Sleep Calculator

Find the best times to fall asleep based on your wake-up time and natural 90-minute sleep cycles.

How this calculator works

Sleep occurs in cycles of roughly 90 minutes. Waking up at the end of a cycle, rather than in the middle of one, tends to feel more refreshing — this calculator counts back from your wake time in 90-minute increments, plus 15 minutes to fall asleep.

Bedtime = wake time − (cycles × 90 min) − 15 min
6 cycles (9 hours) is shown as the primary result; 5 and 4 cycles are shown as alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

Why 90-minute cycles?

A full sleep cycle — including light sleep, deep sleep, and REM — takes roughly 90 minutes on average, though this varies somewhat by individual.

Is more sleep always better?

Most adults need 7-9 hours per night. Waking at the end of a complete cycle within that range tends to feel better than waking mid-cycle, even if total time is similar.