There is no single ideal temperature for every home. Use local guidance as a starting point, then choose the lowest temperature that keeps the household comfortable and safe. The World Health Organization proposes 18°C as a cold-season minimum for general populations in temperate or colder climates; Australian guidance recommends heating to 18–20°C, while UK consumer advice puts the usual lowest-comfortable thermostat setting at 18–21°C. These are contextual guideposts, not a universal 19°C rule.
What temperature should you set your home to?
For many households, 18–20°C is a practical starting range for occupied rooms in winter, but the appropriate setting depends on where you live, who lives with you and how your home retains heat. In the UK, Energy Saving Trust describes 18–21°C as the usual lowest-comfortable thermostat range. Treat that as practical consumer advice rather than a scientifically established optimum for every person or property.
The often-repeated 19°C figure is best understood as a rule of thumb. A UK government review reported mean room temperatures of 19.3°C in living rooms and 18.9°C in bedrooms during the heating season (October–April). Those figures describe observed survey conditions; they are not recommended targets.
How the main temperature recommendations differ
| Guidance | Temperature or figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| World Health Organization, 2018 | 18°C | A proposed safe, well-balanced cold-season indoor temperature for general populations in temperate or colder climates—not a universal comfort target or maximum. WHO, Housing and Health Guidelines. |
| Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | 18–20°C | Government consumer advice for setting heating. The department estimates each additional degree can add 5–10% to energy costs; this is a rule of thumb, not a prediction for an individual home. Winter energy savings. |
| Energy Saving Trust, UK | 18–21°C | The usual lowest-comfortable thermostat level in its consumer guidance, not a universal scientific optimum. The most economical ways to use your central heating. |
The WHO figure addresses protection from cold for a general population; the Australian and UK ranges are practical energy-use guidance. They answer related but different questions, so they should not be treated as competing measurements of one perfect setting.
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- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory
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Who may need a warmer home?
WHO says a higher minimum may be needed for older people, children and people with chronic illnesses, particularly cardiorespiratory disease. Its 18°C proposal is not a precise threshold below which harm is certain, nor does it establish that everyone will be comfortable at that temperature. Consider the needs of residents and seek appropriate health advice if you are unsure what is safe for someone in your care.
Why the thermostat number is not the whole story
Comfort depends on more than the air temperature shown on a thermostat. Climate, activity, clothing, health, heating method and the building’s thermal performance all matter. A poorly insulated home may lose heat quickly and feel uncomfortable at a setting that works in a well-insulated one. A thermostat’s reading may also differ from conditions in the room where people spend time.
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Construction and retrofit choices affect how consistently a home holds heat: insulation, draught control and suitable heating controls can help address heat loss and manage warmth. The best setting is still the one that is both comfortable and safe for the people in the home, rather than a number pursued in isolation.
How to balance comfort and heating costs
In Australian guidance, heating and cooling account for around 40% of average household energy use. That is an Australian average, not a figure that applies to every country or home. The same Australian guidance estimates that each extra degree of heating can add 5–10% to energy costs, but actual bills depend on the building, heating system, weather, energy prices and how it is used.
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Rather than lowering the thermostat automatically to meet a fixed target, try a setting within local guidance that feels comfortable, then adjust in small steps. If rooms are cold despite a reasonable setting, investigate heat loss or uneven heating instead of assuming a lower setpoint is the answer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Schedule heating around when rooms are used
A programmable thermostat can align heating with the household’s routine and the times rooms are occupied. Set schedules around actual use rather than heating every room to the same level all day. Thermostatic radiator valves can also help control individual radiators on compatible systems; check the equipment and heating system’s compatibility before changing controls. Both Australian government guidance and Energy Saving Trust discuss heating controls as ways to manage use.
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A practical decision checklist
- Start with the guidance for your country and climate; do not treat 19°C as a universal rule.
- Take account of older people, children and residents with chronic illness, who may need a higher minimum.
- Set heating for the rooms and times they are actually needed, using compatible controls where available.
- If comfort remains poor, consider insulation, draughts, heat loss and whether the thermostat reflects the occupied room.
- Use energy-saving estimates as general guidance, not as a guaranteed bill reduction for your property.
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