What Temperature Should You Set Your Thermostat in Winter?

Dial Your Thermostat to 68 Degrees During the Day and Drop It at Night

Setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you are awake and at home strikes the best balance between comfort and cost. Most heating systems can maintain this level without burning through fuel continuously, and it keeps living areas warm enough for everyday activities. If you feel slightly cool at this setting, putting on a light sweater, a fleece pullover, or warm house slippers solves the chill without nudging the dial higher.

When bedtime arrives, drop the thermostat to somewhere between 60 and 65 degrees. Cooler room air promotes deeper sleep because the human body naturally sheds heat as it rests. Thick blankets, warm flannel sheets, and winter pajamas trap your warmth right in the bed, so heating the empty air in the room is unnecessary. Lowering the heat overnight also gives your heating equipment a long rest period during the coldest hours of the night.

Use that same lower range whenever the house sits empty during the workday. If everyone leaves for four hours or more, keeping the temperature around 62 to 65 degrees cuts unnecessary fuel use. This practice is known as a setback (lowering the thermostat for several hours to save energy). Practicing regular setbacks every day can easily trim your monthly heating bill without requiring you to shiver while you relax in the evening.

Protect Vulnerable Family Members and Water Pipes With Safe Minimum Limits

While lower temperatures save money, certain household situations require strict minimum limits to prevent health risks or structural damage. Cold air affects infants, older adults, and hidden water lines much differently than it affects healthy adults. Use this simple checklist to determine the safest minimum setting for your home:

• Infants and nurseries: Keep the room between 68 and 72 degrees. Babies cannot regulate their body heat as effectively as older children, and sleeping in cold rooms stresses their systems. Dress infants in fleece sleep sacks or wearable blankets over simple footed sleepers, and avoid placing thick, loose blankets in the crib.
• Elderly family members: Maintain living spaces between 68 and 70 degrees at all times. Aging bodies have slower blood circulation and thinner skin layers, which increases the risk of indoor hypothermia even at temperatures that younger adults find tolerable.
• Vacant homes and winter travel: Never turn your thermostat completely off or set it below 55 degrees when leaving for a winter trip. Setting the dial lower than 55 degrees allows cold pockets to form inside exterior wall cavities where water supply lines run.
• Deep freeze emergencies: When outdoor wind chill values drop well below zero, keep your indoor heat at a steady 68 degrees day and night. Open vanity and kitchen cabinet doors beneath sinks on outside walls so warm room air reaches copper and plastic supply pipes.

Following these minimum limits ensures that your drive to lower utility bills never creates dangerous health conditions or thousands of dollars in water damage from cracked plumbing.

Lower the Temperature Without Worrying About Overworking Your Furnace

A common winter myth claims that dropping your thermostat during the day or night forces your furnace to work twice as hard to heat the house back up, canceling out any savings. This belief leads many people to leave their thermostat locked at one high number all winter long. The physics of home heating actually works in the exact opposite direction.

Heat naturally flows toward cold. When the inside of your home is hot and the winter air outside is freezing, heat escapes through ceilings, walls, and windows very quickly. Think of your home as a bucket with small water leaks: the fuller the bucket, the faster water squirts out of the holes. When you allow your home to cool down to 62 degrees, the temperature difference between inside and outside shrinks, which dramatically slows down your home's rate of heat loss.

Your furnace or boiler also does not have an accelerator pedal. It runs at the same steady burn rate and blower speed whether it is lifting the temperature by one degree or seven degrees. The energy required to bring the house back up to 68 degrees is far less than the massive amount of fuel required to keep the home hot all day while heat constantly escapes. Letting the temperature fall while you sleep or work always results in a net fuel savings.

Fix Dry Air and Drafts Instead of Cranking the Heat

If your thermostat reads 68 degrees but your living room feels chilly, the temperature setting might not be the actual problem. Indoor humidity and cold air drafts play a huge role in how warm a room feels against your skin. Addressing these hidden comfort drains lets you feel warmer without pushing the dial up to 72 degrees.

Winter air holds very little moisture, and running a furnace dries it out even further. When indoor air becomes excessively dry, moisture evaporates off your skin much faster, producing a constant evaporative cooling effect that leaves you shivering. You can check your home's moisture level with a hygrometer (indoor humidity monitor). Bringing indoor humidity up to a healthy range of 30 to 50 percent using a room humidifier allows your skin to retain heat, making 68 degrees feel noticeably warmer.

Hidden drafts also steal body heat through constant air movement. Check around the edges of exterior doors and windows for air leaks. Placing an under-door draft stopper against entry thresholds and adding stick-on foam weatherstripping along window frames stops cold gusts instantly. For older single-pane windows, a clear shrink-wrap window insulation kit blocks incoming chills and creates a pocket of dead air that acts like double-pane glass.

Personal habits also make a huge difference in staying cozy indoors. If you find your feet getting cold on bare wood or tile floors, learn how to keep feet warm during winter by pairing moisture-wicking wool-blend socks with lined slippers. Combining personal insulation with practical tips on how to keep warm in winter in the house will keep your household warm all season long without driving up your energy expenses.

Check Your Heating System Type Before Making Big Adjustments

The type of heating equipment installed in your home dictates how aggressively you should adjust your winter temperature. What works perfectly for a standard gas furnace can cause unexpected electric bills if applied to a modern heat pump.

Standard forced-air systems that run on natural gas, propane, or heating oil produce high-temperature air quickly. These systems recover from an eight-degree setback in thirty to forty-five minutes without any penalty. If you have a conventional furnace, you can drop your thermostat freely at night or while you head to work, knowing the unit will heat the home back up quickly and economically.

Electric heat pumps require a gentler touch. Heat pumps work by extracting ambient warmth from outside air and moving it indoors, which is exceptionally efficient but happens at a gradual pace. If you turn a heat pump thermostat down eight degrees and then bump it back up all at once, the system's control board will sense that the temperature is rising too slowly. To compensate, it will switch on auxiliary heat (backup electric heating coils).

These backup electric coils consume massive amounts of electricity, similar to running multiple large toasters at once. To avoid triggering expensive backup heating, limit your heat pump setbacks to two or three degrees at a time. Alternatively, choose a modern control unit designed specifically to bring heat pumps up to temperature smoothly using only the outdoor compressor.

Upgrade to Automated Controls and Room Monitors for Steady Comfort

Managing winter temperatures by hand means remembering to twist the dial before heading to bed and waiting around in a cold house while the furnace warms up in the morning. Equipping your home with automated controls removes this daily hassle and eliminates human error from your energy budget.

Programmable and digital wall controls allow you to schedule your preferred temperatures around your daily routine. The system can lower the heat automatically right as you fall asleep, warm the house back to 68 degrees just before your morning alarm rings, and drop back down after you leave for the day. Standalone humidity monitors placed in bedrooms or living areas provide an instant, accurate picture of your actual comfort levels so you know whether to turn on a humidifier or adjust your clothing.

Before selecting a new wall unit, verify how many heating stages your system uses and whether your furnace relies on gas, oil, or a heat pump. Check the wiring behind your existing wall plate to see if you have a continuous power wire or need a battery-operated model. Look for clear backlit displays that remain easy to read in dark hallways, and choose simple interfaces that let you change settings quickly without navigating complicated menus.

1

TempPro TP49 Digital Hygrometer Indoor Thermometer Humidity Meter Room Thermometer

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• BWP Score

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  9.2
• Brand
  TempPro

Key specs2

Refresh Interval

Every 10 seconds

Mounting Versatility

• Tabletop fold-out stand
• Built-in magnetic back
• Wall hanging mount cutout

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Refreshes temperature and humidity readings every 10 seconds for real-time room tracking
• Displays DRY, COMFORT, or WET face icons to quickly indicate when to adjust a humidifier
• Offers tabletop stand, magnetic back, and hanging mount options in a compact frame
• High precision rating within plus or minus 1 degree and 2 to 3 percent humidity

Cons

• Lacks wireless tracking or app connectivity to log winter temperature drops
• Manufacturer lists zero warranty coverage for this model

2

NonProgrammable Thermostat for Home, Digital Energy-Saving Thermostat,Single-Stage Systems, 1 Heat/1

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  9.2
• Brand
  Miuputake

Key specs2

Power Sources

24VAC hardwired or 2 AAA batteries

System Compatibility Limits

Supports standard single-stage heating and cooling, but excludes heat pumps with auxiliary heat, electric baseboards, and mini-split setups.

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Runs on either 24VAC hardwired power or 2 AAA batteries without requiring a C-wire
• Adjustable temperature swing differential helps optimize heating cycle frequency
• Includes built-in temperature calibration and compressor delay protection
• Universal sub-base and large terminal blocks enable straightforward 30-minute setup

Cons

• Incompatible with heat pumps that use auxiliary or emergency heat coils
• Does not offer programmable scheduling for automatic overnight setbacks

3

Suuwer Non-Programmable Thermostats for Home 1 Heat/1 Cool Conventional Single-Stage

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  9.0
• Brand
  Suuwer

Key specs2

Display Screen

Blue backlit LCD with oversized digits

Wiring Requirements

Accepts 2 to 5 wires for conventional single-stage systems, but does not support systems requiring 6 to 8 wires.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Blue backlit digital display features large digits for easy viewing across the room
• Operates on 24VAC systems or 2 AAA batteries without needing a common wire
• Controls conventional single-stage gas, oil, or electric heating systems

Cons

• Wiring base is strictly limited to 2 to 5 wire setups and rejects 6 to 8 wires
• Does not support heat pump systems, multistage equipment, or baseboard heaters

4

Heagstat Non-Programmable Thermostat for Home Conventional Single-Stage System, up to

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  9.0
• Brand
  Heagstat

Key specs2

Display Dimensions

4.5 square inch backlit LCD screen

Terminal Block Support

• Standard terminals: RH, RC, W, Y, G, C
• Compatible with 18 to 22 gauge wiring
• Lacks W2, Y2, O/B, E, AUX connections

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Features a spacious 4.5 square inch backlit screen for viewing temperature targets
• Standard terminal layout accepts common 18 to 22 gauge thermostat wiring
• Simple manual switches for Heat, Off, and Cool require zero programming steps
• Dual-power design works on 24VAC system power or 2 AAA backup batteries

Cons

• Lacks scheduled setbacks, requiring manual adjustment before bed or leaving home
• Missing terminals for auxiliary heat coils, reversing valves, and second stages

5

NonProgrammable Thermostat for Home, Digital Energy-Saving Thermostat,Single-Stage Systems, 1 Heat/1

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  9.0
• Brand
  Riseem

Key specs2

Heating Equipment Coverage

Controls conventional single-stage gas, oil, or electric furnaces, radiant boilers, and 24V gas fireplaces.

Wiring Restriction

Strictly 2 to 5 wires (no 6 to 8 wire setups)

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Controls radiant boilers and 24-volt gas fireplaces in addition to forced air
• Universal sub-base and large terminal blocks simplify replacement installation
• Backlit LCD screen provides crisp visibility of current room temperatures

Cons

• Terminal base accommodates only 2 to 5 wires, rejecting 6 to 8 wire connections
• Incompatible with heat pump systems whether auxiliary heat is present or not
• Non-programmable setup requires manual changes for day and night temperature shifts

6

Sensi Smart Thermostat, Wi-Fi, DIY, Alexa, Energy Star Certified, ST55

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  8.8
• Brand
  Sensi

Key specs2

Smart Energy Features

• Energy Star certified scheduling
• Remote smartphone temperature control
• Filter change reminders and equipment alerts

Manufacturer Warranty

3 years

Pros & cons52

Pros

• Energy Star certified scheduling automates daytime and nighttime temperature setbacks
• Connects to Wi-Fi for remote temperature adjustments and scheduling via smartphone
• Traditional wall footprint with a built-in level avoids patching and painting drywall
• Delivers heating usage reports, equipment alerts, and filter replacement reminders
• Backed by an included 3-year manufacturer warranty

Cons

• Requires a home Wi-Fi network and compatible mobile app for remote scheduling
• Certain HVAC configurations may still require running a dedicated common wire

7

Indoor Outdoor Thermometer Wireless, 4.5 Inch Display Digital Hygrometer Thermometer

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  8.8
• Brand
  U UNNI

Key specs2

Remote Sensor Count

3 wireless sensors with 330 ft range

Measurement Ranges

Reads indoor temperatures from 14.2°F to 122°F and outdoor conditions down to -40°F with full humidity tracking.

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Includes 3 remote wireless sensors with a 330-foot range to track unheated rooms
• Large 4.5-inch screen shows indoor and outdoor conditions with humidity trends
• Features outdoor temperature alerts to notify you before hard freezes arrive
• Dual power allows continuous backlight via USB or cordless battery placement

Cons

• Acts strictly as a monitor and cannot trigger or control heating equipment
• Sensor readings refresh on a 30-second interval rather than continuously

8

BN-LINK Digital Cooling Thermostat Controller, Temperature Controlled Outlet for Attic

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  8.8
• Brand
  BN-LINK

Key specs2

Electrical Load Limit

120VAC, 8.3A, 1000W maximum

Probe and Cord Reach

• 4.92 ft external sensor probe
• 3.94 ft heavy-duty grounded power cord
• Integrated hanging tab for mounting

Pros & cons42

Pros

• ETL listed controller safely handles 120VAC cooling loads up to 8.3A and 1000W
• Long 4.92-foot probe provides flexible temperature placement away from the outlet
• Digital three-button interface makes setting threshold temperatures quick and simple
• Bright LED indicators display power and active cooling status in the dark

Cons

• Engineered solely for cooling equipment and cannot control winter space heaters
• Temperature control span is limited to a range of 40 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit

9

New! Honeywell Home Programmable Thermostat, Single-Stage, 1 Heat/1 Cool Compatibility,

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  8.8
• Brand
  Honeywell Home

Key specs2

Low Heat Freeze Setting

Extended 32°F minimum setpoint

Schedule Customization

Features 5-2 day scheduling to automate weekday and weekend setback temperatures, with an optional manual mode.

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Supports 5-2 day scheduling to automate weekday and weekend winter temperature setbacks
• Extended 32-degree Fahrenheit low-heat setpoint protects vacant spaces from freezing
• Honeywell Home UWP wall plate simplifies mounting and future thermostat replacements
• Built-in filter change reminder helps maintain heating airflow and efficiency

Cons

• Limited to single-stage heating and cooling systems without multi-stage support
• Lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, requiring all schedule changes to be made at the wall

10

DEWENWILS Digital Temperature Controller, Heavy Duty 15A/1800W Thermostat Outlet Plug,

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  8.8
• Brand
  DEWENWILS

Key specs2

High Power Capacity

15A / 1800W max rating

Temperature Control Range

Manages heating or cooling devices between -40°F and 210°F with 0.1°F adjustment precision.

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Heavy-duty 15-amp relay manages plug-in heating equipment up to 1800 watts
• Wide temperature control span operates from -40 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit
• High-contrast VA display ensures visibility in unlit crawlspaces or pump houses
• Internal power memory retains your programmed temperature settings after outages

Cons

• Controls only single plug-in appliances rather than hardwired central systems
• Configuring cyclic timing and countdown modes requires consulting the manual

11

Programmable Thermostat, Thermostat for Home HVAC Systems,Multi-Stage, 2 Heat/2 Cool,

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  8.6
• Brand
  Coiiwsei

Key specs2

Multi-Stage Support

Up to 2 Heat / 2 Cool stages

Programming Options

• 7-day custom daily scheduling
• 5/1/1 weekday and individual weekend schedules
• Factory pre-set energy efficiency program

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Supports multi-stage equipment with up to 2 heating stages and 2 cooling stages
• Offers 7-day and 5/1/1 day programming menus to automate winter comfort schedules
• Large backlit LCD screen shows clear temperature setpoints and operating status
• Universal sub-base with large terminal blocks aids quick replacement installation

Cons

• Incompatible with heat pump setups requiring auxiliary or emergency electric heat
• Does not support line-voltage electric baseboard heaters or ductless mini splits

12

Springfield Static Cling Indoor Outdoor Thermometer, Temperature Gauge for Patio,

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  7.4
• Brand
  Springfield

Key specs2

Zero Power Operation

100% battery-free mechanical cling

Window Mount Setup

Attaches to window glass using static cling, reading outdoor or indoor temperatures from -40°F to 120°F without residue.

Pros & cons42

Pros

• Requires no batteries or wiring for continuous indoor or outdoor temperature checks
• Static cling design adheres firmly to glass windows without leaving messy residue
• High-contrast 8-inch by 10-inch dial and bright red pointer make readings effortless
• Factory calibrated to monitor winter temperatures down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit

Cons

• Exposure to direct sunlight on the window glass can skew temperature accuracy
• Does not track indoor humidity or connect to home heating equipment

Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

FAQs

What is the best temperature to sleep at during winter?

Setting your thermostat between 60 and 65 degrees provides the most comfortable sleeping environment for healthy adults. The human body naturally cools down as it falls asleep, and cooler bedroom air supports uninterrupted rest. Pair this temperature with flannel sheets, warm pajamas, and heavy winter blankets to keep your body warm without heating the entire house.

How low can I let the heat drop when I leave for work or vacation?

When leaving for work or daily errands, lower your thermostat to between 60 and 65 degrees to save fuel. If you are leaving on vacation, keep the thermostat set no lower than 55 degrees. Dropping below 55 degrees risks freezing water pipes inside exterior walls, under cabinets, or in unheated crawl spaces.

What is the safest room temperature for a baby in winter?

Keep your nursery temperature set between 68 and 72 degrees for infants. Babies struggle to regulate their own body heat, making them sensitive to both chilly drafts and accidental overheating. Dress your baby in a fitted sleeper paired with a wearable blanket or fleece sleep sack, and keep loose blankets out of the crib.

Why does my house feel cold even when the thermostat says 68 degrees?

Dry air and hidden drafts are the most common reasons a home feels cold at 68 degrees. Low indoor humidity speeds up moisture evaporation from your skin, which creates a noticeable cooling sensation. Adding moisture with a humidifier to reach 30 to 50 percent relative humidity, along with sealing drafts around doors and windows, will make 68 degrees feel warm and comfortable.