British Gas has shared the ideal temperature for every room in your home - and it's not the same for every space
Sophie Buchan Money and Lifestyle Writer
15:33, 15 Jan 2026
British Gas has advised its customers to maintain a suitable room temperature to ensure you stay warm and your property avoids issues such as damp and condensation. While the "best room temperature will vary depending on the people using that space", there's a general guideline to follow and one swap that takes seconds, which could save you money on your next bill.
British Gas suggests adhering to a simple wait-and-dress-first rule. It encourages people to try putting on a jumper or socks first and see if this helps keep them warm before adjusting the thermostat.
By doing this, you might find you don't need to crank up the heating as much. This approach could save you time fiddling with the thermostat and also reduce your energy bills.
If you have already tried this and still feel cold despite layering, then you can ensure each room is heated to the correct temperature. However, remember to turn this off when you're not at home as your thermostat may not need to be as high, especially if you're on holiday.
Set your temperature to this
Remember this is just a general guideline. Temperatures and how you feel will vary from person to person.
- Living Room: 20-22C. This is the primary space for relaxing, so a higher baseline temperature ensures maximum comfort.
- Bedroom (Adults): 16-18C. A cooler environment supports the body's natural temperature drop during sleep, leading to better rest.
- Bedroom (Baby): 16-20C. Keeping the room within this range prevents overheating and helps reduce the risk of SIDS
- Office: 20-22C. Maintains comfort and aids concentration during long periods of sedentary work.
- Bathroom: 20-22C. Ensures a comfortable transition when stepping out of a warm bath or shower.
- Kitchen: 18-20C. Cooking appliances naturally generate extra heat, so a lower base setting prevents the room from becoming too hot.
- Hallway, Landing & Storage: 15-18C. These are transient areas where people don't linger, but the heat must be high enough to prevent dampness and condensation.
Other rules to follow
Zoning
Rather than heating the entire property, the principle is to direct energy only towards rooms that are actively occupied.
Maintenance Cycles
The experts encourage homeowners to service their boiler according to the industry standard of Annual Servicing. Most manufacturer warranties and insurance policies stipulate a service every 12 months to maintain validity.
One Degree
Reducing your thermostat by just 1C can generally save approximately 10% on your energy bill. Whilst this appears minimal, warming your space by that additional degree requires more time and inevitably costs extra money especially if you do this frequently be it daily or weekly.
Ideal room temperature for...
Babies
Newborns cannot yet effectively regulate their own body temperature, requiring parents to prevent them becoming too cold or overheated.
It cautions: "Overheating can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), so the NHS recommends a room temperature of 16-20C to keep babies comfortable and safe while sleeping.
"You shouldn’t need to keep the heating on all night, and using layers of lightweight blankets or a sleeping bag will make it easier to adjust for the room temperature. Never let a baby sleep with a hot water bottle or electric blanket, next to a radiator, heater or fire, or in direct sunshine."
The elderly
According to Age UK, those aged 65 and above should maintain a consistent and comfortable temperature in their main living spaces, typically around 18C. This includes areas such as the living room and bedroom.
If finances are tight, it can be helpful to turn off or reduce the heating in rooms that aren't being used. Ensure doors remain closed to retain warmth in occupied areas. Closing curtains as daylight fades can also help trap heat from radiators indoors.
Pregnant people
This is individual and largely depends on personal comfort levels at certain temperatures. Whilst there's no universal 'ideal' temperature for expectant parents, the largest UK energy and home services company warns: "Being pregnant during hot weather can be challenging, particularly in a heatwave.
"Like everyone, drink lots of water to stay hydrated and try running your wrists under a cold tap to cool down. Take things easy too to avoid the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke."
When you're off to bed, it's advisable to turn down the heating a bit. Even donning snug pyjamas can have a significant impact.
The Sleep Charity suggests that the optimal bedroom temperature for sleep is between 16-18C. Anything above 24C might be excessively warm and cause restlessness. Similarly, a temperature of 12C or lower could also present difficulties in falling asleep.