Sleep Science8 min readBy Qumfy Sleep Team

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

Discover your optimal sleep duration based on age, genetics, and lifestyle. Learn why 8 hours isn\'t universal and how to find your personal sleep need.

Sleep Duration by Age

Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours

Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hours

Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours

Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10-13 hours

School-age (6-13 years): 9-11 hours

Teenagers (14-17 years): 8-10 hours

Adults (18-64 years): 7-9 hours

Older Adults (65+ years): 7-8 hours

Individual Variation

These are guidelines, not rules. Your personal sleep need is determined by genetics (primarily) and lifestyle factors. Some people genuinely function well on 6 hours, while others need 9.5 hours.

The Two-Week Vacation Test: Go to bed when naturally sleepy, no alarm, for 14 days. After the first few days (recovery sleep), note when you naturally wake. That's your genetic sleep need.

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