What Temperature Should You Set Your Thermostat at in Winter?

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rate basis: U.S. EIA national averages through October 2026

Quick Answer

Set the thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake and at home, and 7-10°F lower — 58-61°F — for the eight hours you sleep and any stretch nobody’s home. That single pattern is worth roughly 10% off your heating bill under the Department of Energy’s long-standing rule of thumb (about 1% per degree of setback held for 8 hours). For vacations or an empty house in a hard-freeze climate, the floor is 55°F — low enough to save, high enough to keep pipes safe, per the American Red Cross’s frozen-pipe guidance. The one big exception: heat pumps should use milder 2-4°F setbacks or a smart thermostat’s staged recovery, because a deep recovery can trigger expensive auxiliary heat.

Setback on Utility Explained

What Temperature Should You Set Your Thermostat at in Winter?

Quick Answer