Energy

What temperature should I set the thermostat to?

Short answer

Milieu Centraal advises at most 19 °C when at home and 15 °C at night (with a gas boiler). With underfloor heating or a heat pump, 17 to 18 °C at night.

Explanation

The lower the indoor temperature, the less heat leaks away. With a gas boiler a night setback pays off. Slow systems such as underfloor heating and heat pumps benefit from smaller differences.

Rules of thumb

• At home: no higher than 19 °C (Dutch worked example: about € 170 saving per year). [SW-S44]
• At night 15 °C with a gas boiler (about € 60 per year). [SW-S44]
• Underfloor heating or all-electric heat pump: 17–18 °C at night. [SW-S44]
• Away for a few days or longer: 10 °C (gas boiler). [SW-S44]

Pitfalls

• The euro amounts are Dutch worked examples at a given gas price; your own saving depends on the home and tariff. [SW-S44]

Search terms

These search terms are in Dutch; only terms that also find a topic in English are links.

thermostaat temperatuur nachtverlaging gas besparen

Read also

• How do I heat efficiently with a heat pump?
• What should I automate with a smart thermostat?

Sources

1. SW-S44 Bespaartips verwarming — Milieu Centraal (Reference date 2026-09-27)
2. SW-S45 Slim verwarmen met een warmtepomp — Milieu Centraal (Reference date 2026-09-27)

Reference date: 2026-09-27 · Translated with AI from the Dutch original.