Ideal Thermostat Temperatures & Settings

If you live in an area with seasonal weather, then you might be familiar with the struggle of finding the “right” thermostat temperature — especially if you live with other people who have different opinions on what the “best” temperature is.

Determining the right temperature where you feel comfortable and can keep your energy bills low can be a challenge; but it is definitely worth the effort. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), you can “save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.”

ENERGY STAR, the DoE and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) energy efficiency program, estimates that homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats to match and maintain those settings.

So let’s settle any debates with an overview of the recommended “ideal” temperatures for the summer and winter months, plus additional considerations for children, pets and plants.

Ideal Temperature for a Thermostat in Summer

According to the DoE, when you’re at home during the day in the summer you’ll want to find a balance between 70-78 degrees. The lower end of 70 degrees is the ideal summer temperature for comfort, while 78 degrees is ideal for energy savings while staying comfortable.

Your level of comfort will also be affected by humidity levels, which can make it feel hotter inside your house and will force air conditioning units to work harder in removing moisture from the air. For example, if you’re in a drier climate, you can shoot for the lower end of around 70 degrees. However, if you’re in a humid area or are experiencing a heat wave, try getting by at the upper range of 78 degrees.

At night, ENERGY STAR recommends making a 4 degree higher adjustment during sleep. If you’re looking for the most energy savings at night, set a temperature of around 82 degrees.

When you’re leaving the house, ENERGY STAR recommends raising the temperature by around 7 degrees to around 85-88 degrees. As the interior temperature of the house rises to match the outside temperature, you’ll lose less cool air to the environment so your system won’t need to work as hard. Reset the temperature back to the 70-78 degree range when you get home.

Ideal Summer Temperatures

Energy saver tip — Don’t worry about working your furnace or AC “harder” when you return by setting your temperatures to different levels while you’re out or asleep — they’ll work at the same efficiency regardless. However, when you get home, don’t set the temperature higher or lower than the recommended settings in an effort to speed up the heating or cooling process. According to the DOE, that assumption doesn’t actually work. Plus, the unnecessary heating or cooling could end up costing you more.

Ideal Temperature for a Thermostat in Winter

When you’re active at home during the day in the winter months, the DoE recommends setting the thermostat temperature between 68-70 degrees. The higher end is more comfortable, while the lower end of 68 degrees will provide you with more energy savings.

At night, avoid the temptation to raise the thermostat higher as the outside temperatures drop. If you’re feeling a little chilly at night, put on slippers, some extra comfortable layers of clothing and grab an extra blanket.

When you go to bed, you want to follow the same ENERGY STAR adjustment of 4 degrees, this time dropping the temperature down to between 64-66 degrees. Not only does this save even more on heating and electricity, the cooler temperature can aid in your quality of sleep.

When you’re away from home, setback your thermostat by 8 degrees to drop the temperature of your house to around 60-62 degrees. Just like what happens in the summer, as the temperature in the house gets closer to the outside temperature, you’ll start to lose less heat, which means your furnace won’t need to work as hard.

Ideal Winter Temperatures

Eco Friendly Thermostat Temperature Settings

Eco friendly temps are also wallet friendly, so you can take comfort that you’re saving money and helping to protect the environment. 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer may feel a bit extreme, but they’re at the range where the temperature will still feel comfortable while also being energy efficient.

The most important adjustment you need to note is to set the temperature lower in the winter and higher in the summer when you’re not in the house. As the interior temperature of your house gets closer to the temperature outside, the transfer of energy slows down. That means lower interior temps in the winter result in less heat lost to the outside environment and vice versa for the summer.

If you’re ever unsure about what’s an eco-friendly range for temperature, check your thermostat’s display. Modern smart thermostats will often show an ‘eco’ or ‘leaf’ icon when the temperature is set where it should be.

Additional Ideal Thermostat Temperature Settings for the Home

Everyone has different tolerances and comfort levels, so while these are the recommended ideals based on the general population, your own comfort may differ. Also, those ranges are for human adults, and there are a few considerations if you have pets, children or just really need a good night’s sleep.

• Ideal temp with a baby in the house — Babies are more susceptible to heat and cold, so aim for between 68-72 degrees throughout the year to keep your child comfortable. If you want to make sure they’re not uncomfortable, feel their temperature around the chest and back of the neck for a quick read to see if the skin is cold or hot and sweaty.
• Ideal temp with pets in the house — Most cats and dogs will be comfortable between 64-78 degrees, as they have natural ways to regulate their body temperature. However, consider factors like coat type, size, age and weight of your pets and adjust accordingly. If you have fish or reptiles, set the recommended temperatures for their aquarium or terrarium to keep them safe.
• Ideal temp for houseplants — Most plants will be perfectly fine between 60-75 degrees. If you’re leaving your home for extended periods of time, try to ensure that temps don’t go below 50 degrees in the winter or above 85 degrees in the summer.
• Ideal temp for restful sleep — According to the Sleep Foundation, if you want to prioritize a good night’s sleep above all else, set a thermostat temperature between 60 and 67 degrees. That’s noticeably lower than the recommended eco-friendly summer temperatures that are in the high 70s to low 80s. If you want to avoid setting your thermostat that low in the summer months, consider a few other cooling techniques:
  • Open the window at night to let in cooler air
  • Have a standing fan in the room to move air
  • Use summer-friendly light sheets instead of blankets

Additional Tips for Energy Efficiency

Constantly setting your thermostat can be a chore, plus there’s likely to be times when you simply forget. Installing a programmable or smart thermostat can help automatically set the temperatures so you don’t have to. You can even program smart thermostats to turn on and off based on your schedule, the current weather and when a certain number of people are in your home. Some models will also provide insights about your home energy pattern usage and send reminders on how to conserve energy.

Beyond these recommended temperature ranges, here are some other tips for managing your thermostat, plus how to regulate the transfer of heat within your home:

• Blackout curtains are great not only for keeping your bedroom dark, but they can also keep warm air trapped in your room during the winter and keep the sun’s heat out of your room in the summer.
• Have a ceiling fan? Not only can it help cool off a room in the summer with the counterclockwise downward draft, but it can also keep your space warmer in the winter by spinning clockwise to draw cool air up and force warmer air down.
• The ideal thermostat location is in your home near the center of the house on an interior wall. If you’re installing a thermostat, keep in mind which rooms people will use most as they are the ones where the temperature will need to be the most comfortable.
• To keep your thermostat reading the correct home temperature, avoid placing it near any heat sources, such as a furnace or fireplace. You’ll also want to avoid placing it near the following areas:
  • Any wall that takes direct sunlight
  • Next to air vents
  • Near doors, skylights or windows
  • In your kitchen
  • In hallways

Following these tips and using the recommended ideal thermostat settings will not only save you money on your heating and electrical bills, you can take comfort in knowing that you’re doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint. Looking to do even more for the environment through your electricity or heating plans? Explore our Earth-Friendly Electricity and Earth-Friendly Gas home plans to see how you can help the economy now and the planet later.

Heating and Cooling FAQs

What if I have a heat pump system?

According to the DoE, when heat pumps are in cooling mode, they act like air conditioners, so turning up the thermostat in summer can save energy and money. However, in winter, turning down the thermostat can cause the heat pump to operate inefficiently, canceling out any energy or cost savings. If you have a heat pump or are thinking of installing one, check with the manufacturer as some newer models come with specially designed programmable thermostats to allow for changing temperature ranges.

What if I have steam heat or radiant floor heating?

The slower response time of steam heating and radiant floor heating systems can make temperature setbacks less efficient for steam heat and radiant flooring systems. However, some thermostats can track the performance of your heating system to determine when to turn it on in order to achieve comfortable temperatures at your programmed time.

Why are these the recommended temperatures?

The closer your interior temperature is to the outside, the more efficient your heating and cooling systems will be. These recommended settings are on the range of what feels comfortable while allowing your home to retain heat for longer during the winter and stay cooler during summer months.

What else can I do to reduce my electricity bill?

If you’re interested in other simple steps you can take to help reduce your electricity bill, see our Santanna Simplicity blog post on more ways to save.