What is the Ideal Room Temperature?
Making sure your room is at a good temperature is important for everything from health and comfort to optimal sleep and productivity.
Maintaining the right temperature can help regulate your body’s core functions, support healthy sleep patterns, and even boost your immune system.
Read on to learn the best room temperature for your workplace, home, or baby’s room and ensure optimal comfort.
What is room temperature?
Room temperature generally refers to the typical ambient temperature of an indoor space where people feel comfortable, usually between 20 °C and 22 °C (68 °F to 72 °F). It’s commonly used as a reference in cooking, science, and everyday life, particularly when no specific temperature is required.
What is the ideal temperature for a room?
The optimal room temperature varies slightly depending on who is using the room and what they’re using it for. Around 20 °C is usually a comfortable temperature for most people.
A baby’s room temperature should be on the cooler side, 16-20 °C, to prevent overheating and promote better sleep.
Older people often struggle to stay warm, so it’s recommended for their room temperature to stay above 21 °C. Read our care home temperature guide to learn more.
Living rooms: 20-22 °C (comfortable for relaxing)
Bedrooms: 16-18 °C (cooler for better sleep)
Kitchens: 18-20 °C (cooking generates heat)
Bathrooms: 22-24 °C (warm for post-shower comfort)
Offices/Workspaces: 20-22 °C (ideal for productivity)
Hallways/Entryways: 15-18 °C (less heating needed)
Baby’s room: 16-20 °C (optimal for sleep and comfort)
Workplace temperatures
While there is no law for temperatures in the workplace, guidance suggests that the temperature should be at least 16 ºC, or 13 ºC if employees are doing physical work.
Employers must also stick to the health and safety at work law by keeping the temperature at comfortable levels and providing clean and fresh air. 20 ºC is considered a good room temperature to aim for, with most healthy adults remaining comfortable a few degrees above and below this if wearing appropriate clothing.
Read our office temperature guide to learn more.
What is the ideal room humidity?
Comfortable conditions aren’t just about temperature; humidity is an important factor too. And in the winter, increased heating use or drying wet washing inside can cause humidity levels to drop or rise beyond the recommended zone of 30-60%. Indoor humidity levels over 60% can foster mould and dust mites; lower can cause dry skin and nasal passages.
Learn more about preventing damp in winter.
How to check the room temperature
You should use a room thermometer to check the temperature of your room. There are a few different types you can use:
Analogue room thermometers
These traditional spirit-filled thermometers are a budget-friendly way to check your room temperature.
Digital room thermometers
Digital room thermometers are more accurate, precise and easier to read than analogue room thermometers. They are available with a number of different useful features like colour-coded scales for easily seeing if your room is too hot or cold.
Therma-Hygrometers
Therma-hygrometers measure both room temperature and humidity, helping to keep conditions healthy and prevent damp.
Instant-read thermometers
If you have a food probe thermometer at home, you can also use this for a quick check of your room temperature. Simply hold in the air and wait for the temperature to stabilise.
Whichever type you decide to use, place your room thermometer in a central location at eye level. Avoid placing it near windows, doors, heat sources, and direct sunlight to ensure accurate readings. Read our guide to room thermometers to learn more.
Tips for maintaining a good room temperature
Use a thermostat: Set it to your desired temperature, ideally between 16 °C and 22 °C for most rooms, and adjust for comfort.
Monitor with a room thermometer: A therma-hygrometer can help ensure the room stays within the recommended temperature and humidity range.
Use fans or heaters: To fine-tune the temperature, use oscillating fans for cooling or space heaters for warmth, but ensure they’re safe and don’t overheat the room.
Ventilation: Keep rooms well-ventilated by opening windows or using extractor fans, especially in kitchens or bathrooms to avoid overheating or dampness.
Curtains and blinds: Close curtains in hot weather to block out the sun, or open them during cold weather to let in sunlight and warmth.
Insulation: Ensure your home is well-insulated to keep heat in during winter and out during summer. This helps maintain a stable temperature and lowers energy costs.
Summary
The ideal room temperature varies depending on who is using the room and what they’re using it for. 20 °C is a good all-round temperature to aim for, with most people feeling comfortable a couple of degrees either side of this. However, each room is slightly different.
It’s particularly important to make sure baby’s rooms and homes/care homes for older people are at their recommended temperatures for comfort and safety.
Humidity is also an important factor to consider when trying to optimise your conditions. If your room’s humidity falls outside of 30-60% it can have a negative impact on your health.
Using a therma-hygrometer to monitor your room temperature and humidity is one of the best ways to make sure your conditions are at a good level. You can also use it to help you decide whether to make adjustments like turning your heating down, opening a window or closing the curtains.
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