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How much sleep does a older adult need?
Older adults (65+ years) are generally recommended to get 7–8 hours of sleep per night, per National Sleep Foundation guidelines.
Older adults often experience lighter, more fragmented sleep and earlier natural wake times — a normal age-related shift rather than something to correct for.
Example: waking up at 7:00 AM
8:15 PM
7 cycles · 10h 30m sleep
9:45 PM
6 cycles · 9h 0m sleep
11:15 PM
5 cycles · 7h 30m sleep
12:45 AM
4 cycles · 6h 0m sleep
2:15 AM
3 cycles · 4h 30m sleep
Example: going to bed at 10:30 PM
3:15 AM
3 cycles · 4h 30m sleep
4:45 AM
4 cycles · 6h 0m sleep
6:15 AM
5 cycles · 7h 30m sleep
7:45 AM
6 cycles · 9h 0m sleep
9:15 AM
7 cycles · 10h 30m sleep
Want a schedule for a different time? Use the full sleep calculator with the older adult age group pre-selected.