What's a good heat setting for winter?

Author: Mr. Marlin Osinski PhD  |  Last update: Sunday, August 17, 2025

If someone is at home in the daytime, 72° F (22° C) is a good start, but aim for 68° F (20° C). If everyone is away from home in the daytime or you're asleep at night, we feel 66° F (19° C) to 62° F (17° C) is best.

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 heat setting is best for winter?

A good temperature to set your thermostat in the winter is typically between 68°F and 72°F (20°C to 22°C) when you're at home and awake. When you're sleeping or away, you can lower it by a few degrees (around 60°F to 65°F or 15°C to 18°C) to save energy.

Is 74 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.

What should I set my heat on in freezing weather?

What you should set your thermostat at in the winter. Turns out there's a magic number for your thermostat setting in the winter, experts say. That setting? 68 degrees, according to the Energy Department.

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

Is 65 too cold for a house?

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.

What should the thermostat be set at in winter at night?

If someone is at home in the daytime, 72° F (22° C) is a good start, but aim for 68° F (20° C). If everyone is away from home in the daytime or you're asleep at night, we feel 66° F (19° C) to 62° F (17° C) is best.

Is 75 too high for heat in winter?

Nationwide average: 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit

The ideal temperature in the United States during winter ranges between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an average temperature to set your thermostat settings based on varying climates nationwide.

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.

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.

How should I run my heat in the winter?

Balancing Comfort and Efficiency with Your Winter Thermostat Setting. Do the cooler temps have you wondering, “What should I set my heat to?” According to ENERGY STAR, the magic number for your winter thermostat setting is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home.

What should my AC be set at?

78°F is generally considered a comfortable temperature for most people in a house, especially in warmer months. It balances comfort and energy efficiency. However, personal preferences and humidity levels can make it feel warmer or cooler, so adjusting slightly up or down may be necessary for optimal comfort.

What should heating settings be in winter?

The Ideal Winter Room Temperature
  • Healthy and well-dressed individuals. 18°C.
  • Babies and infants. 20°C*
  • The elderly. 20°C.
  • Unwell individuals. 20°C.

Is 72 degrees too hot to sleep in?

Sleep experts believe the best temperature for great sleep is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. But in addition to making you uncomfortable and interfering with healthy sleep patterns, being too hot at any time of day or night can cause health risks like dehydration and heat stroke.

Is 73 too high for 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 is the healthiest temperature to keep your house 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 72 too hot in winter?

68 to 72 degrees is a temperature range that is not too warm or cool, and is sufficient enough to warm up the home just enough so that everyone is comfortable regardless of the type of clothing they have on.

Is it bad to run AC at 72?

This is more of a personal question, as different people feel comfortable at different temperatures. Since 72 degrees is generally agreed upon to be an ideal indoor temperature, most people would probably still feel comfortable setting their AC units slightly higher than this, perhaps at around 75.

Is 70 too hot for a heater?

How Hot Is Too Hot? Different sources disagree on a maximum indoor temperature setting in winter. However, 72 degrees is the average recommendation. Setting the thermostat higher than the low 70s inevitably increases heat loss to the outdoors, raising heating bills substantially.

What should I set my thermostat at night in winter?

60-67 degrees is the ideal temperature for winter nighttime for a comfortable night's sleep. If your house is too warm at night, it will affect your sleep and may result in causing fatigue. Since you'll be snuggled in blankets and covers, it makes it possible to make the house just a little chilly at night.

Can you sleep in 75 degree weather?

“The consensus among most scientists is that anything higher than 75 or 80 is bad for sleep and potentially detrimental to health,” Baniassadi said. Heat affects sleep because the body signals the brain that it's time to fall asleep by lowering its core temperature.

What is the highest I should set my heat for in winter?

You should also consider what activities you'll be doing in your home and how well-insulated it is. In general, the best temperature to set your thermostat to in winter is between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

What temperature should your house be overnight in winter?

Ideally you should heat your home to a temperature of at least 18 °C. This is particularly important if you have reduced mobility, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease. Having room temperatures slightly over 18 °C could be good for your health.

What is the lowest you should set your AC?

In short, the 20-degree rule of air conditioning states that you should always keep your AC unit at no more than 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature. It means that, if the outdoor conditions are at 95 degrees, you should set your thermostat at no less than 75 degrees.

What is the best temperature for sleep?

The best room temperature for sleep is approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius). This may vary by a few degrees from person to person, but most doctors recommend keeping the thermostat set between 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 20 degrees Celsius) for the most comfortable sleep.

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