How much sleep you need by age
The recommended hours of sleep for any age, from the CDC table, and the bedtime that gets you there.
Adult, 18–60 years
7+hours per 24 hours
6 h 30 min is below this range.
With a 6:30 AM alarm and 15 minutes to fall asleep, 7 hours means getting into bed by 11:15 PM.
Source for this row: American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society, as compiled in CDC's "About Sleep" table. Needs vary from person to person.
| Age group | Age | Recommended | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 0–3 months | 14–17 hours | NSF |
| Infant | 4–12 months | 12–16 hours (including naps) | AASM |
| Toddler | 1–2 years | 11–14 hours (including naps) | AASM |
| Preschool | 3–5 years | 10–13 hours (including naps) | AASM |
| School age | 6–12 years | 9–12 hours | AASM |
| Teen | 13–17 years | 8–10 hours | AASM |
| Adult | 18–60 years | 7 or more hours | AASM/SRS |
| Adult | 61–64 years | 7–9 hours | NSF |
| Adult | 65 years and older | 7–8 hours | NSF |
How the math works
The ranges come from the table on CDC's "About Sleep" page (last reviewed November 20, 2023). CDC compiles them from three consensus statements: the National Sleep Foundation (newborns and adults 61 and older), the American Academy of Sleep Medicine pediatric statement (infants through teens) and the joint statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society (adults 18 to 60).
For infants, toddlers and preschoolers the hours include naps. The source table lists infants as 4–12 months and toddlers as 1–2 years, so the tool places a child who has just turned 1 in the toddler row.
The bedtime line uses the same simple sum as the sleep calculator: the alarm minus 15 minutes to fall asleep minus the hours in the range.
The comparison only says whether a number sits inside the published range. It is not an assessment of anyone's health.
General information based on published averages, not medical advice. Sleep cycles and needs vary from person to person. If you have problems sleeping or feel unusually tired during the day, see a doctor.