A sensible starting range
UK health guidance generally recommends heating the rooms you use to at least 18°C in cold weather, particularly for older people, young children and anyone with health conditions. Many households find 19–21°C comfortable for living rooms.
Bedrooms can usually be a little cooler, and rooms you rarely use can be kept lower with thermostatic radiator valves.
Why small changes matter
Turning the thermostat down by a single degree can make a noticeable difference to heating bills over a winter, because the system runs less often to hold the temperature. Try lowering it one degree at a time until you find the lowest setting that still feels comfortable.
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Where the thermostat is placed
A room thermostat measures the air around it. If it sits near a radiator, in a draughty hallway or in direct sunlight, it may switch the heating off too early or leave it running too long. Ideally it should be in a room you use often, away from heat sources and draughts.
