For most homes, a good starting point is around 68–72°F (20–22°C) when you’re home and awake, and cooler or warmer when you’re away or asleep to save energy.

Quick Scoop

Best everyday temperatures

  • General comfort range: 68–72°F (20–22°C) is widely cited as a comfortable indoor range for most people.
  • Winter (heating):
    • At home and awake: about 68°F (20°C) balances comfort and efficiency.
* Sleeping or away: 60–65°F (15–18°C) can cut heating costs without freezing you out.
  • Summer (cooling):
    • At home and awake: around 78°F (26°C) is often recommended for savings.
* Away from home: you can let it rise to roughly mid‑80s°F (29–31°C).

Simple “set it and forget it” schedule

  1. Winter
    • Morning / evening (home): ~68°F
    • Night: 60–65°F
    • Workday away: 58–61°F
      These ranges are commonly suggested as a good mix of comfort and lower bills.
  1. Summer
    • Daytime (home): ~78°F
    • Night: 74–78°F, depending on how cool you sleep best.
 * Away: 85–88°F to avoid over‑cooling an empty home.

Factors that might change your “perfect” number

  • Personal comfort: Some people feel cold at 68°F and prefer nudging it up a degree or two.
  • Climate and insulation: Drafty or very humid homes may need slightly different settings for the same comfort.
  • Health, kids, and pets: Mild, stable temperatures (roughly in that 68–72°F band) are often recommended as safe and comfortable.
  • Energy bills: Every degree you lower in winter or raise in summer usually saves a bit on energy over time.

Quick example

If you like it cozy in winter, you might set 70°F while you’re relaxing in the evening, drop it to 64°F at night, and down to about 60°F when everyone’s out during the day. That sits within typical expert ranges while trimming what you pay to heat the house.

HTML table of common settings

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Season</th>
      <th>Situation</th>
      <th>Typical Thermostat Setting (°F)</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Winter</td>
      <td>Home & awake</td>
      <td>68°F</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Winter</td>
      <td>Sleeping</td>
      <td>60–65°F</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Winter</td>
      <td>Away from home</td>
      <td>58–61°F</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Summer</td>
      <td>Home & awake</td>
      <td>78°F</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Summer</td>
      <td>Sleeping</td>
      <td>74–78°F</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Summer</td>
      <td>Away from home</td>
      <td>85–88°F</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Year-round</td>
      <td>General comfort band</td>
      <td>68–72°F</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

TL;DR: Start at about 68°F in winter and 78°F in summer when you’re home, then adjust by a degree or two until it feels right, using cooler/warmer settings when you’re sleeping or away to save money.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.