Sleep Debt Calculator
Add up last week’s sleep and compare it with what you really need. You see your sleep debt, nightly average, which nights fell short and a simple plan to catch up gradually.
Most adults need 7–9 hours.
How to use the Sleep Debt Calculator
- Set your sleep need, usually 7–9 hours for adults.
- Enter the hours you slept each night of the last week (6.5 = 6 h 30 min).
- Choose how much extra you can sleep per night to recover.
- Press Calculate sleep debt to see the debt, average and plan.
- Follow the recovery plan with earlier bedtimes rather than very long lie-ins.
How the sleep debt formula works
Sleep debt = (sleep need × 7) − total hours slept this week
Example: you need 8 hours (56 per week) and slept 6.5 + 7 + 6 + 6.5 + 7 + 9 + 8.5 = 50.5 hours, so the sleep debt is 56 − 50.5 = 5.5 hours. With 1 extra hour of sleep per night you would recover it in about 6 nights.
Recommended sleep by age
| Age group | Recommended hours per 24 h |
|---|---|
| School age (6–12 years) | 9–12 |
| Teenagers (13–18 years) | 8–10 |
| Adults (18–64 years) | 7–9 (at least 7) |
| Older adults (65+) | 7–8 |
Sources: American Academy of Sleep Medicine (children and teens, adults 7+), National Sleep Foundation (ranges for adults and older adults).
Tips to pay back sleep debt
- Move bedtime 15–30 minutes earlier for a week or two instead of sleeping late.
- Keep a regular wake-up time, even at weekends.
- Short naps of 20–30 minutes before mid-afternoon can help without hurting night sleep.
- Avoid caffeine late in the day and screens right before bed.
Frequently asked questions
What is sleep debt?
Sleep debt (or sleep deficit) is the difference between the sleep your body needs and the sleep you actually get. If you need 8 hours but sleep 6, you build up 2 hours of debt that night.
How is sleep debt calculated?
Sleep debt = (sleep need × 7) − total hours slept in the week. The calculator also shows the gross shortfall from short nights only, because extra sleep at the weekend partly offsets weekday losses.
How much sleep do adults need?
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society recommend at least 7 hours per night for adults 18–60. The National Sleep Foundation suggests 7–9 hours for adults and 7–8 hours for those over 65; teenagers need 8–10 hours.
Can you catch up on lost sleep?
Partly. Sleeping a bit longer for several nights or taking short naps helps recover from a few lost hours. Research suggests weekend catch-up sleep does not fully reverse the effects of chronic short sleep, so a consistent schedule matters most.
How long does it take to recover from sleep debt?
Divide the debt by the extra sleep you add each night. Eight hours of debt recovered at 1 extra hour per night takes about 8 nights. Adding 30–60 minutes is usually more sustainable than one very long sleep.
Is it bad to sleep in a lot on weekends?
Big swings in wake-up time (“social jet lag”) can shift your body clock and make Monday mornings harder. Try to keep wake-up times within about an hour, and go to bed earlier instead.