The short version
- Ages 18 to 60: 7 or more hours a day.
- Ages 61 to 64: 7 to 9 hours.
- Ages 65 and older: 7 to 8 hours.
- Seven hours is the floor in every adult age group.
The CDC table for adults
The CDC publishes a recommended amount of sleep for each age group. These are the adult rows.
| Age | Hours a day |
|---|---|
| 18 to 60 years | 7 or more |
| 61 to 64 years | 7 to 9 |
| 65 years and older | 7 to 8 |
What the table shows
Look down the right-hand column. The top of the range changes with age, and the bottom does not. In every adult group the lower number is 7 hours.
That matters for a common belief, that people need much less sleep as they get older. The CDC table does not show that. At 65 and older the recommended amount is still 7 to 8 hours.
Hours are one part of it
The CDC describes healthy sleep as two things together: enough sleep, and good-quality sleep. A night can be long and still leave you tired.
If you have trouble sleeping, the CDC advice is to talk to your healthcare provider.
Track a week
A single night tells you little. A week tells you more. The Weekly Health Statement has a line for the number of nights you reached 7 hours.
Questions
How many hours of sleep do adults 65 and older need?
The CDC recommends 7 to 8 hours a day for adults 65 and older.
Do older adults need less sleep?
The CDC table keeps the lower number at 7 hours for every adult age group, including 65 and older.