How Much Sleep Do School-Age Childs Need?
The CDC recommends school-age childs get 9–11 hours of sleep per night. Use the calculator below to check your cycles.
CDC recommendation for school-age childs
9–11 hours
per night
485
CDC recommends School-ages get:
9–11 hours
per night
Sleep by complete cycles:
4.5h
3 cycles
⚠ 4.5h short
6h
4 cycles
⚠ 3h short
7.5h
5 cycles
⚠ 1.5h short
9h
6 cycles
Source: CDC Sleep Recommendations 2023.
Frequently asked questions
How much sleep do school-age childs need?▾
The CDC recommends school-age childs get 9–11 hours per night. Getting less than 9 hours consistently is linked to impaired cognition, weakened immunity, and increased disease risk.
What happens if a school-age child doesn't get enough sleep?▾
Chronic sleep deprivation impairs memory, reduces immune function, and increases risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mood disorders.
How many sleep cycles do I need to hit the recommendation?▾
To reach 9 hours, you need approximately 6 complete 90-minute sleep cycles. For the full 11 hours, aim for 8 cycles.