While you may look forward to crawling into bed and getting some much-needed sleep, part of you may wish you needed less of this essential habit. How many people have dreamt of somehow having more hours in the day? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it may seem that the easiest way to add time to your life would be to cut out some sleep. Experts don\u2019t always agree on the ideal amount of sleep<\/a>, and it can feel hard to find consistent information. Is six hours of sleep enough? Seven or less<\/a>? How much sleep do you really need? We\u2019re here to tell you what the evidence and experts say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Is Six Hours of Sleep Enough?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Experts recommend<\/a> adults get at least seven hours of sleep each night on average, which leaves six hours of snoozing just outside optimal. \u201cIt's possible to have a six-hour sleep need, but that possibility is slim,\u201d Dr. Chester Wu<\/a>, MD, sleep medicine physician in Houston, TX, tells Sleepopolis. \u201cHow much sleep you need is very individual, and everyone\u2019s needs are a little different,\u201d Wu adds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Short Sleep Gene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some lucky few, called natural short sleepers<\/a>, have a gene mutation that means they only need four to six hours of sleep a day. They can get by on less sleep with no negative effects. This differs from insomnia<\/a> in that these sleepers don\u2019t have trouble drifting off, and report their sleep quality is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommended Hours of Sleep by Age<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our sleep needs evolve as we grow from infancy to adulthood. Babies need a lot of sleep in their first year, but this quota decreases steadily until adulthood. Here\u2019s how much sleep<\/a> you need depending on your age:<\/p>\n\n\n\n