Most adults need about 1.5 to 2 hours of deep sleep per night, which typically accounts for roughly 13% to 25% of total sleep time if they sleep 7 to 8 hours
. This deep sleep stage is crucial for muscle and tissue repair, immune system strengthening, and overall physical and mental restoration
. Deep sleep usually occurs mostly in the first half of the night, and its amount tends to decrease with age, with older adults getting less deep sleep than younger adults
. Children and adolescents require more deep sleep to support growth and development
. In summary:
- Adults need about 1.5 to 2 hours (approximately 13-25% of total sleep) of deep sleep per night.
- This deep sleep supports physical repair, immune function, and cognitive health.
- Deep sleep declines with age.
- Total sleep duration influences deep sleep amount; adults should aim for at least 7 hours of total sleep to meet deep sleep needs.
Getting less than about 45 minutes of deep sleep is generally insufficient for adults
. To improve deep sleep, maintaining consistent sleep schedules and a comfortable sleep environment is recommended
. Thus, aiming for around 1.5 to 2 hours of deep sleep nightly is ideal for most adults to maintain health and well-being.
