What’s the Ideal Room Temperature?

Battling over the thermostat again? You’re not alone. Finding the right room temperature can be tricky, especially when balancing comfort, energy savings, and keeping everyone in the house happy.

In this guide, we’ll break down the ideal temperatures for every room and season, plus show you how to program your boiler or thermostat to maintain those temperatures and save on energy bills.

The average room temperature in the UK

According to Uswitch, the average UK thermostat is set to 20°C. But just because it’s average doesn’t mean it’s ideal. Experts recommend a lower but comfortable temperature between 18°C and 21°C to save energy and stay healthy.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can save around 10% on your energy bills. That adds up quick, and so do the carbon savings.

What’s the ideal room temperature?

The ideal room temperature in the daytime is between 18-20°C.

Considering today’s energy crisis, you might be tempted to drop the temperature below this range, but you must keep in mind that the World Health Organisation stresses the basic level of warmth needed for a healthy and well-dressed person is 18°C.

A study conducted by the housing expert Richard Moore shows the damages that could occur by inadequate home temperature;

• 24°C+ – Cardiovascular risk of strokes and heart attacks
• 21-24°C – Increasing discomfort
• 18-21°C – Comfortable temperatures
• 16-18°C – Discomfort, small health risks
• 12-16°C – Risk of respiratory diseases
• 9-12°C – Risk of strokes, heart attacks
• <9°C – Risk of hypothermia

The ideal nighttime temperature in the UK

The ideal temperature for sleeping can differ slightly from one person to another, hence some people pull the duvet off their partners and some don’t!

The Sleep Charity recommends setting the room temperature between 16-18°C and here’s why;

If you’ve ever been too hot or too cold when trying to sleep, you’ll understand how difficult it is to catch some zzzs.

Your body heat peaks late afternoon and then starts to drop in the evening to prepare your body for sleep, kickstarting melatonin production. An ideal bedroom temperature is around 16-18°C (60-65°F).

Hot, cold or draughty rooms can seriously impact your sleep, in particular REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Temperatures over 24°C (71°F) are likely to cause restlessness, while a cold room of about 12°C (53°F) will make it difficult to drop off.”

Young kids, vulnerable adults and the elderly may need a slightly warmer bedroom. So investing in a smart thermostat might be a good idea.

The perfect room temperature in the summer

In the summer, the ideal room temperature is between 17-19°C.

Here are some tips to stay cool as a cucumber this summer;

• Stay hydrated!
• Open your windows to maximise air circulation.
• Invest in blackout curtains/blinds
• Keep your blinds/curtains shut to block out the warmth of the sunlight.
• If you’ve got an attic, try opening the hatch. Hot air rises, and this will give it somewhere to go.
• Got a lower tog duvet or a cotton sheet
• Invest in an electric fan – you might need to put an ice tray and a little water in front of the fan to cool the air even more on the hottest days.

The perfect room temperature in the winter

The perfect temperature in the winter will differ, depending on your home’s insulation. Well-insulated homes should aim for a temperature of 18-20°C during the winter. If you find this temperature difficult to reach, you might need to look at your home insulation. We also put together a guide on how to protect your home in the winter.

The ideal temperature for each room

Vaillant, one of the world’s leading boiler manufacturers recommends different temperature settings for different rooms. Here are some of the recommendations;

Control the room temperature

You can control your room temperature by using the timer on your boiler or thermostat.

Boiler timers

One of the best (and cheapest) things you can do to save money on your heating bills is to only turn your heating on when you need it. To make this easier, most modern boilers come with a timer which can be programmed to turn your heating on and off at particular times of the day.

Boiler timer types

Boiler timers vary based on the boiler brand and model. The main two types are;

Mechanical timers – usually seen in older heating systems. Mechanical timers look like a small clock/dial on the front of the boiler.

Digital timers, on the other hand, look like a small digital screen displayed on newer boiler models.

Boiler timer settings

Combi boilers will mostly have at least 3 settings; On, Off and Auto (Timed). The setting names could differ from one boiler model/brand to another.

With the help of the settings, you can turn your heating on or off or make it follow instructions you’ve already set.

Here are the standard settings on your combi boiler timer;

• ON (or 24 hours) – the heating will stay on until you turn it off.
• OFF – is a setting to shut down your boiler completely – useful for going on holiday!
• Auto (or Twice) – your boiler will turn on and off at the times of day you’ve set it to do so.
• All day (or Once) – your boiler will turn on at a set time and stay on until the end of the day or until the last off-setting of that day.
• Boost (or 1 hour) – will boost your heating by one hour.
• Advance – will adapt the timer to the next on/off setting in its cycle

How to set your mechanical boiler timer

First, make sure the time shown on the timer is right. Bear in mind that the boiler timer usually uses a 24-hour clock.

Now you’ll need to set the time for the heating to come on. You can do this using the small plastic pins/switches that line the outside of the clock/dial.

Each one of these switches represents 15 minutes. Just push the pins;

• In – for the time you want the boiler on.
• Out – for the time you want the boiler off.

This may differ from one boiler to another. Some boilers work in the opposite way. So you’ll need to read the manual to be sure.

Just ensure the timer is on a ‘timed’ setting, not on the setting ‘on’ nor ‘off’.

How to set your digital boiler timer

Just like the mechanical boiler timer, you’ll need to check the time is correct and current on your boiler timer.

Then select the option ‘set timer’ or ‘set clock’. The name of this option might be different on your boiler.

Use the arrow keys to select the day and times you’d like your heating to be on.

And lastly, don’t forget to hit ‘run’ or ‘set’ to save your settings.

Smart thermostats

Smart thermostats help you control your heating remotely and efficiently. You can set heating schedules, adjust temperatures on the go, and even track your energy use.

Popular Smart Thermostats:

Google Nest: Learns your schedule, adjusts automatically, and works with Google Home.

Hive Active Heating: Its sleek design is easy to use and is great for controlling heating and hot water. It is compatible with most boilers.

Honeywell T6: Budget-friendly, integrates with Alexa and Google Home, and allows complete 7-day scheduling.

Smart thermostats aren’t the same as smart meters. Smart meters track energy usage, and smart thermostats control it.

Stay Warm the Smart Way

Keeping your home at the right temperature helps with comfort, energy savings, and health. With the right thermostat settings and a bit of smart planning, you can make your home more efficient all year round. And if your boiler needs an upgrade or service, we’re always here to help.