NATION
Air Conditioning
America’s preferred AC temperature isn’t the recommended 78 degrees
‘It’s the temperature most Americans say helps them fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.’
Saman ShafiqUSA TODAY
Updated Aug. 4, 2026, 6:15 p.m. ET
The recommended average temperature for air conditioner thermostats may be 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, but a new survey has found that most Americans prefer to set it far lower
Sleep wellness brand Bear Mattress, in a recent sleep study released July 8, found that the country’s “ideal sleep temperature” is 67 degrees
“It’s the temperature most Americans say helps them fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer,” Bear Mattress said in an Aug. 4 news release
While 67 degrees, or “6-7”, is the national average, Massachusetts sleeps the coldest at 63.2 degrees; meanwhile, Hawaii is the warmest sleeping state at 69.5 degrees
“Regional climate plays a major role in how Americans define ‘comfortable’,” the study said
More than 2,000 adults across all 50 states participated in the research, Bear Mattress said, as it mapped “sleep comfort, temperature preferences, and bedtime behaviors” to understand “how geography and generation shape the way Americans wind down.”
A 2021 Consumer Reports national survey found that the average temperature Americans set their thermostats to is about 71 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and night. The temperature varies slightly by region, with Americans living in the South reporting that they set their thermostats to 72 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, while those living in the Northeast set theirs to 70 degrees, the survey found
Not a single respondent with central air conditioning indicated that they would set the temperature above 76 degrees Fahrenheit during summer.
What temperature should you set your thermostat to in the summer?
Though the ideal temperature may vary depending on where one lives, 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the recommended average, according to several energy companies, including Chicago‘s Constellation, New York and Massachusetts’ National Grid and Florida’s Carrier
The Department of Energy recommends keeping indoor temperatures comfortable, at a level that provides humidity control, while keeping the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures low to save money
America’s sleeping habits
Not just sleep, Bear Mattress also looked into the “habits, routines, locations and generational quirks that define bedtime in 2026.”
The survey found that 58% of Americans prefer sleeping on their side, while about half of Americans spend the equivalent of three full months every year in bed, “making sleep one of the most time-consuming, and essential, parts of daily life.”
Another notable find was that people in Nevada get the best sleep, while Oklahoma has the lowest sleep comfort index scores among all 50 states
Contributing: Greta Cross, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7
