Human First

Expert guideline

How much sleep adults need

What is the evidence-based minimum amount of sleep for a healthy adult?

Bottom line

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend that adults sleep 7 or more hours per night on a regular basis1.

Two leading sleep science bodies jointly recommend that adults sleep 7 or more hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health1.

The recommendation came from a structured expert consensus process, the modified RAND Appropriateness Method, applied to the research literature2.

The statement links regularly sleeping less than 7 hours with adverse outcomes including weight gain and obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke, depression, and increased risk of death3.

What this does not show

  • This is a consensus recommendation, a judgement by experts on the evidence, not a single trial.
  • It applies to healthy adults. Sleep needs differ for young people, older adults, and people with some illnesses.

Claims and sources

  1. Adults should sleep 7 or more hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health.

    Guideline Expert guideline

    • Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, Bliwise DL, et al. (2015). Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. SLEEP. doi:10.5665/sleep.4716

  2. The AASM and SRS recommendation was developed using a modified RAND Appropriateness Method consensus process.

    Guideline Expert guideline

    • Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, Bliwise DL, et al. (2015). Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. SLEEP. doi:10.5665/sleep.4716

  3. Sleeping less than 7 hours per night on a regular basis is associated with adverse health outcomes, including weight gain and obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke, depression, and increased risk of death.

    Guideline Expert guideline

    • Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, Bliwise DL, et al. (2015). Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. SLEEP. doi:10.5665/sleep.4716

Version 1. First published , updated . Approved by The Human First editors on . Sources last verified 2026-10-24. Machine-readable version.