What’s the Best Temperature for My Thermostat?
The best thermostat temperature depends on the season, local climate, humidity, and the needs of the people in your home. As a practical starting point, try 76 to 78°F during summer and about 68°F during winter while you are home. From there, make small adjustments based on comfort, sleep, pets, health needs, and how your heating and cooling system performs.
There Is No Single Perfect Thermostat Setting
It would be convenient if one temperature worked for every home, every person, and every season. In reality, the number on your thermostat is only one part of indoor comfort.
A setting of 77°F may feel pleasant in a home with moderate humidity and steady airflow. The same temperature can feel uncomfortable in a damp house with little air movement. Home insulation, window exposure, ceiling height, HVAC condition, and even the number of people in the house can change how a room feels.
The best approach is to begin with a reasonable range and adjust the thermostat one degree at a time. This makes it easier to find a setting that feels comfortable without making your heating or cooling system work harder than necessary.
A Quick Thermostat Temperature Guide
The following temperatures are useful starting points, not rules every household must follow.
| Situation | Suggested Starting Range |
| Summer while home | 76 to 78°F |
| Summer while sleeping | 74 to 78°F |
| Summer while away | 80 to 85°F |
| Winter while home | About 68°F |
| Winter while sleeping | 62 to 66°F |
| Winter while away | 60 to 65°F |
Your household may prefer temperatures outside these ranges. Comfort and safety should come first, particularly for young children, older adults, people with health concerns, and pets.
What Is the Best Thermostat Temperature in Summer?
For many households, 76 to 78°F is a sensible summer starting range while people are home. If you normally keep the thermostat much lower, moving it several degrees at once may feel uncomfortable. Try raising it by one degree, then give yourself a few days to see how the house feels before making another change.
Humidity plays a major role in summer comfort. Air conditioning removes heat from the home, but it also removes moisture from the air. A slightly warmer room with lower humidity may feel better than a cooler room that feels damp or sticky.
Ceiling fans can help you remain comfortable at a higher thermostat setting because moving air makes your skin feel cooler. Fans do not lower the room temperature, so turn them off when no one is in the room.
What Temperature Should You Use When You Leave in Summer?
When the house will be empty for several hours, raising the thermostat can reduce unnecessary air conditioning use. A setting between 80 and 85°F may work for some homes, but the right number depends on humidity, pets, plants, medications, electronics, and other items that may be sensitive to heat.
Turning the air conditioner off completely is not always a good idea. In hot, humid areas, indoor moisture can rise while the system is off. The house may also become so warm that the air conditioner has to run for a long time when you return.
A programmable or smart thermostat can change the temperature after you leave and begin cooling the home before you come back. This lets you reduce cooling use without returning to an uncomfortable house.
What Is the Best Thermostat Temperature in Winter?
About 68°F is a good winter starting point while you are home and awake. Some households will feel comfortable a few degrees lower, while others may need a warmer setting.
If your home is empty for several hours, lowering the thermostat can reduce heating use. You may also be comfortable using a lower setting while sleeping, especially if you use warmer bedding.
There is no benefit in setting the temperature so low that the house becomes uncomfortable or unsafe. The goal is to avoid heating empty rooms more than necessary, not to spend the winter feeling cold.
How Low Should the Thermostat Go When You Leave in Winter?
Many households can lower the thermostat to somewhere between 60 and 65°F while away. The safest setting depends on outdoor conditions, home construction, plumbing locations, and the type of heating system.
Be careful during severe cold. Pipes located in exterior walls, crawl spaces, garages, attics, and other unheated areas may freeze even when the main living area remains above freezing.
Homes with heat pumps may also need smaller temperature changes. Raising the temperature sharply after a large setback can cause some heat pump systems to turn on auxiliary electric heat, which may use more electricity.
What Is the Best Thermostat Temperature for Sleeping?
Sleep preferences vary, so there is no bedtime setting that works for everyone. Many people prefer a cooler bedroom, but the ideal temperature will depend on bedding, clothing, humidity, airflow, and personal comfort.
During winter, some households may be comfortable lowering the thermostat to 62 to 66°F overnight. During summer, a ceiling fan may help you sleep comfortably without lowering the thermostat several degrees.
Make small changes rather than dramatic ones. A one or two degree adjustment may reduce heating or cooling use without affecting sleep quality.
Thermostat Settings for Texas and Other Hot, Humid Areas
In Texas and other hot, humid regions, air conditioning has two jobs. It lowers the indoor temperature and removes moisture from the air. Both matter when deciding where to set the thermostat.
A summer setting of 76 to 78°F may be a good place to begin while you are home. If the house feels uncomfortable at that temperature, check the indoor humidity, airflow, air filter, and condition of the HVAC system before assuming the thermostat must be set much lower.
When leaving home, raise the setting gradually rather than turning off the system. This can help control moisture while reducing unnecessary cooling.
Texas winters are usually milder than winters farther north, but sudden cold weather can still place heavy demand on heating equipment. During those periods, avoid large temperature changes if your home uses a heat pump.
Thermostat Settings for the Midwest
The Midwest can experience humid summers, freezing winters, and large temperature changes within a short period. That makes seasonal thermostat schedules particularly useful.
During summer, begin around 76 to 78°F while home and raise the setting when the house is empty. If humidity is high, the home may feel warmer than the thermostat suggests. Air movement and moisture control can make a noticeable difference.
During winter, about 68°F is a reasonable starting point while people are home. Lowering the thermostat at night or while away may reduce heating use, but the home should remain warm enough to protect plumbing and support household health.
In older Midwestern homes, drafts and limited insulation may have a greater effect on comfort than the thermostat itself. Sealing air leaks and improving insulation can help rooms maintain a more consistent temperature.
Thermostat Settings for the East and Northeast
The eastern part of the country includes several climate types. Mid Atlantic homes may face hot, humid summers and cold winters, while New England homes often have longer heating seasons.
During summer, start around 76 to 78°F and adjust based on humidity and comfort. If the house becomes damp, keeping the air conditioner running at a moderate setting may be better than allowing the indoor temperature and moisture level to climb.
During winter, about 68°F while home is a practical starting point. The heating system matters, too. Furnaces, boilers, radiators, and heat pumps respond differently to thermostat changes.
Homes with radiators or boilers may take longer to warm after the temperature has been lowered. A moderate setback may work better than a large one in those homes.
Heat Pumps Need a Different Approach
Heat pumps can heat and cool a home efficiently, but they do not always respond well to large thermostat changes during cold weather.
When the thermostat is raised several degrees at once, some heat pump systems turn on auxiliary electric resistance heat. That backup heat can use more electricity than normal heat pump operation.
If your home has a heat pump, smaller winter setbacks are often a better choice. Use a thermostat that is compatible with the system and follow the equipment maker’s instructions.
Some newer heating and cooling systems are designed to run steadily at lower speeds. These systems may perform best when the temperature remains fairly consistent rather than changing dramatically throughout the day.
Does Turning the Thermostat Lower Cool the House Faster?
No. Setting the thermostat far below your desired temperature does not make most air conditioning systems cool the house faster.
If the house is 80°F and you want it to reach 74°F, setting the thermostat to 60°F will not speed up the cooling process. It simply tells the air conditioner to keep running until the house reaches the lower setting.
The same idea applies to heating. Turning the thermostat much higher does not necessarily warm the home faster. Set it to the temperature you actually want and give the system time to do its job.
Does Changing the Thermostat Use More Energy?
A common myth says it takes more energy to bring a home back to a comfortable temperature than it does to leave the thermostat unchanged all day.
For most conventional heating and cooling systems, reducing HVAC use while the home is empty can save energy. The longer the adjusted temperature remains in place, the greater the chance of reducing overall heating or cooling use.
A brief change may not make much difference. A temperature adjustment that lasts several hours can have a larger effect.
Heat pumps are the main exception during winter. Large temperature recoveries may activate auxiliary heat, so smaller adjustments may work better.
Can a Smart Thermostat Help?
A smart thermostat cannot correct poor insulation, leaking ducts, or an aging HVAC system. It can, however, make it easier to follow a useful temperature schedule.
Depending on the model, a smart thermostat may:
- Follow different settings for morning, daytime, evening, and sleep
- Change the temperature when the house is empty
- Track HVAC runtime
- Provide monthly energy reports
- Send filter or maintenance reminders
- Allow temperature changes from a mobile app
- Begin heating or cooling before you return home
The greatest benefit is consistency. A schedule can reduce the number of times the system heats or cools an empty home simply because someone forgot to adjust the thermostat.
Before purchasing one, confirm that it works with your HVAC equipment. Heat pumps, boilers, multistage systems, and variable capacity equipment may require specific thermostat features.
Who May Need a Different Temperature?
Energy savings should not come before health, safety, or basic comfort. Some households may need to keep the home warmer in winter or cooler in summer than the suggested ranges.
Temperature needs may be different for:
- Infants and young children
- Older adults
- People with heart or breathing conditions
- People taking certain medications
- Anyone sensitive to heat or cold
- Pets left at home
Pet needs vary by breed, age, coat, species, and health. Do not assume every animal can tolerate the same temperature while the house is empty.
What If the House Never Feels Comfortable?
The thermostat may not be the real problem. If certain rooms are always too warm or too cold, or if the system runs constantly without reaching the set temperature, another issue may be affecting comfort.
Common causes include:
- Dirty air filters
- Blocked vents
- Air leaks
- Limited insulation
- Leaking ductwork
- High indoor humidity
- Aging HVAC equipment
- Heating or cooling equipment that is not properly sized
Changing the thermostat by one degree cannot correct a larger home performance problem. If discomfort continues, have the HVAC system and the home checked by a qualified professional.
Finding the Temperature That Works for Your Home
Start with the suggested seasonal range, then make one degree adjustments until you find a setting that feels comfortable. Give each change enough time to judge how the home responds.
Pay attention to more than the temperature display. Notice indoor humidity, how often the system runs, whether certain rooms feel different, and how the household sleeps.
The best thermostat temperature is not necessarily one fixed number. For most homes, it is a daily schedule that changes based on the season, time of day, and whether anyone is home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thermostat Temperatures
What temperature should I set my thermostat to in summer?
A setting between 76 and 78°F works as a starting point for many households while people are home. Adjust the temperature based on humidity, health needs, pets, and personal comfort.
What temperature should I set my thermostat to in winter?
About 68°F is a common starting point while you are home and awake. You may be able to lower it while sleeping or away if the home remains safe and comfortable.
Should I turn off the air conditioner when I leave?
Usually not. Raising the thermostat can reduce cooling use without allowing the house to become excessively hot or humid. Pets, plants, medications, electronics, and other heat sensitive items should also be considered.
Should I leave the thermostat at one temperature all day?
Not necessarily. A schedule that changes the temperature while you are sleeping or away can reduce unnecessary heating and cooling. Homes with heat pumps may need smaller winter changes.
Will setting the thermostat lower cool the home faster?
No. Most residential air conditioners cool at the same rate regardless of how low the thermostat is set. An extreme setting simply makes the system run longer.
What thermostat temperature saves the most money?
A setting that is uncomfortable or unsafe is not practical. A better goal is to use the highest comfortable summer setting and the lowest comfortable winter setting, then adjust the temperature when the house is empty.
