What is Sleep?
Sleep occurs in 90-minute cycles, each consisting of light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. Waking up between cycles (not during deep sleep) helps you feel refreshed rather than groggy.
Adults need 7-9 hours of sleep (5-6 complete cycles). This calculator works backward from your desired wake time to find the optimal bedtime.
Formula
Each sleep cycle = 90 minutes
6 cycles = 9 hours (ideal) 5 cycles = 7.5 hours (recommended) 4 cycles = 6 hours (minimum)
Bedtime = Wake Time − (Cycles × 90 min) − Time to Fall Asleep
How to use this Sleep Calculator?
1. Enter your desired wake-up time. 2. Enter how long it takes you to fall asleep (average 15 min). 3. See optimal bedtimes for 4, 5, and 6 sleep cycles.