Sleep Needed by Age
The younger the child, the more sleep is needed, and the amount steps down as they grow. Under one it is 12–16 hours including naps, primary-school children need 9–12, and teenagers 8–10.
Your numbers
Sleep needed (h)
10.5h
Sleep, minimum
9h
Sleep, maximum
12h
Formula
Sleep needed (h) = (Sleep, minimum + Sleep, maximum) ÷ 2
For infants and toddlers, naps count towards the total. If a child wakes on their own and is not drowsy during the day, they are getting enough.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Age (yr)Age in completed years — it shifts by one depending on the birthday. | 7 | 0 ~ 25 |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Age (yr) changes and everything else stays put.
| Age (yr) | Sleep needed (h) (h) | Sleep, minimum (h) | Sleep, maximum (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 11.5 | 10 | 13 |
| 5.25 | 10.5 | 9 | 12 |
| 7 | 10.5 | 9 | 12 |
| 10.5 | 10.5 | 9 | 12 |
| 14 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Sleep needed (h) (h)The sleep you personally need; most adults land at 7–9 hours. | 10.5 |
| Sleep, minimum (h)The lower end of the sleep needed at that age. | 9 |
| Sleep, maximum (h)The upper end of the sleep needed at that age. | 12 |
Common mistakes
For infants and toddlers, naps count towards the total. If a child wakes on their own and is not drowsy during the day, they are getting enough.
Glossary
- Age
- Age in completed years — it shifts by one depending on the birthday.
- Sleep needed (h)
- The sleep you personally need; most adults land at 7–9 hours.
- Sleep, minimum
- The lower end of the sleep needed at that age.
- Sleep, maximum
- The upper end of the sleep needed at that age.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Sleep Needed by Age calculated?
Sleep needed (h) = (Sleep, minimum + Sleep, maximum) ÷ 2 — The younger the child, the more sleep is needed, and the amount steps down as they grow. Under one it is 12–16 hours including naps, primary-school children need 9–12, and teenagers 8–10.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Age 7yr, the answer is Sleep needed (h) 10.5h.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Age. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Age (yr) moves the answer to Age (yr) 3.5 → Sleep needed (h) (h) 11.5 and Age (yr) 14 → Sleep needed (h) (h) 9. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
For infants and toddlers, naps count towards the total. If a child wakes on their own and is not drowsy during the day, they are getting enough.
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