Recommended room temperatures by setting
There is no single ideal room temperature; the right target depends on the setting. The World Health Organization proposes at least 18°C (64°F) in homes during cold seasons. OSHA recommends 68 to 76°F (20 to 24°C) for offices, the NHS advises 16 to 20°C for a baby's room, and refrigerators should stay at 40°F (4°C) or below.
What are the recommended room temperatures by setting?
The table gathers the most cited official figures in one place. Each figure applies only to the setting and source named; conversions are rounded.
| Setting | Recommended temperature | Source and year |
|---|---|---|
| Homes in cold seasons (general population) | At least 18°C (64°F) | WHO Housing and Health Guidelines, 2018 |
| Homes of older adults in winter | Heat set to at least 68 to 70°F (20 to 21°C) | US National Institute on Aging, 2018 booklet |
| Adult bedroom for sleep | 60 to 67°F (15 to 19°C) | Cleveland Clinic sleep psychologist |
| Baby's room | About 16 to 20°C (61 to 68°F) | NHS |
| Offices | 68 to 76°F (20 to 24°C), humidity 20 to 60 percent | OSHA interpretation letter, 2003 |
| Outpatient operating rooms | 68 to 75°F (20 to 24°C), humidity 20 to 60 percent | ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170, Addendum n to 2017 edition |
| Recovery areas and exam rooms | 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C) | ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170, Addendum n |
| Nursing home resident rooms | 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C) | ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170, Addendum n |
| Refrigerator | 40°F (4°C) or below | US FDA |
| Freezer | 0°F (-18°C) | US FDA |
What temperature should a house be in winter?
The 2018 WHO Housing and Health Guidelines make a strong recommendation that indoor temperatures be high enough to protect residents from the harmful health effects of cold. For temperate and colder climates, WHO proposes 18°C (64°F) as a safe and well-balanced indoor temperature for the general population during cold seasons.
WHO adds that a higher minimum may be needed for older people, children and people with chronic illness, particularly heart and lung disease. Think of 18°C as a floor for occupied rooms, not a comfort target.
What room temperature is best for older adults?
Older adults lose heat faster and may not notice it. The National Institute on Aging's cold weather booklet, published in 2018, advises setting the heat to at least 68 to 70°F (20 to 21°C). It also suggests long underwear under clothes, a blanket over legs and shoulders, and socks and slippers indoors.
In care settings, the ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170 design range for nursing home resident rooms in Addendum n is 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C).
What temperature should a bedroom be for sleep, and for a baby?
For most adults, Cleveland Clinic sleep psychologist Michelle Drerup, PsyD, recommends a bedroom between 60 and 67°F (15 to 19°C). A cool, dark, quiet room supports sleep; older adults and people who feel the cold may prefer the upper end.
For babies, the NHS advises keeping the room at about 16 to 20°C (61 to 68°F) and checking it with a room thermometer. The NHS notes that overheating can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), whether from too much bedding or clothing or a room that is too hot. Check a baby by feeling the chest or the back of the neck, and remove a layer if the skin is hot or sweaty.
What is the recommended office temperature?
OSHA has no regulation that sets office temperature. In a 2003 interpretation letter, it recommends temperature control in the range of 68 to 76°F and humidity of 20 to 60 percent.
ASHRAE Standard 55, the thermal comfort standard used in building design, does not set one number. It defines conditions that at least 80 percent of occupants find acceptable, based on six factors: metabolic rate, clothing insulation, air temperature, radiant temperature, air speed and humidity. Its comfort zones differ for lighter summer clothing (0.5 clo) and heavier winter clothing (1.0 clo), which is one reason people in the same office disagree about the thermostat.
What temperature are operating rooms and hospital areas kept at?
In the US, hospital design conditions come from ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170, which the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) incorporates into its guidelines. Addendum n to the 2017 edition lists outpatient operating rooms at 68 to 75°F (20 to 24°C) with 20 to 60 percent relative humidity, and procedure rooms, recovery areas and general exam rooms at 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C).
These are design ranges for the building's systems. Patients in surgery are usually warmed separately, and care teams set room temperature within the range for the case.
What temperature should a fridge and freezer be?
The FDA advises keeping a refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below and a freezer at 0°F (-18°C). Because few refrigerator controls show the actual temperature, the FDA recommends a freestanding appliance thermometer in each and checking them often.
Medicines and vaccines are a separate cold chain with tighter ranges set by the manufacturer and public health agencies; follow the product labeling rather than food guidance.
When does room temperature become a health concern?
A cold home matters most for older adults, babies and people with chronic illness. If someone at home is unusually cold, confused, drowsy or has trouble moving, act quickly and call for help. Talk to a clinician about symptoms that seem linked to indoor cold or heat, and about targets for anyone with a heart, lung or circulation condition.
Key takeaways
WHO proposes at least 18°C (64°F) for homes in cold seasons, higher for vulnerable groups.
The National Institute on Aging advises older adults to set the heat to at least 68 to 70°F.
The NHS advises 16 to 20°C for a baby's room; adults usually sleep best cool.
OSHA recommends 68 to 76°F for offices; ASHRAE 55 defines comfort by six factors, not one number.
Refrigerators belong at 40°F (4°C) or below and freezers at 0°F (-18°C), per the FDA.
Frequently asked questions
What is considered normal room temperature?
There is no official single value. Office guidance from OSHA recommends 68 to 76°F (20 to 24°C), while WHO proposes 18°C (64°F) as a minimum for homes in cold seasons. ASHRAE Standard 55 defines comfort by six factors, including clothing, rather than one number.
Is 64 degrees too cold for a house?
About 64°F (18°C) matches the WHO proposed minimum for the general population in cold seasons. It is a floor, not a comfort target, and older adults, young children and people with chronic illness may need it warmer. The National Institute on Aging advises older adults to keep the heat at 68 to 70°F or higher.
What temperature should a baby's room be?
The NHS advises about 16 to 20°C (61 to 68°F), measured with a room thermometer. Overheating is a SIDS risk, so dress the baby in light layers and check the chest or back of the neck rather than the hands.
Is there a legal minimum office temperature in the US?
No. OSHA has no rule on office temperature; it recommends 68 to 76°F and 20 to 60 percent humidity. Some states and building codes set their own requirements.
Why are operating rooms so cold?
Outpatient operating rooms are designed to a range of 68 to 75°F (20 to 24°C) under ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170. Patients are usually warmed separately with blankets or warming devices.
Related reading
Sources
WHO Housing and Health Guidelines: Recommendations on indoor temperature, World Health Organization via NCBI Bookshelf, 2018
Stay Safe in Cold Weather, National Institute on Aging, 2018
What is the ideal sleeping temperature for my bedroom?, Cleveland Clinic
Reiteration of Existing OSHA Policy on Indoor Air Quality: Office Temperature/Humidity and Environmental Tobacco Smoke, OSHA standard interpretation, February 24, 2003
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2010, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy (sample), ASHRAE, via International Code Council
ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Addendum n to Standard 170-2017, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities, ASHRAE and ASHE, via Facility Guidelines Institute
Refrigerator Thermometers: Cold Facts about Food Safety, US Food and Drug Administration
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