What is the 90 minute sleep cycle rule?
The 90-minute sleep cycle rule is based on the idea that your body goes through several sleep stages in a cycle that lasts about 90 minutes. Waking up at the end of a cycle—rather than in the middle—can help you feel more refreshed and alert. According to this rule, you should aim to wake up at the end of a full 90-minute interval (such as after 6 hours, 7.5 hours, or 9 hours of sleep), rather than simply targeting 8 hours of sleep. The goal is quality over quantity, by aligning your wake-up time with your natural sleep rhythm.
What is the 90 minute sleep cycle calculator?
The 90-minute sleep cycle calculator is a tool designed to help you wake up feeling refreshed by aligning your wake-up time with the natural rhythms of your sleep. Each sleep cycle typically lasts about 90 minutes and includes both light and deep sleep phases. Waking up at the end of a cycle—rather than in the middle—can make you feel more alert and rested. Sleep Calculator helps you find the best times to fall asleep or wake up based on this science-backed approach.
How does Sleep Calculator work?
Sleep Calculator uses the concept of 90-minute sleep cycles to determine the best times for you to fall asleep or wake up. The average person goes through several 90-minute cycles during a full night of sleep. By counting backwards or forwards in 90-minute intervals from your desired wake-up or sleep time—and factoring in about 15 minutes to fall asleep—it suggests times that are more likely to leave you feeling refreshed instead of groggy.
How many sleep cycles do I need per night?
Most adults need 4 to 6 sleep cycles per night, which equals about 6 to 9 hours of sleep. Each sleep cycle lasts roughly 90 minutes, and completing full cycles is key to waking up feeling refreshed. The exact number of cycles can vary depending on your age, lifestyle, and how much rest your body needs. Aim for enough cycles to feel alert during the day—quality matters just as much as quantity.
What time should I go to bed if I wake up at 7 AM?
You should go to bed at 10 PM, 11:30 PM depending on how many full cycles you want to complete. If you need another 15 minutes to fall asleep, you should go to bed at 9:45 PM or 11:15 PM.
What time will i wake up if i sleep at 11 PM?
Set your alarm for either 5:15 or 6:45. Want to feel more energetic in the mornings? Then 8:15 is what you should aim for.
Why do I feel tired when I wake up?
You often feel tired when waking up because you were likely woken up in the middle of a deep sleep stage. Each sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes and includes light sleep, deep sleep, and REM (rapid eye movement) stages.
If you're awakened during deep sleep or REM, your brain and body haven't finished restoring themselves, which can leave you feeling groggy, disoriented, or sluggish.
On the other hand, waking up at the end of a full sleep cycle, during light sleep, makes it much easier to feel alert and refreshed.
That’s why sleep calculators are helpful—they suggest optimal sleep or wake times that align with your natural sleep cycles, improving how you feel when you wake up.
Can I use Sleep Calculator to catch up on sleep?
Yes, though it's best used for optimizing sleep timing rather than compensating for long-term sleep debt.