Ideal thermostat setting in the UK: what to set it to
Find the best thermostat temperature for comfort and lower bills, plus compare whole-of-market UK energy tariffs in minutes with EnergyPlus.co.uk.
- Typical UK guidance: living areas around 18–21°C (adjust for your home and health needs)
- Simple rules for day/night settings, timers and TRVs
- Compare whole-of-market electricity and gas deals to reduce costs
Home energy advice for UK households. If anyone in your home is elderly, very young or unwell, prioritise a safe, steady temperature.
What is the ideal thermostat setting for a UK home?
For most UK households, a sensible starting point is to heat your main living areas to around 18–21°C when you’re at home and awake. Many people feel comfortable around 19–20°C, but the “ideal” setting depends on your insulation, property type, radiators, and personal health needs.
If your home is well-insulated, you may feel comfortable at the lower end of the range. If it’s draughty or you have high ceilings or solid walls, you might need a slightly higher set point (or better, targeted heating in the rooms you use most).
Health first: babies, older people and anyone with certain medical conditions may need a warmer, more consistent indoor temperature. If in doubt, take medical advice and prioritise safety over savings.
A practical UK thermostat approach
- Daytime (home): set the thermostat around 19–20°C and fine-tune by 0.5–1°C.
- Nighttime: avoid overheating bedrooms; consider 16–18°C depending on comfort.
- Out of the house: use a timer/schedule rather than leaving heating on all day.
- Don’t “blast” the heating: setting 25°C doesn’t heat faster—your system typically heats at the same rate.
Compare whole-of-market energy tariffs
Your thermostat setting matters—but your tariff can make an immediate difference too. Complete the form to compare UK home energy prices from across the market.
Tip: If you’re on a time-of-use tariff (e.g. Economy 7 or smart tariffs), your ideal “schedule” matters as much as the temperature. Use the schedule section below to avoid heating at expensive times.
Quick definition: Your thermostat controls the overall heating demand (usually where the thermostat is located). TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves) let you fine-tune individual rooms. Using both properly is often the most cost-effective setup in UK homes.
Why the “ideal” setting is different in every UK household
Your home’s heat loss
Draughts, solid walls, poor loft insulation and older glazing increase heat loss. The thermostat may need to run longer to maintain the same temperature.
Heating system & controls
Combi vs system boilers, heat pumps, smart thermostats, zoning, and TRVs all affect how stable and efficient your heating is.
Lifestyle & occupancy
Working from home, school runs, night shifts, or empty daytime periods change your best schedule. Timers beat “set and forget”.
Where the thermostat is placed
If it’s in a cold hallway or sunny spot, it can misread the home’s average comfort. Keep it away from radiators, draughts and direct sun.
Humidity & comfort
Damp air can feel colder and encourages condensation. Balancing ventilation (especially kitchens/bathrooms) can improve comfort at a lower set point.
Energy prices & tariff type
If you’re paying more per kWh than you need to, your “ideal” costs rise fast. Comparing whole-of-market tariffs can reduce the damage.
Room-by-room thermostat guidance (UK homes)
Your thermostat sets the “demand” for the home, but comfort is usually achieved by combining a sensible thermostat setting with TRVs and good scheduling. Use the table below as a starting point and adjust gradually.
| Area | Typical comfortable range | How to achieve it | UK-specific tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living room | 18–21°C | Thermostat 19–20°C + TRV adjusted for comfort | If you have an open-plan space, use curtains/blinds in the evening to reduce heat loss. |
| Bedrooms | 16–18°C | Lower TRVs in bedrooms; use timer to avoid overheating overnight | A slightly cooler bedroom can improve sleep—use bedding before turning the thermostat up. |
| Kitchen | 18–20°C | Often needs less radiator output due to cooking heat | Use extractor fans to manage moisture—less condensation can feel warmer at the same temperature. |
| Bathroom | 20–22°C (when in use) | Use a timed boost (if available) rather than heating all day | Keep the door shut during showers to prevent steam moving to colder rooms and condensing. |
| Hallways / landing | 16–18°C | Avoid heating higher than key rooms; reduce TRV if not used | If your thermostat is in the hall, don’t let it become the warmest spot—otherwise other rooms may be colder. |
Using TRVs correctly: Set the thermostat to the temperature you want in the area where the thermostat is located, then use TRVs to keep other rooms slightly cooler or warmer. Avoid turning TRVs down in the thermostat room if it causes the boiler to run longer than needed.
How to set your thermostat for comfort and efficiency
A good thermostat setting is really a routine: the right temperature at the right times. Follow this step-by-step process to find your sweet spot.
- Start at 19°C in your main living area (or 20°C if your home feels consistently chilly).
- Set a schedule: heat only when you’re at home (for example, morning and evening). Avoid leaving it on all day unless necessary for health reasons.
- Adjust by 0.5–1°C every couple of days. Small changes are easier to feel and track on your bills.
- Use TRVs to keep bedrooms and little-used rooms slightly cooler, while maintaining comfort in the rooms you use most.
- Check the thermostat location: keep doors closed if it’s in a hallway; ensure it’s not near a radiator or in direct sunlight.
- Review your tariff: if unit rates are high, your “ideal” can become expensive. Compare whole-of-market tariffs to see if you can reduce the cost per kWh.
Smart thermostat vs standard
Smart controls can help you schedule heating more accurately, spot patterns and reduce “wasted” hours. But you can achieve strong savings with a basic programmer plus TRVs if you use them well.
Heat pumps and lower temperatures
If you have a heat pump, steady, lower flow temperatures and longer run times can be normal. Your thermostat strategy may focus on maintaining a consistent temperature rather than large daily swings.
Savings, schedules and common thermostat mistakes
If you’re trying to reduce energy use at home, avoid the biggest “silent” costs: heating empty rooms, heating at the wrong time, and overheating the thermostat area.
Mistake: leaving heating on all day
For many UK households, timed heating reduces wasted hours. If you’re out for long periods, schedule it to come on shortly before you return.
Mistake: turning it up “to heat faster”
Most systems heat at a fixed rate. Setting a much higher temperature can overshoot and keep the heating running longer than needed.
Mistake: heating unused rooms
Use TRVs (or zones) to prioritise your living spaces. Keep spare rooms cooler, but avoid letting them become damp or mould-prone.
A simple UK schedule example
| Time | Thermostat setting | Why it works | Adjust if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:30–08:30 | 19–20°C | Comfort for getting up; avoids running all morning | Increase duration if your home is slow to warm up |
| 08:30–16:30 | Off / low (e.g. 15–16°C) | Reduces heating empty house; prevents excessive chill | Keep steadier if vulnerable household members are home |
| 16:30–22:30 | 19–20°C | Comfort in evening; easiest time to control room-by-room | Lower by 0.5–1°C if rooms feel stuffy or too warm |
| 22:30–06:30 | 16–18°C (or off) | Avoids overheating at night; supports sleep | Use 18°C if you wake cold or have poor insulation |
Condensation warning: Turning heating very low while producing lots of moisture (showers, drying clothes indoors) can increase condensation and mould risk. Ventilate well and aim for steady comfort rather than extreme “on/off” patterns.
Want lower bills beyond thermostat tweaks?
If your unit rates are high, even the perfect thermostat schedule may still cost more than it should. Compare home energy tariffs whole-of-market with EnergyPlus.
Compare energy deals nowRegional and property considerations across the UK
Scotland, North England and exposed locations
Colder weather and wind can increase heat loss, especially in coastal or elevated areas. Consider slightly longer heating “on” periods rather than pushing the thermostat much higher.
South England and modern flats
Some flats retain heat well and can feel comfortable at lower thermostat settings. Watch for overheating, especially in well-insulated buildings.
Solid-wall terraces and older homes
Older UK properties often lose heat quickly. Draught-proofing and loft insulation can let you reduce the thermostat without sacrificing comfort.
Off-gas homes
If you heat with electricity, LPG or oil, costs can behave differently. Even then, better control (timers, zoning, smart schedules) usually reduces waste.
Ideal thermostat setting FAQs (UK)
Is 18°C warm enough in the UK?
For many people, 18°C can be comfortable—especially in a well-insulated home with minimal draughts and appropriate clothing. Others prefer 19–21°C. If your home feels cold at 18°C, first check draughts and radiator balancing before simply increasing the thermostat.
What should I set my thermostat to at night?
Many UK households find 16–18°C suitable at night, particularly in bedrooms. If you wake cold, extend the evening heating period slightly or increase by 0.5–1°C rather than making a large change.
Is it cheaper to leave the heating on low all day?
It depends on your home’s heat loss and who’s at home. For many households, using a timer (heating only when needed) is cheaper than heating an empty house. If your property loses heat quickly, you may prefer longer low-level periods to avoid big warm-ups—test and compare over a week.
Does turning the thermostat down by 1°C save money?
Often, yes—because your heating runs less. The exact saving varies by property, weather and tariff. If you want the biggest impact, combine small temperature reductions with better scheduling and a cheaper tariff (see compare energy tariffs).
Should I use the boiler thermostat or the room thermostat?
They do different jobs. The room thermostat controls the target indoor temperature. The boiler temperature (flow temp) affects how hot the radiators get and can influence efficiency. If you’re unsure, keep the room thermostat as your main comfort control and consider professional advice before making large boiler setting changes.
Do smart meters change the ideal thermostat setting?
A smart meter doesn’t change how much heat your home needs, but it can help you see when you’re using energy and how changes to settings affect costs. Pair it with good scheduling and tariff comparisons for the best results.
Still unsure? Use our rule of thumb: choose a comfortable baseline (19–20°C), then focus on hours of heating and tariff unit rates—that’s where many UK households unlock the best value.
Trusted by UK households: what people say
“We dropped our thermostat by 1°C and set a proper schedule. Comparing tariffs helped us make the savings stick.”
“The room-by-room tips made a difference. Bedrooms cooler, living room comfortable—no more heating the whole house equally.”
“We didn’t realise our hallway thermostat was skewing everything. After moving settings and comparing prices, the bills became manageable.”
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Use the guidance above to find your ideal thermostat setting, then compare whole-of-market UK tariffs to reduce your unit rate. Complete the form to start your home energy comparison.
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This page provides general guidance for UK homes. For persistent damp, mould or heating faults, consider professional support.
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