Do Americans Get Enough Sleep?

#1. More than half of American adults sleep less than seven hours a night.

The CDC, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and National Sleep Foundation all recommend that adults get at least seven hours of sleep per night. According to the CDC, regularly sleeping fewer than seven hours is associated with increased risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and frequent mental distress.

In our survey, 53% of respondents reported getting fewer than seven hours on a typical night—a finding that aligns with the direction of broader national data. If you're regularly falling short of seven hours, it's worth paying attention to. Sleep is one of the more actionable levers for overall health and daily well-being.

#2. Gen X reports "poor" sleep more than any other generation.

When asked to rate their sleep quality, Gen X reported "poor" sleep more than any other age group in our survey, with 18% of Gen Xers describing their sleep that way. This compares to 16% of Millennials, 12% of Baby Boomers, and 11% of Gen Z.

Several factors likely contribute to Gen X's sleep struggles. Gen X currently sits squarely in the "sandwich generation" window. Many are simultaneously managing careers, raising children, and caring for aging parents, a combination of stressors that can make consistent sleep difficult to prioritize. Hormonal changes associated with midlife, particularly for women navigating perimenopause, are also well-documented contributors to disrupted sleep. 

#3. People in Nevada get the best sleep. Oklahoma has the lowest Sleep Comfort Index scores.

Our Sleep Comfort Index surfaced some striking regional differences in sleep health. Nevada ranked #1 with a score of 57.6, suggesting residents there report longer sleep, better quality, and more comfortable sleep temperatures than most of the country. Oklahoma ranked last, with a score of 35.0.

The source of these gaps are likely multifaceted, given differences in cost of living, work culture, climate, access to healthcare, and more. But the spread between the highest and lowest states is notable. Where does your state stack up? Check our full state rankings to find out.

#4. America's preferred sleep temperature is 67°F.

Sleep scientists have long pointed to the mid-to-upper 60s as the sweet spot for sleep temperature, and it looks like most sleepers agree. According to our survey, the average ideal sleep temperature in the U.S. is 67°F.

But the national average overlooks some notable regional variation. The data shows that Massachusetts sleeps the coolest, with residents preferring an average of 63.2°F. Hawaii runs the hottest, with a preferred sleep temp average of 69.5°F. Whether it's climate adaptation, cultural habit, or something else entirely, where you live appears to shape what "comfortable" feels like at bedtime.

#5. More women report overheating than men.

Our data found that women (47%) are more likely than men (38%) to report overheating at night, and the research helps explain why. Ovarian hormones influence body temperature in meaningful ways across multiple life stages, making nighttime heat a recurring challenge for many women.

#6. Twenty-two percent of couples can't agree on a bedroom temperature.

Sharing a bed means sharing a thermostat, and for roughly one in five couples, that's a source of genuine conflict. Twenty-two percent of partnered respondents said they and their partner frequently or occasionally have disagreements about bedroom temperature.

This may not sound like a heated debate, but sleep temperature can have a real effect on sleep quality. Considering sleep's impact on overall health and mood, it may well be worth it for couples to find a long-term solution or compromise.

#7. Big Fans: 78% of Americans run a fan to keep cool—including 40% who do it year-round.

Fans aren't just a summer fix. Seventy-eight percent of Americans use a fan to help regulate their sleep temperature, including the 40% who run a fan at night regardless of the season. Beyond cooling, fans provide white noise that blocks out ambient sound, which may explain their enduring popularity even in colder months. If you're a fan devotee, you're firmly in the majority.

#8. Sleeping on your side is the most popular sleep position.

When it comes to sleep position, side sleeping reigns supreme. Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they primarily sleep on their side, making it the dominant position across all demographics.

Side sleeping is generally considered one of the healthier positions, as it can reduce acid reflux, ease snoring, and is the recommended position during pregnancy. However, it does concentrate pressure on the hips and shoulders, which is why a mattress with proper pressure relief matters for side sleepers in particular.

#9. Almost 30% of American adults sleep with their phone physically in their bed.

We've all heard the advice to keep screens out of the bedroom, as blue light exposure, late-night scrolling, and the psychological tether of always-on connectivity are well-documented sleep disruptors. And yet, 29% of American adults report sleeping with their phone in their actual bed. Another 48% of adults keep their phones on their nightstand, within arm's reach. Gen Z are the most phone-attached sleepers, with 43% reporting that their phone shares their bed with them—more than any other generation.

#10. Twenty percent of sleepers are ditching their top sheet entirely.

The "top sheet debate" has been raging online for years, and our data suggests the no-top-sheet camp is a growing minority: one in five Americans has dropped the top sheet from their bedding setup altogether. Whether it's a preference for the unrestricted feel of a comforter alone or simply one less thing to launder, the top sheet's days as a universal bedding staple may be numbered.

#11. Americans are about 50/50 on wearing socks to bed.

This one divides households: roughly half of Americans never wear socks to bed, while the other half are split between those who always do (about 30%) and those who sometimes do (about 20%).

Interestingly, science has a take on this. Wearing socks to bed to warm your feet may actually help keep you cool by promoting distal vasodilation. As sleep medicine specialist Aparna Bhat, MD, explains: "It's part of your body's temperature regulation. As your blood vessels open, they release more heat. This decreases your body's core temperature and helps signal that it's time to sleep." So, the sock devotees may be onto something.

As for what people wear to bed overall, the most popular choice is a t-shirt and shorts, selected by 46% of respondents. It's a comfortable, breathable option that works across seasons and sleep temperatures.

#12. Most couples go to bed at different times.

Is going to sleep at the same time just a honeymoon phase? If you and your partner get into bed at the same time, you're actually in the minority. Our survey found that only 39% of couples typically go to bed at the same time. The rest are navigating different schedules, different wind-down routines, and different natural sleep rhythms. This has become increasingly understood as normal, though it does put a premium on mattresses that minimize motion transfer, so one partner's arrival doesn't disturb the other.

#13. Seventy percent of partnered sleepers think there's a blanket hog in their relationship.

Blanket theft is real, and apparently nearly universal: 70% of participants with a partner believe there's a blanket hog in their relationship—and 35% say their partner is the culprit. Which are you, the blanket hog, or the one left in the cold? Nighttime movement, temperature differences, and unconscious tugging all contribute to this ongoing battle of the bedcovers.

#14. A quarter of couples use their own blankets, following the Scandinavian method.

One increasingly popular solution to the blanket war? Going your own way. Twenty-five percent of couples have adopted the so-called "Scandinavian sleep method," in which each partner uses their own separate blanket or duvet. Popular in Nordic countries for generations, this approach eliminates temperature negotiation, blanket stealing, and cover-related sleep disruptions in one move. It's a simple, low-tech solution that more American couples are quietly adopting.

#15. Thirteen percent of American adults have never replaced their mattress.

Here's a finding that should give everyone pause: 13% of American adults have never replaced their mattress. Not once. For context, most sleep experts recommend replacing your mattress every 7 to 10 years, and our survey found that the 8–11 year window is the most common replacement timeline among those who have replaced theirs.

A mattress that's past its prime doesn't just feel less comfortable; it can also actively undermine your sleep quality. Springs lose their support, foam compresses and develops body impressions, and materials degrade in ways that affect both comfort and hygiene.

Signs it's time for a new mattress:

• You wake up with aches and stiffness that ease throughout the day
• You sleep better in hotels or on other mattresses
• Your mattress is visibly sagging, lumpy, or indented
• You can feel the coils or springs through the surface
• Your mattress is more than 7–10 years old
• You've had significant changes in body weight, health needs, or sleep position

A note on general bed maintenance:

While mattress replacement is the big one, everyday habits matter too. Washing your sheets weekly (or every two weeks at minimum) significantly reduces allergens, dust mites, and bacteria. As for making the bed daily, habits vary widely by generation. Younger adults are less likely to make their bed every morning (40% of Gen Z vs. 60% of Baby Boomers), though the practice may be tied to broader feelings of order and readiness to start the day.