What Temperature Should I Set My Thermostat?

The right thermostat setting balances comfort and cost — and the two don't have to be as far apart as you might think. Here's what the research says, plus practical adjustments for different households.

Recommended Settings

Summer (cooling). ENERGY STAR, the federal efficiency program run jointly by the EPA and the Department of Energy, suggests these setpoints (as reported by FOX 29):

Winter (heating). The EPA suggests keeping your home heated to 68°F during the day and 60°F at night:

These are efficiency-first settings. Many people find 78°F in summer warm, so treat them as a target to work toward, not a rule. The Department of Energy's Energy Saver thermostat page that this guide used to cite no longer loads, so these figures now come from the live EPA, ENERGY STAR and DOE pages listed under Sources.

What a Setback Saves

The Department of Energy's home upgrades guide says you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7–10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. That is the figure DOE publishes; it does not break the saving down per degree, so neither do we.

Over a full summer or winter, that adds up on your utility bill. To see what a typical month costs where you live, our electric bill by state table lists each state's average summer, winter and 12-month bill.

Adjusting for Your Household

With young children or infants: The standard range is fine, but avoid extreme setbacks — large temperature swings can be harder for infants to adjust to. Keep sleeping temperatures between 68–72°F for newborns.

With elderly household members: Older adults are more sensitive to cold and heat. 72–74°F in summer and 70°F in winter is more comfortable and safer for many seniors.

With pets: Pets can overheat too, and flat-faced breeds (bulldogs, pugs) are more vulnerable. Ask your vet what's safe before setting the house warm while they're home alone.

The "Leave It Alone" Myth

Many people believe it's more efficient to leave the AC running at a constant temperature all day rather than letting the house warm up and then cooling it down. This is false.

A house at 85°F requires significantly less total energy to cool to 78°F once than a house that has been held at 72°F all day. The physics is simple: the larger the temperature difference between inside and outside, the faster heat flows into the house. A cooler house loses its cooling faster.

Smart thermostats handle this automatically — they pre-cool the house before you arrive based on your schedule, so you return to a comfortable home without having cooled it all day.

Smart Thermostat vs Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat lets you set a schedule (workdays, weekends). It's a step up from manual adjustments but requires setup.

A smart thermostat learns your patterns, adjusts based on occupancy, and can be controlled remotely. ENERGY STAR certifies smart thermostats based on actual field data showing they deliver energy savings.

Recommended options:

• Google Nest Learning Thermostat — self-learning, sleek, very easy to set up
• Ecobee SmartThermostat Premium — room sensors, Alexa built-in, works well in larger homes
• Honeywell Home RTH7560E Programmable — budget-friendly, no WiFi needed, simple 7-day programming

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Ceiling Fans: The Easy Multiplier

Ceiling fans don't change air temperature — they change how temperature feels through the wind-chill effect.

ENERGY STAR's usage tips say to run the fan counterclockwise in summer and to adjust your thermostat when you use it. In winter, reverse the motor and run it clockwise on low speed to push warm ceiling air down. If the room is empty, turn the fan off to save energy.

What Temperature Is Too Cold?

In winter, avoid setting the heat below 55°F in occupied homes in cold climates — water pipes can freeze in interior walls if temperatures drop too far. 60°F is the safe minimum for unoccupied periods when pipes are at risk.

If you set the house back and warm only the room you're in with a portable heater, our space heater cost by state table shows what one costs per hour and per month at your state's electricity price, at the 1,500 W and 750 W settings.

For vacation or extended absence in winter, 55°F is generally considered the minimum safe temperature for homes with standard plumbing. Drain pipes if you'll be away for extended periods in very cold weather.

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