grille can cause too much air to move across the sensor and skew the reading.

Can you put a thermostat anywhere?

Whether you're moving a thermostat to another room or just moving it to another wall, there are a few main things you need to consider: Try to install your thermostat near the middle of the room or zone that it is controlling. Avoid putting your thermostat near windows, doors, or on exterior walls.

Should I put my thermostat in the coldest room?

If you put the thermostat in a spot that gets hotter or colder than the rest of your house, a conflict between your thermostat and boiler can arise. Your heating system might end up in a constant battle to keep up, and you'll find yourself constantly fiddling with the settings to feel comfortable.

Where should I keep my thermostat?

Placing a thermostat too close to a heat source, for instance, will likely make your heating less efficient. With that in mind, experts advise keeping your thermostat location away from the following: Direct sunlight. Above air vents.

How much does it cost to relocate a thermostat?

come and move a thermostat it will cost between $200-$400 depending on how long the new wire has to be. The normal labor rates vary per region so it is between $75-$90 dollars per hour and it will probably take all of 2 hours to pull a new wire and rewire and mount the thermostat.

Where is the thermostat located?

Locating the thermostat

In most cars the thermostat is placed under a housing near the water pump on the cylinder head ; the housing is connected directly to the top radiator hose . In a few cars the thermostat is housed near the bottom hose. Test the thermostat quickly by starting the engine from cold.

Is 82 too hot for a house?

In general, 80 degrees is too hot for a house if people are inside. However, if people aren't home during the day or for vacation during the summer, an indoor temperature of 80 degrees can save energy until you return and lower the temperature.

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.

Where to set a thermostat in summer?

You want to keep your home cool, but also want to keep control of your electricity bills. Keeping in mind both energy efficiency and comfort, the best thermostat settings for summer are 76° when you are home, 80-85° when you are away and 72° at night.

Where should you not install a thermostat?

For example, you'll want to avoid installing your thermostat near windows or doors, or by heat sources or in direct sunlight. You'll also want to avoid putting lamps or TVs near your thermostat, since they release heat that could impact the device settings, according to the US Department of Energy.

Where is the ideal thermostat placement?

The main area in your home is also best for thermostat placement as long as it's on an interior wall. Excellent airflow circulation is necessary to aid thermostats in accurate temperature readings. Placing your thermostat in a tight, cramped space allows hot or cold air to build up and create an incorrect reading.

Can a thermostat be installed incorrectly?

Upside down and backwards thermostats seem to be a common thing. When replacing your thermostat, make sure the little air bleeder is facing up, the spring is pointed towards the head, and that your surfaces are super flat and clean for your gasket. Using good quality parts is also a good idea!

What not to do with a thermostat?

Avoid these seven mistakes to get the most from your HVAC system in Calhoun, GA, and keep your utility costs down:
  1. Constantly Adjusting the Temperature. ...
  2. Never Adjusting the Temperature. ...
  3. Using the 'On' Fan Setting. ...
  4. Turning Off Your System. ...
  5. Using Extreme Temperature Settings. ...
  6. Using an On-Off HVAC Thermostat.

Can you relocate a thermostat?

Moving Your Thermostat

If your thermostat isn't in the right place, it is possible to move it to a new location. However, the amount of work that takes depends on how far away you plan to move it. The reason is that there's a set of control wires running from your HVAC system to the wall where the thermostat resides.

Should my thermostat be upstairs or downstairs?

The rule of the thumb to remember is that hot air normally rises and cool air sinks. So for your two-story home, your upstairs will feel warmer than the downstairs. For this reason, it is best to install your thermostat in the most central location.

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