Sleep attire is a highly personal thing: some guys like to sleep in a T-shirt and sweats, or just wear boxer briefs. Others prefer to sleep totally nude — and, whether you know it or not, research suggests there are a ton of health perks to this approach.

“Sleeping naked can lead to better sleep, improved self-esteem, lower stress levels, increased intimacy with one’s partner, and more,” says Dr. Po-Chang Hsu, a medical content expert at SleepingOcean.com.

And it’s more common than you may think. A 2022 survey showed that more than half of people sleep naked, with slightly more men (60%) opting to ditch the clothing than women (56%).

The most commonly cited reason (noted by 69% of respondents) for sleeping sans clothing was that it’s just plain comfortable — but 58% said it’s relaxing and 54% said they slept better that way.

Whether you already snooze in the nude or you’re considering it, here’s what to know about the potential benefits this habit can bring to your sleep quality — and overall well-being.

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Struggle to fall asleep? According to Tyler Read, a NASM-certified personal trainer and CEO of Personal Trainer Pioneer, your body temperature naturally drops when you fall asleep. So, by taking off your clothes when you hit the hay, you’re mimicking that reaction and signaling that it’s time for snoozing.

Don’t be surprised if you wake up feeling more well rested after sleeping in the nude.

“The body gradually decreases its core temperature at night, which serves as a cue for sleep,” says Hsu. “And when fewer fabric layers are involved, the cooling process accelerates, allowing people to not only drift off to sleep faster but also get deeper rest.

In fact, studies have shown that you may drift off faster if you're naked because clothing can cause you to overheat, thus decreasing slow-wave and REM sleep.

“Also, sleeping naked might especially come in handy for chronic hot sleepers,” adds Hsu. “Less contact with pajama fabrics would lead to increased airflow. This, in turn, may help the body regulate its temperature better and reduce or even prevent night sweats.”

Provided that you can convince your partner to ditch their clothes between the sheets, too, sleeping naked just might help boost intimacy — and not just by encouraging you to get frisky. According to Hsu, skin-to-skin contact promotes the release of oxytocin, which is known as the “love hormone.” Oxytocin is associated with trust, closeness, empathy, and relationship-building.

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“This can help to strengthen your bond and decrease stress, which may improve sleep quality as well,” says Marten Carlson, a certified sleep science coach and lead reviewer at Mattress Clarity.

If you’ve got confidence issues related to your body, Hsu says sleeping naked may be just the thing to help you move past them towards self-acceptance.

In fact, a 2017 study suggested that being naked in general has a positive effect on self-esteem and body image.

“And that’s what we all need in the world of social media and unrealistic beauty standards,” adds Hsu.

Researchers found this effect was especially significant when people were seen nude or saw others nude, so you may be more likely to experience this benefit if you sleep with a partner — especially one who’s also down to strip down before bed.

As an added bonus, Carlson notes that by helping you to be more comfortable with your body, sleeping naked may in turn also boost your overall well-being and life satisfaction.

Trying to shed a few extra pounds? Sleeping naked may help you get there — provided, of course, that you’re combining this strategy with other healthy habits like exercising and maintaining a balanced diet.

Here’s how it works. Your body has two types of fat: white fat, which your body stores when you consume excess calories, and brown fat, which actually helps you burn calories by generating heat.

A small 2014 study found that when men slept in a room set at 66 degrees (as opposed to 74 degrees), they almost doubled their brown fat volumes. As a result of this effect, you could burn 30% more calories.

Trying to conceive? Well, as it turns out, studies show free-balling it is better for fertility. That’s because, according to Dr. Edibel Quintero, a doctor specializing in obesity and nutrition with HealthInsider, sleeping naked provides greater circulation around your nether regions, keeping it dry and decreasing the chances of bacterial infections, irritation, or chafing.

“Consistent heat near the groin isn’t good for men because high temperatures can affect the sperm count,” she explains.

Pro tip: If you just can’t hack the whole sleeping nude thing but you’re still concerned with keeping your sperm count up, Quintero recommends opting for loose-fitting boxers in a breathable fabric.

Needless to say, there are lots of advantages to sleeping naked — but that said, it’s not for everyone.

For example, Hsu notes that things might get awkward fast if you live with roommates and sleepwalk or take frequent trips to the bathroom. It’s also not ideal if you have sensitive skin, as clothing acts as a protective barrier, and without it, you’re more prone to allergic reactions (say, to laundry detergent).

It’s also important to consider the hygiene factor. If you sleep naked, you’ll need to wash your sheets more often — about once every four days or so, rather than once every week or two. If that’s not realistic for you, then you may just want to wear underwear or PJs to bed. Or at the very least, Quintero suggests showering right before bed if you prefer to sleep in the nude so you don’t have to stress quite as much about constantly laundering your sheets.

In order to reap most of these perks, Quintero advises setting your thermostat to around 65 degrees.

And remember: you don’t have to sleep nude every single night in order to benefit — even ditching clothing once a week or so could do wonders for your sex life, fertility, snooze quality, and overall well-being.