Sleeping With Socks On: Is It Good Or Bad For You?

Sleep is, of course, an essential activity for keeping our brains and bodies healthy, but that doesn’t mean it always comes easy.

Science has identified some guidelines for getting a good night’s sleep including room temperature and choosing the right bed – we’ve done our own extensive research on this, too – but when it comes to sleeping with socks on, it seems everyone’s got an opinion.

Let’s talk it through, starting with some essential sleep facts.

The Facts

When it comes to your sleep surroundings, the optimal room temperature is between 18 – 21°C. For some, this might sound a little too warm, but considering our core temperature drops in the evening when we’re tired, it’s important we keep things cosy at night.

Being too cold or too hot can stop you drifting off easily and can even wake you up intermittently throughout the night. Not exactly what you’d call a good night’s sleep!

With that in mind, it’s understandable why some might choose to layer up at night and some don’t, but is sleeping with socks on really bad for you?

The pros

Regulates body temperature – it’s a fact that some people feel the cold more than others. For those that do, sleeping with socks on is a great way to regulate your body temperature throughout the night.

Healing cracked feet – with the amount we use our feet, there’s no wonder they sometimes need a little extra TLC. A top tip for healing cracked feet is to moisturise them before bed and pop on a pair of socks.

Raynaud's disease – affecting your blood circulation, Raynaud’s can often be brought on by coldness causing your fingertips and toes to change colour and experience pain or numbness. A thick pair of socks will help alleviate the problem during the night.

Reduce hot flushes – because socks can help regulate your body temperature, they can also help with symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes and excessive sweating.

The cons

Too hot – you may have been cold when you get in bed, but there’s always the risk of warming up and having to remove your socks during the night and therefore disrupting your sleep cycle.

Hygiene – some argue that socks in bed might make you too hot in the night causing you and your feet to sweat. This, for some, might be considered unhygienic.

Aesthetics – there is a time and a place for a statement pair of socks, but for most this doesn’t include the bedroom. Both fashion and attractiveness are reason enough for some to say no to socks in bed.

All considered, there are good arguments for both sides of the socks in bed conundrum. It all comes down to what helps you sleep better at night – there really is no right or wrong answer!

So, if you’re a fan of sleeping with socks on – go for it! We’d recommend choosing natural fibres like cashmere and merino wool for your socks, and to ensure they’re not too tight.

If you really can’t get on board with socks in bed, but need a way to get those toes cosy at night, then there are lots of alternatives out there. Hot water bottles and electric blankets are a great choice, as well as wearing slippers or enjoying a nice hot bath before bed.