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Sleep Debt Calculator

Compare your usual sleep need with actual sleep from recent nights. See total sleep debt or surplus, a nightly breakdown and an optional gradual recovery target.

Enter actual sleep for each night below.
Shows the average target if the total debt is spread across this many nights.

Result

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Fix Your Sleep Schedule — Bedtime Reminder on iPhone showing the nightly reminder and hold-to-commit screen

How the sleep debt calculator works

This sleep debt calculator compares each recent night with your usual sleep need. It shows the difference for every night, then adds those differences to show a total debt or surplus.

Sleep is not identical every night. The optional recovery target simply spreads a calculated positive total across the number of nights you enter; it is a planning arithmetic result, not a medical recommendation.

nightly difference = usual sleep need − actual sleep; total = sum of nightly differences

Sleep cycles average about 90 minutes, and adults complete about 4–6 cycles per night. These are population averages, not a measurement of your sleep. A single reading is not a diagnosis, and a clinician decides what is appropriate for you. If sleep problems persist, seek professional advice.

Sleep debt calculator FAQ

What is sleep debt?

In this calculator, sleep debt is the sum of the differences between your usual sleep need and your actual sleep on the nights you enter. A negative total is shown as a surplus.

What is the difference between the two views?

Include as surplus lets nights above your target offset nights below it. Cap at zero treats nights above target as zero and counts only nights below your target.

What does the gradual recovery target mean?

If you enter recovery nights, the tool spreads a positive calculated total evenly across them and adds that amount to your usual sleep need. It is arithmetic for planning, not a recommended schedule.

Are the results a diagnosis?

No. The result is a simple comparison of the values you enter. A single reading is not a diagnosis, and a clinician decides what is appropriate for you.

Are my sleep entries saved?

No. The calculation runs in your browser and this tool does not save the values you enter.