How much sleep do I need?
Adults aged 18 to 60 should regularly sleep 7 hours or more a night, according to a joint consensus of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society [1]. Children and teenagers need more: 8 to 10 hours at 13 to 18, and more again when younger [2].
Last reviewed 24 September 2026. General information from the Snorezy team, not medical advice.
- 4 to 12 months12 to 16 h
including naps
- 1 to 2 years11 to 14 h
including naps
- 3 to 5 years10 to 13 h
including naps
- 6 to 12 years9 to 12 h
- 13 to 18 years8 to 10 h
- Adults 18 to 607 or more
Adults
Seven hours or more, on a regular basis, for adults 18 to 60 [1]. Regularly sleeping less than that is associated with weight gain and obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, depression, and a higher risk of death [1]. Some people need more than seven; the recommendation is a floor, not a target.
Children and teenagers
Per 24 hours, including naps for the younger ages [2]:
- 4 to 12 months: 12 to 16 hours
- 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours
- 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours
- 6 to 12 years: 9 to 12 hours
- 13 to 18 years: 8 to 10 hours
Is 6 hours enough?
For most adults, regularly, no: it's below the 7 hours the consensus recommends [1]. An occasional short night is normal. A pattern of them is worth changing.
Time in bed isn't time asleep
Eight hours in bed can be well under eight hours asleep, once you count the time it takes to fall asleep and the time awake in the night. If you want to know your real figure, a sleep tracker such as an Apple Watch measures time asleep, not time in bed.
In Snorezy
See your own number
With Apple Health, Snorezy shows time asleep and time in bed for every night, and your average across 7 or 30 days in Trends. Apple Health supplies the sleep data; Snorezy puts it next to what the night sounded like.
Sources
- 1Watson NF et al. Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. J Clin Sleep Med. 2015;11(6):591-592.
- 2Paruthi S et al. Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(6):785-786.