It’s a question that is sparking debate in offices across the UK.
What is the optimal temperature for the office thermostat?
With winter approaching, many office managers may be tempted to turn up the heating.
But according to Stephen Day, heating engineer at iHeat, the perfect temperature is actually a fairly mild 21°C.
Speaking to MailOnline, he advised: ‘The ideal temperature for an office is usually around 21°C.
“(This) is a comfortable balance for most people, allowing employees to work productively without feeling too hot or cold.”
If 21°C sounds too cold for your taste, you’re not alone.
Research has even shown that women, the elderly and underweight people prefer a slightly warmer office.
It’s a question that is sparking debate in offices across the UK. What is the optimal temperature for the office thermostat?
What is the perfect temperature to set the office thermostat?
Mr Day recommends setting your office thermostat to 21°C.
However, he points out that this is not a hard and fast rule.
‘This can vary depending on factors such as humidity and air flow in the office,’ he told MailOnline.
‘Wetter rooms probably need a slightly lower temperature to counteract the heat-trapping effect.’
What temperature should you set the thermostat to in your home?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends keeping your home at 18°C (64.4°F).
“The temperature in indoor housing must be high enough to protect residents from the harmful health effects of cold,” the WHO explains.
With winter approaching, many office managers may be tempted to turn up the heating. But according to Stephen Day, heating engineer at iHeat, the perfect temperature is actually a fairly mild 21°C (stock image)
‘For countries with temperate or colder climates, 18°C has been suggested as a safe and balanced indoor temperature to protect the health of the general population during cold seasons.’
While this sounds cold, Mr. Day points out that people tend to have more control over their environment at home than in the office.
“Unlike an office environment, most people can add extra layers of clothing or blankets if they feel cold, or even opt for items like electric blankets or portable heaters for a more immediate benefit,” he said.
‘This is not feasible in most office spaces, and employers must accommodate a much larger group with different preferences, which means they have to keep their temperatures naturally higher.’
Can office temperature affect your ability to work?
In 2019, researchers at the USC Marshall School of Business discovered that office temperature can impact your productivity.
Their research showed that men performed worse on math and verbal tasks when they set the thermostat above 25°C.
In contrast, women performed worse on these tasks when the thermostat was set to lower temperatures (below 25°C).
In 2019, researchers at the USC Marshall School of Business found that office temperature can impact your productivity (stock image)
However, temperature did not seem to affect cognitive tasks or concentration.
Writing in their study, published in Plos ONEwrote the team: ‘Unlike mathematical and verbal tasks, temperature does not affect a measure of cognitive reflection for either sex.
‘Our findings suggest that gender-mixed workplaces can increase productivity by turning up the thermostat above current norms.’
Why do women prefer warmer offices?
Research has shown that, on average, women prefer a warmer office than men.
In 2018, researchers from the Federal University of Santa Catarina conducted a study study This involved 584 participants, who were placed in offices with different temperatures.
Their analysis found that the ‘comfort temperature’ for female participants was 24°C.
Male participants, on the other hand, preferred a slightly cooler 23.2°C.
According to Christian Moro and Charlotte Phelps, scientists at Bond University, hormones play a key role in these gender temperature differences.
Write for The conversationthe pair explained: ‘Testosterone ensures more muscle development around the shoulders.
‘Muscle generates heat, which is why men often have a warmer neck than women. This area is particularly sensitive to cool temperatures.
‘Estrogen promotes and maintains different fat distributions in women, who tend to transport slightly more fat between the skin and muscles in a number of areas.
‘This makes the skin feel cooler and creates a preference for slightly warmer temperatures.
‘Women also generally have a lower metabolic rate (or slower metabolism) than men. This means that women produce less heat and that their bodies feel cold more quickly at lower temperatures.’
What else influences your office temperature preference?
In addition to your gender, several other factors have been shown to influence your preference for office temperature, including your age, body size, ethnicity and even your job.
Age can also influence our temperature preference, with older people feeling cold more than younger people (stock image)
In terms of body size, overweight body sizes are associated with a preference for cooler conditions, while more muscular people also prefer a cooler office.
Dr. Moro and Dr. Phelps explained, “Since muscles generate heat, the more muscle mass we have, the more heat we tend to generate.”
Age can also influence our temperature preference, with older people feeling cold more often than younger people.
Meanwhile, ethnicity can also have an impact.
“When directly compared in one study, Asian participants reported feeling more comfortable in environments that were 5°C warmer than participants of European descent,” said Dr. Moro and Dr. Phelps.
What can you do if it is too hot or too cold in the office?
If it’s too hot or too cold in the office, Mr Day has given his top tips:
1. Layer your clothes: Dressing in layers allows you to add or remove items of clothing to regulate your body temperature throughout the day. The key is to choose thinner layers rather than thick layers – think a thermal top paired with a shirt and a thin sweater or cardigan over a chunky knit.
2. Use desk fans or heaters: A small personal fan or heater under your desk can make a big difference to your personal comfort, without affecting the entire office. Be sure to contact a manager as it may need to be tested before you can plug it in.
3. Adjust where you work: If possible, see if you can move your desk to avoid sitting directly under air vents or next to windows, as this can cause drafts or excessive heat from sunlight. If not, ask your manager if there is a hot desk where you can work instead.
4. Use sun blinds or curtains: Controlling the natural light and heat coming through windows can make a big difference to the temperature in a room, so experiment with opening and closing blinds or curtains.
5. Use personal foot warmers or cooling mats: People often overlook their feet when trying to stay comfortable, but they can be an easy way to regulate your temperature. A heated foot mat or a cooling gel mat can work wonders under your desk because they are discreet and don’t bother others in the office.
6. Buy some plants: Adding a plant to your workspace may seem unrelated to temperature, but plants like lilies or ferns can help regulate humidity and improve air quality, making the environment feel fresher and more balanced.
7. DIY Desk Insulation: If you’re sitting near a drafty area, consider bringing a lightweight blanket or scarf to drape over your seat. It’s a surprisingly effective way to retain heat around you, especially if under-desk heating isn’t allowed.
8. Choose your colors carefully: Believe it or not, the colors in your environment can influence how warm or cool you experience a room. Cooler tones like blue can make you feel less warm in the summer, while warm tones like orange can create the illusion of warmth in the colder months. Personalizing your desk with colors that match the season can subtly change how comfortable you feel.
