how much sleep does my teen need

Teenagers typically need about 9 hours of sleep each night for optimal health and development. This amount of sleep supports their significant growth and brain development occurring during adolescence. A surprising reality is that nearly 90% of high school students do not get this amount on a regular basis, often leading to chronic sleep deprivation in teens 1.

If teenagers are allowed to sleep according to their natural rhythms, without stimulatory inputs or obligations like homework, they often equilibrate to needing about 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep. This need underscores the importance of prioritizing sleep duration for adolescents, which sometimes means adjusting school schedules to accommodate this natural sleep pattern 2.