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Best Thermostat Temperatures & Settings for
Summer & Winter
When summer and winter bring some of the warmest and coldest temperatures outside, it鈥檚 common to think 鈥榳hat temperature should my house be?鈥. Constantly changing your thermostat temperature can leave you feeling uncomfortable and frustrated. And these feelings could be met with a higher-than-expected energy bill. and finding will help you deal with the extremes, but you still need to know the best temperature for your home.
Click on each link to discover ideal home temperature settings:
- Best thermostat temperatures
- What temperature to set your thermostat in the winter
- What temperature to set your thermostat in the summer
- Ideal home temperature for sleeping
- Ideal home temperature for houseplants
- Ideal home temperature for pets
- Ideal home temperature for infants and toddlers
- Best places to install a thermostat in your home
- Locations to avoid placing your thermostat
Best Thermostat Temperatures
Determining the ideal home temperature and thermostat setting should start with answering these guiding questions:
- What temperature should my house be?
- Do energy-efficient thermostat settings differ from season to season?
- Where should I place my thermostat in my home to achieve maximum energy efficiency?
When it comes to thermostat temperature settings, people typically fall into one of two overarching categories: those who set the thermostat at one temperature and leave it there, and those who don鈥檛. From there, each side usually has a number of often reasons why theirs is the ideal thermostat temperature. And so, the battle of the thermostat begins.

To help encourage peace at home, we鈥檙e going to take a look at what some of the experts have to say about recommended thermostat settings. The information might not end the thermostat conflicts in your home, but at least you鈥檒l be armed with information about thermostat temperature settings.
What Temperature Should You Set Your Heater鈥檚 Thermostat to in the Winter?
Preparing your home for winter can bring feelings of stress and an urgency to be prepared. But no matter how prepared your home is, you will still need to make a decision about the temperature at which to set your thermostat. The ideal thermostat temperature in the winter is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you鈥檙e at home. Energy.gov suggests that 68 degrees is a good room temperature while you鈥檙e awake at home but recommends lowering it while you鈥檙e asleep or away.
Lowering your thermostat 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day can reduce your annual heating expenses by as much as . That鈥檚 a potential savings of as much as 1 percent for each degree if the if the temperature is lowered for at least eight hours. says that for each degree you lower your heat, you can save 3 percent or more on heating costs. agrees 68 degrees is a normal temperature for the winter and suggests layering clothing as a way to stay warm in the cooler house temperature.

What Temperature Should Your Thermostat be Set to in the Summer?
If you鈥檙e wondering what temperature is best during the summer, you鈥檙e not alone. You want to be comfortable, but also use an that doesn鈥檛 potentially increase your energy costs. The best thermostat setting for summer is 聽when you鈥檙e at home. also suggests raising your thermostat or turning it off entirely when you are away in the summer. can help make monitoring your home鈥檚 temperature while you鈥檙e away easy. The thermostat can be set to start cooling shortly before you arrive home, so it鈥檚 the ideal temperature when you walk in the door.
Whatever temperature you, your family, or your partner decide is the ideal home temperature, do not try to cool your home faster by setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. Energy.gov says this strategy does not, in fact, cool a home any faster and ultimately can lower the temperature too much and create an unnecessary expense.

What temperature should you keep your house at?
Or better yet, 鈥淲hat is the most energy saving temperature to set my thermostat at?鈥 According to , the ideal home temperature should be between 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. To maximize energy efficiency, turning your thermostat up or down by 8 degrees while you鈥檙e away from your home can help reduce your heating and cooling costs.

What is the best temperature for sleeping?
The ideal home temperature for sleeping is generally between -- and you might even sleep better because of it. When you sleep, the set point for your body temperature drops, says. If it鈥檚 too cold or too hot, it throws off your internal temperature, which in turn can make your sleep more fitful.
However, there is one caveat: Everyone鈥檚 body temperature is different, and what you may require for comfort during the day might be different during the night.

What thermostat temperature is best for my houseplants?
According to , the ideal temperature for maintaining house plants is around 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep most houseplants alive, try not going below around 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
What temperature should I keep my house with pets at home?
Keeping your home at the recommended energy-saving temperatures of 64 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit will usually work just fine with your pets. In fact, points out that most pets have natural coping mechanisms for slightly hotter or chillier weather (think fur for cold, panting for heat!). If you have more unconventional pets, like tropical amphibians, fish, or arachnids, be sure not to drop the temperature too low, or perhaps install a heat lamp if lower temperatures cannot be avoided.
What is the best temperature to set your thermostat at for an infant?
Setting the ideal temperature for your infant may take some trial and error, depending on your baby鈥檚 mood, health, age, etc. However, that room temperatures do not go below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, nor above 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where is the best place to install a thermostat in my home?
Being proactive with your thermostat settings can help you achieve energy efficiency, but you may not realize the potential benefits of programmable thermostats if you don鈥檛 pay attention to thermostat鈥檚 location.
The ideal thermostat location is an interior wall, ideally near the center of the house. When considering your thermostat location, it鈥檚 also smart to keep in mind which rooms聽people use most since these are the rooms where you want the temperature to be the most comfortable.
Locations to avoid placing your thermostat
Where you place a thermostat is critical to achieving maximum smart or programmable thermostat savings. 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
- The kitchen
- Hallways
- By doors or windows
Utilizing the tips discussed above can help you achieve ultimate comfort inside, no matter what the temperature is outside. Plus, don鈥檛 forget that finding the can help you achieve the ultimate goal 鈥 an ideal home temperature.
You鈥檝e learned all about recommended thermostat settings, want to learn more about saving energy? Get the details on smart home systems, home automation, and any other energy-saving techniques with our Energy Guides!