How the British Sleep: Duration, Habits and Demographic Divides

Sleep is a basic human need but how, when and where we sleep can vary greatly across societies and even more so between age groups, genders and political affiliations. In Britain today, understanding the nation’s sleep habits offers more than insight into late-night routines, it provides a glimpse into wellbeing, work-life balance, technology use and generational shifts in comfort and lifestyle. Based on data from 4,000 adults surveyed in May 2025, this report builds a detailed profile of the average British sleeper: how long they sleep, in what way and how these patterns differ across groups. The findings reveal not only some dominant national trends but also subtle differences between men and women, older and younger citizens and voters of different political affiliations.

1\. How the Average British Person Sleeps: Patterns, Routines and Sleep Quality

Most Britons go to bed between 10 and 11 PM (40%) and wake up between 6 and 7 AM (33%), suggesting a fairly consistent schedule across the population. A substantial 26% rise even earlier, between 5 and 6 AM, highlighting a nation that still embraces early starts, possibly shaped by work patterns and commutes. However, night owls exist too: 20% go to bed between 11 PM and midnight and 11% stay up even later. Younger adults are far more likely to fall into the latter category, 35% of 18–24s stay up past 11 PM, compared to just 17% of 45–54s.

Gender also plays a role. Men are slightly more likely to be early risers, with 9% waking before 5 AM compared to 7% of women, which may reflect differences in work routines or lifestyle. Notably, the regularity of sleep times is often disrupted by factors such as family life, shift work and physical health, especially among middle-aged adults. Those aged 45–64 are more likely than any other group to sleep less than 5 hours a night, possibly due to work, caring responsibilities and health issues.

When it comes to sleep quality, however, a more fragmented picture emerges. While 45% of people rate their sleep as “average,” only 28% say it is “good” or “excellent” and 27% report it as “poor” or “very poor.” Women are more likely than men to report poor sleep (27% vs. 25%) and this trend worsens with age: 29% of adults aged 45–54 describe their sleep as poor. Among political affiliations, Green and Liberal Democrat voters are most likely to report sleep issues than other parties.

Sleep disturbances are more common than not with a striking 40% saying they “sometimes” wake during the night, with an additional 30% doing so “often” or “always.” The most common causes are physical discomfort (25%), stress/anxiety (24%) and noise (21%). Unsurprisingly, anxiety is most prevalent among younger adults with 32% of 18–24s saying stress keeps them up, compared to just 14% of those 65 and over. Physical discomfort, on the other hand, disproportionately affects older adults, with 29% of the 65+ group citing it as a problem.

Routines can help mitigate these issues. Around 26% of people always follow a bedtime routine such as reading or meditating while 36% say they do so occasionally. Interestingly, this habit is more prevalent among younger adults, women (65%) and Liberal Democrat voters (70%). In contrast, older voters and Reform UK voters are the least likely to engage in pre-sleep routines, with over 20% saying they never do anything to wind down.

Smartphones have also been associated with sleep disruption. While 19% of the population say they never use electronic devices before bed, this rises to 30% among those over 65 and drops to just 9% among 18–24s. For the youngest age group, 44% use devices “often” or “always” before bed and they’re also more likely to sleep poorly, supporting research that links screen exposure with reduced quality sleep.

Finally, most people fall asleep fairly quickly with 54% saying they do so in under 20 minutes but a sizable minority struggle. Nearly 20% take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep and 8% report it takes over an hour.

2\. For How Long: Sleep Duration on Weekdays and Weekends

The average Briton sleeps between 6 and 7 hours on a weekday with 36% of respondents falling into this bracket. Around 27% get only 5–6 hours, while 24% meet the recommended 7–8 hours. Just 6% sleep more than 8 hours and 8% get less than 5. The latter group is disproportionately made up of people aged 45–54 (12%) and Reform UK voters (9%).

Men and women report similar durations but age remains a clearer dividing line. Those aged 55–64 are the worst sleepers by duration, with just 30% getting 7–8 hours or more. In contrast, 65+ respondents seem to catch up slightly, more often falling into the 7–8 and 8+ hour categories. These older Britons may be benefitting from retirement and more consistent sleep environments despite struggling from physical discomfort.

On weekends, sleep duration increases across the board but the gains are modest. The most common duration remains 6–7 hours (32%), followed by 7–8 hours (29%). Just 9% report getting more than 8 hours, primarily younger adults. Among 18–24s, 12% report 8+ hours on weekends, compared to only 8% of those over 65. This likely reflects a combination of lifestyle and recovery from weekday sleep deprivation, especially among students and younger workers.

Interestingly, party affiliation also appears to shape sleep duration. Green and Reform UK voters are more likely to get long weekend sleep (11–13%), while Reform UK and Conservative and Labour voters cluster more heavily in the 6–7 hour range.

3\. In What Way: Bedding, Environment, Position and Preferences

Britons are pragmatic when it comes to where and how they sleep. A wooden bed frame remains the most popular option (42%), followed by upholstered (31%) and metal frames (20%). Gender differences are clear: women are 10% more likely than men to prefer upholstered beds, while men favour traditional wooden or metallic structures.

Mattress type further reveals generational splits. Memory foam tops the list overall (35%), with young adults (18–34) particularly likely to own one. Older adults (65+), on the other hand, lean toward innerspring mattresses (37%). Spending trends are also revealing. Most respondents spent between £200–£500 on a mattress (33%), while 28% spent £500–£1,000. Intriguingly, high spenders (£2,000+) are more often found among 25–34s than older generations, suggesting that younger Britons are investing in sleep as part of a broader wellness culture.

Pillow use is nearly universal. A majority (54%) use two pillows, 34% use one and 10% use three or more. Preferences for pillow fillings are split between memory foam (36%), synthetic polyester (29%) and feather/down (28%). Men are more likely to choose memory foam, while women slightly prefer synthetic options.

In terms of sleeping position, side sleeping dominates (66%), followed by combination sleepers (12%), stomach (11%) and back (9%). Women are more likely to sleep on their side (69%) compared to men (63%), while men are more likely to sleep on their front (13%) or back (10%).

Sleepwear reveals sharp gender splits: 45% of women wear pyjamas (vs. 29% of men), while 22% of men sleep naked, compared to 14% of women. Men are also more likely to sleep in t-shirts and shorts (37%).

Duvets remain the dominant bedding option with 64% using only a duvet, while 22% pair it with a blanket. Women are more likely to stick to just a duvet (67% vs. 60% of men). Sheet materials show that 70% use cotton, with older people and women especially favouring it. Younger adults (18–24) are more experimental, with higher-than-average usage of linen (16%), polyester (15%) and even silk (8%).

Sharing beds also varies. 53% of Britons sleep with a partner, 8% with a pet and 2% with a child. About 34% sleep alone, a number that climbs to 44% among non-voters and 37% among Reform UK voters. Among those in relationships, 54% say they “always” share a bed, while 15% say they “never” do which is mainly due to snoring (21%), different schedules (14%) and comfort preferences (20%).

When it comes to sleep support, only 10% regularly use specialised pillows or props like wedge pillows or body cushions. However, interest is growing as 26% say they’re considering it. Similarly, sleep aid usage is low but not negligible: 19% use them sometimes, with the highest rates among younger adults and Green Party voters.

Sleep tracking has not yet gone mainstream. Only 9% regularly use devices like smartwatches to monitor their sleep but younger groups are leading the charge, 15% of 25–34s track sleep regularly and another 27% do so occasionally.

The sleep environment rounds out the profile. Only 13% sleep with the window always open, while 39% do so occasionally. The most popular bedroom temperature is between 15–18°C (36%), with 13% preferring colder settings below 15°C. Only 2% tolerate temperatures above 24°C.

While the typical British sleeper heads to bed around 10–11 PM, wakes around 6–7 AM and gets 6–7 hours of sleep, this average conceals a host of differences driven by age, gender, lifestyle and political identity. Younger Britons stay up later, use more tech and invest more in comfort and tracking devices. Older adults rise earlier, invest less and experience more physical discomfort. Women report poorer sleep but are more proactive in establishing routines and maintaining bedding hygiene. Sleep quality in the UK is middling at best. With only 28% describing their sleep as good or excellent and over a quarter reporting it as poor, there is clear room for improvement.

Download the data tables for this poll.