It’s a question that sparks arguments in offices across the UK.
So, what is the optimal temperature for the office thermostat?
With winter drawing in, many office managers may be tempted to crank 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 typically 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 chilly for your liking, you’re not alone.
In fact, research has shown that women, the elderly, and underweight people tend to prefer a slightly warmer office.
It’s a question that sparks arguments in offices across the UK. So, what is the optimal temperature for the office thermostat?
What’s the perfect temperature to set the office thermostat at?
Mr Day advises setting your office thermostat to 21°C.
However, he points out that this isn’t a hard and fast rule.
‘This can vary depending on factors such as the humidity and airflow in the office,’ he told MailOnline.
‘More humid spaces likely need a slightly lower temperature to counteract the heat-trapping effect.’
What temperature should you set your home thermostat at?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends keeping your home at 18°C (64.4°F).
‘Indoor housing temperatures should be high enough to protect residents from the harmful health effects of cold,’ the WHO explains.
With winter drawing in, many office managers may be tempted to crank 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 proposed as a safe and well-balanced indoor temperature to protect the health of general populations during cold seasons.’
While this sounds cold, Mr Day points out that people tend to have more control over their environment at home than they do in the office.
‘Unlike in an office setting, 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 more direct benefit,’ he said.
‘This isn’t feasible in most office spaces, plus employers have to accommodate for a much larger group with varying preferences, meaning they need to keep their temperature naturally higher.’
Can the office temperature affect your ability to work?
In 2019, researchers from USC Marshall School of Business found that the office temperature can impact your productivity.
In their study, when they set a thermostat above 25°C, men were found to perform worse on maths and verbal tasks.
In contrast, women performed worse on these tasks when the thermostat was set at cooler temperatures (below 25°C).
In 2019, researchers from USC Marshall School of Business found that the office temperature can impact your productivity (stock image)
However, temperature did not appear to have an impact on cognitive tasks or concentration.
Writing in their study, published in Plos ONE, the team wrote: ‘In contrast to math and verbal tasks, temperature has no impact on a measure of cognitive reflection for either gender.
‘Our findings suggest that gender mixed workplaces may be able to increase productivity by setting the thermostat higher than current standards.’
Why do women prefer warmer offices?
Research has shown that on average, women prefer a warmer office to men.
In 2018, researchers from the Federal University of Santa Catarina carried out a study involving 584 participants, who were placed in offices of different temperatures.
Their analysis revealed 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.
Writing for The Conversation, the pair explained: ‘Testosterone causes more muscle development around the shoulders.
‘Muscle generates heat, making men more likely to have warmer necks than women. This area is particularly sensitive to cool temperatures.
‘Oestrogen promotes and maintains different fat distributions in women, who tend to carry slightly more fat between the skin and muscles in a number of areas.
‘This makes the skin feel cooler and drives a preference for slightly warmer temperatures.
‘Women also tend to have a lower metabolic rate (or slower metabolism) than men. This means women produce less heat and their bodies are more prone to feeling cold in cooler temperatures.’
What else impacts your office temperature preference?
Beyond your gender, several other factors have been shown to impact your office temperature preference – including your age, body size, ethnicity, and even your job.
Age can also affect our temperature preference, with elderly people feeling the cold more than youngsters (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 chillier office.
Dr Moro and Dr Phelps explained: ‘As muscle generates heat, the more muscle mass we have the more heat we tend to generate.’
Age can also affect our temperature preference, with elderly people feeling the cold more than youngsters.
Meanwhile, ethnicity may also have an impact.
‘When directly compared in one study, Asian participants reported being more comfortable in environments that were 5°C warmer than participants with European origins,’ Dr Moro and Dr Phelps said.
What can you do if you’re too hot or cold in your office?
If you’re too hot or cold in your office, Mr Day has provided his top tips:
1. Layer your clothing: Dressing in layers means you can add or remove items to regulate your body temperature throughout the day. The key is to go for thinner layers over bulky ones – think a thermal top coupled with a shirt and thin jumper or cardigan over a chunky knit.
2. Use desk fans or heaters: A small personal fan or under-desk heater can make a big difference to your personal comfort without affecting the whole office. Just make sure to check with a manager as it might 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 that might cause drafts or excessive heat from sunlight. If not, ask your manager if there is a hot desk you can work at instead.
4. Make use of blinds or curtains: Controlling the natural light and heat entering through windows can make a huge difference to a room’s temperature, so experiment with opening and closing any 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 as they’re discreet and won’t interfere with others in the office.
6. Get some plants: Adding a plant to your workspace might seem unrelated to the temperature, but plants like peace 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 chair. It’s a surprisingly effective way to trap heat around you, especially if under-desk heaters aren’t allowed.
8. Choose your colours carefully: Believe it or not, the colours in your surroundings can affect how warm or cool you perceive a space to be. Cooler tones like blue can help you feel less warm in summer, while warm tones like orange can create the illusion of heat in colder months. Personalising your desk with colours that work for the season could subtly shift how comfortable you feel.
