What Is The Average Hours Of Sleep For Adults?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,
Age Group Recommended Hours of Per Day Teen 13–18 years 8–10 hours per 24 hours

2
Adult 18–60

years


7 or more hours per night

3

61–64 years 7–9 hours

1
65 years and older 7–8 hours

1

How many hours does the average person sleep?

Sleep needs

According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult sleeps

less than seven hours per night

. In today's fast-paced society, six or seven hours of sleep may sound pretty good. In reality, though, it's a recipe for chronic .

Is it OK to get 5 hours of sleep?

Sometimes life calls and we don't get enough sleep. But five hours of sleep out of a 24

-hour day isn't enough

, especially in the long term. According to a 2018 study of more than 10,000 people, the body's ability to function declines if sleep isn't in the seven- to eight-hour range.

Is 6 hours Enough sleep?

Young adults can get 7 to 9 hours of sleep as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation — with 6 hours being appropriate. Less than 6 hours

is not recommended

.

Do I really need 8 hours of sleep?

Everyone needs 8 hours. As with many aspects of human biology,

there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sleep

. Overall, research suggests that for healthy young adults and adults with normal sleep, 7–9 hours is an appropriate amount.

Is it OK to sleep 4 hours one night?

For most people, 4 hours of sleep per night

isn't enough to wake up feeling rested and mentally alert

, no matter how well they sleep. There's a common myth that you can adapt to chronically restricted sleep, but there's no evidence that the body functionally adapts to sleep deprivation.

How Little sleep Can you survive on?

The longest recorded time without sleep is approximately 264 hours, or just

over 11 consecutive days

. Although it's unclear exactly how long humans can survive without sleep, it isn't long before the effects of sleep deprivation start to show. After only three or four nights without sleep, you can start to hallucinate.

Is 2 hours of sleep enough?

Sleeping for a couple of hours or fewer isn'

t ideal

, but it can still provide your body with one sleep cycle. Ideally, it's a good idea to aim for at least 90 minutes of sleep so that your body has time to go through a full cycle.

How Much Is Too Much sleep?

The “right” amount of sleep proves somewhat individual as some people will feel great on seven hours and others may need a little longer. However, in most studies and for most experts,

over nine hours

is considered an excessive or long amount of sleep for adults.

Is 3 hours of sleep enough?

Is 3 hours enough? This will depend largely on how your body responds to resting this way. Some people are

able

to function on only 3 hours very well and actually perform better after sleeping in bursts. Though many experts do still recommend a minimum of 6 hours a night, with 8 being preferable.

Why do I feel better with less sleep?

Feeling better after less sleep – including after getting less Deep or REM sleep – could be

the result of your body trying to compensate for sleep deprivation

. When you're short on sleep, your body releases stress hormones the next day and evening. These hormones supply the sensation of alertness.

What is the best time to sleep according to science?

When it comes to bedtime, he says there's a window of several hours—

roughly between 8 PM and 12 AM

—during which your brain and body have the opportunity to get all the non-REM and REM shuteye they need to function optimally.

What is the best time to sleep and wake up?

People are most likely to be at their sleepiest at two points: between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and

between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

The better the quality of sleep you get, the less likely you are to experience significant daytime sleepiness. Circadian rhythm also dictates your natural bedtime and morning wakeup schedules.

What is the longest someone has slept for?

In October of 2017, Wyatt Shaw from Kentucky fell asleep for

11 days

. He was just seven years old and doctors ran several tests with no conclusive explanations.

Is 7.5 hours of sleep better than 8?

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends

seven to eight hours

, including the elderly. Most current guidelines say school-age children should get at least 10 hours of sleep a night, and teenagers, nine to 10.

Should I sleep 8 hours straight or split it up?

“Studies show adults who

consistently sleep 7 to 8 hours every night live longest

,” he says. Some people require just 6 hours and others may need 10, but we all need good quality sleep, and that means staying asleep for a set chunk of time. “Sleep is essential to overall body health,” he adds.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.