Do men and women sleep at different temps?

Key takeaways

• There’s a real difference, but it’s smaller than the jokes suggest. On average, women’s hands and feet run cooler than men’s, and women are more likely to feel cold in the same room.

• It isn’t that women run cold overall. Women’s core temperature is, if anything, slightly higher than men’s; it’s the skin at the hands and feet that’s cooler.

• Body size explains much of it. Smaller bodies lose heat faster, and men’s higher heat output comes mostly from having more muscle.

• Hormones shift the picture. Body temperature rises a little in the second half of the menstrual cycle, and night sweats are common in the years around menopause.

• Individual differences beat the averages. In any given couple, either partner might be the one who runs hot. The fix is to let each person control their own side.

The short answer

Yes, on average, though not in the way people usually picture it. Studies in offices and labs find that women are more likely than men to feel cold at the same temperature, and some find that women prefer a slightly warmer room for sleep. Women’s hands and feet are measurably cooler. But women’s core body temperature is no lower than men’s, the size of the gap varies a lot between studies, and plenty of couples are the other way around.

So if you and your partner argue about the thermostat or the comforter, you’re not imagining it. But your own two bodies tell you more than which of you is the man or the woman.

Cold hands, warm core

The best-known measurement comes from a 1998 letter in The Lancet. Researchers at the University of Utah measured the hand and core temperatures of men and women and found that women’s hands averaged 87.2°F, against 90.0°F for men, nearly 3°F cooler. Yet women’s core temperature was slightly higher, by about 0.4°F.

That pattern shows up in what people report, too. In a 2016 survey of 240 adults, women were much more likely than men to say their hands and feet felt cold, both day and night, and more likely to seek out warmth when it was cool.

Cold hands and feet affect sleep because they’re how the body sheds heat at night. To fall asleep, blood flow shifts to the skin of the hands and feet so heat can escape and core temperature can drop. Someone whose hands and feet start out cold may want more warmth around them in bed.

What research on comfort shows

Most of the evidence comes from studies of offices and other buildings, not bedrooms, and it mostly points the same way, with caveats.

• Women are more often uncomfortable. A 2012 review of thermal comfort studies found that women were about 1.7 times as likely as men to say they were dissatisfied with the temperature, especially when it was cool. Most of the studies, though, found little or no difference in the temperature men and women rated as neutral.

• Building standards may suit men better. A 2015 analysis argued that the formulas behind office temperature standards were built around an average man’s metabolism, and may overestimate a woman’s by up to 35%, which would leave rooms set cooler than many women like.

• Results vary. A 2018 review of the research found “no clear and consistent conclusions” on how big the difference between men and women is, or whether it’s significant.

Sleep studies specifically

Only a handful of studies have looked at men and women sleeping in different room temperatures, and they’re small.

In a 2012 Chinese study of winter sleep at 63°F, 68°F, and 73°F, women preferred a warmer room than men. Their finger temperature and blood flow were lower, and more affected by the room temperature, than men’s.

A 2026 study that had people sleep in rooms set between about 72°F and 86°F found that the room temperature itself made the biggest difference to everyone’s sleep, with warmer rooms bringing more restless sleep. Differences between men and women in skin temperature were smaller and mostly at the hands and feet, though men and women still differed in how settled their sleep was.

Why the difference exists

Body size and muscle. Smaller bodies have more skin surface for their weight, so they lose heat faster. Men are larger on average and have more muscle, which produces more heat at rest. In a 1993 study of more than 500 adults, men burned about 23% more energy at rest than women, but once the researchers accounted for muscle, fat, and fitness, the gap shrank to about 3%. And in a 2017 study of how people’s bodies shed heat during exercise in a warm room, body shape and size explained far more of the difference between people than sex did.

Hormones and the menstrual cycle. Core temperature rises after ovulation. In a 2001 sleep lab study, women’s average body temperature was about 0.7°F higher in the second half of their cycle than in the first, and their temperature fell less at night than men’s did. Their overall sleep quality, though, was much the same as men’s across the month.

The years around menopause. Hot flashes at night, known as night sweats, are common during the menopause transition. In the SWAN study, which followed women through midlife, frequent hot flashes and night sweats lasted a median of 7.4 years. For some couples, this is when temperature arguments start. The National Institute on Aging suggests keeping the bedroom cool, using a fan, and dressing the bed in layers that are easy to remove.

Who runs hot in your bed?

The averages say men run warmer, but they can’t tell you about your own relationship. A slim man might run cold next to a larger partner; a woman in her late 40s may suddenly become the hot one. Age, weight, fitness, medication, alcohol, and illness all change how warm someone feels at night.

So for a couple, the useful question is how each of you gets what you need from the same bed.

How to share a bed when you run at different temperatures

Set the room for the warmer sleeper. It’s easier for a cold person to add a layer than for a hot person to cool down. In winter, the NHS advises keeping bedrooms at 64°F (18°C) or warmer, especially for older people and those with health conditions. Our guide to the best temperature to sleep at covers the full range.

Use two duvets. Separate covers let each person choose their own weight and stop the covers moving with whoever rolls over. We explain how in the Scandinavian sleep method.

Warm the person, not the room. Socks, a light sweater, or an extra blanket on one side lets the colder partner warm up without overheating the other.

Cool one side. A fan pointed at one half of the bed, breathable sheets, and lighter sleepwear help the warmer partner.

Consider split temperature control. If you’ve tried everything, some bed cooling and heating systems let each side be set to a different temperature. We compare them in the best bed cooling systems.

Frequently asked questions

Why are women colder than men at night?

On average, women’s hands and feet run cooler, and women tend to be smaller with less muscle, so they lose heat faster and make less of it. Their core temperature isn’t lower, though, and many individual women run warmer than their partners.

Why does my husband sleep so hot?

Larger bodies with more muscle produce more heat, and some men simply run warm. Alcohol, a heavy evening meal, exercise late in the day, and a warm room can all add to it. If he regularly wakes drenched in sweat, it’s worth mentioning to a doctor.

What temperature should a bedroom be for couples?

Set it for the warmer sleeper and let the colder one add layers. A cool room suits sleep for most people; just keep it at 64°F or above in winter if either of you is older or unwell.

Does a woman’s body temperature change during her cycle?

Yes. Core body temperature rises a little, by around half a degree to a degree Fahrenheit, after ovulation and stays higher until the next period. That can make some women feel warmer at night in the second half of their cycle.

Why do I suddenly get hot at night in my 40s?

Night sweats are common in the years around menopause, and they can start well before periods stop. If they’re disrupting your sleep, a cooler room, layered bedding, and a fan can make nights more comfortable, and a doctor can talk through other options.

How can couples with different temperature preferences share a bed?

Use separate duvets of different weights, keep the room cool, and let the colder partner add socks or a blanket. If that isn’t enough, a bed system with separate temperature control for each side is an option.