Sleep Quality Score: Predict Tonight’s Rest
Estimate tonight's sleep quality from bedtime, screen time, caffeine, and stress inputs, with tips to improve your score.
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer
Formula
Quality = Duration(0-30) + Bedtime(0-20) + Caffeine(0-20) + Screen(0-15) + Exercise(0-15)
Sleep quality is scored across five evidence-based factors: sleep duration (optimal 7-9 hours, 30 points), bedtime consistency (optimal 9-11 PM, 20 points), caffeine intake (lower is better, 20 points), pre-bed screen exposure (less is better, 15 points), and daily exercise (optimal 20-60 min, 15 points). Sleep cycles are calculated at 90 minutes each.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Healthy Sleeper Profile
Problem:A person sleeps 8 hours, goes to bed at 10:30 PM, drinks 100mg caffeine (1 cup), has 20 min screen time before bed, and exercises 45 minutes daily.
Solution:Duration Score: 30/30 (optimal 7-9 hours)\nBedtime Score: 20/20 (within 9-11 PM window)\nCaffeine Score: 20 - (100/400 x 20) = 15/20\nScreen Score: 15 - (20/120 x 15) = 12.5/15\nExercise Score: 15/15 (optimal 20-60 min range)\nTotal: 30 + 20 + 15 + 12.5 + 15 = 92.5/100
Result:Sleep Quality: 92.5% (Excellent) | 5 complete cycles + 30 min | Rating: Excellent
Example 2: Poor Sleep Habits Profile
Problem:A person sleeps 5.5 hours, goes to bed at 1 AM, drinks 400mg caffeine, has 90 min screen time, and does no exercise.
Solution:Duration Score: max(0, 20 - (6-5.5) x 8) = 16/30\nBedtime Score: max(0, 12 - 1 x 4) = 8/20\nCaffeine Score: max(0, 20 - (400/400 x 20)) = 0/20\nScreen Score: max(0, 15 - (90/120 x 15)) = 3.75/15\nExercise Score: 5/15 (no exercise)\nTotal: 16 + 8 + 0 + 3.75 + 5 = 32.75/100
Result:Sleep Quality: 32.8% (Poor) | 3 complete cycles + 40 min | Rating: Poor
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours of sleep do adults actually need?
The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours for adults aged 18-64 and 7-8 hours for those 65 and older. However, individual needs vary based on genetics, activity level, and health status. Consistently sleeping less than 6 hours is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and cognitive decline. Sleeping more than 10 hours regularly may indicate underlying health issues such as depression or sleep apnea. The key is finding your personal optimal duration where you wake feeling refreshed without an alarm, which for most adults falls between 7.5 and 8.5 hours.
What are sleep cycles and why do they matter?
A complete sleep cycle lasts approximately 90 minutes and includes four stages: Stage 1 (light sleep, 5%), Stage 2 (light sleep, 45%), Stage 3 (deep/slow-wave sleep, 20-25%), and REM sleep (25%). Waking up mid-cycle, especially during deep sleep, causes sleep inertia, the groggy, disoriented feeling upon waking. By timing your alarm to coincide with the end of a complete cycle, you wake during lighter sleep and feel more alert. For example, if you fall asleep at 11 PM, optimal wake times would be 12:30 AM, 2:00 AM, 3:30 AM, 5:00 AM, 6:30 AM, or 8:00 AM. Most people need 5-6 complete cycles per night.
How does caffeine affect sleep quality?
Caffeine has a half-life of 5-6 hours, meaning half the caffeine from your afternoon coffee is still in your system at bedtime. It blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, which normally promote sleepiness. Studies show that consuming 400mg+ of caffeine (about 4 cups of coffee) per day, or any caffeine within 6 hours of bedtime, significantly reduces deep sleep duration and total sleep time. Even moderate caffeine (200mg) consumed at 3 PM can reduce sleep quality by 10-15%. The effect is cumulative and worsens with age as caffeine metabolism slows. For optimal sleep, limit caffeine to 200mg daily and avoid it entirely after 2 PM.
Does exercise timing affect sleep quality?
Exercise is one of the most effective natural sleep aids, but timing matters. Moderate aerobic exercise (20-60 minutes) performed in the morning or early afternoon can increase deep sleep by 65-75% and reduce time to fall asleep by 55%. However, vigorous exercise within 2-3 hours of bedtime can elevate core body temperature and adrenaline levels, making it harder to fall asleep. The exception is gentle yoga or stretching, which can improve sleep when done before bed. Consistency is more important than intensity: regular moderate exercise outperforms occasional intense workouts for sleep quality improvement.
References
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer · Editorial policy