The perfect office temperature? Science says it’s about more than comfort

Anyone who’s worked in a shared office knows the battle well: some want the aircon blasting, others reach for a jersey. One camp swears by 18 or 19 degrees, while their colleagues prefer a balmy 23 or 24.

But according to new research, this debate isn’t just about personal preference or climate.

Why temperature affects how we think

Clinical psychologist Dr Sophie Mort says temperature regulation goes far beyond physical comfort.

She explains that body temperature is closely linked to psychological wellbeing, including memory, emotional processing, efficiency, stress response and how relaxed or tense we feel at work.

“It’s not just about feeling comfortable,” she argues, pointing to a series of experiments examining how temperature influences mental performance.

The ‘magic number’

After analysing the data, Mort says there is a surprisingly specific sweet spot.

“The absolute magic number for all human beings is 20.6 degrees,” she says.

In practical terms, that rounds up to about 21 degrees Celsius – a temperature she believes maximises both mood and alertness in the workplace.

Hot, cold… or just right?

Of course, even that may not end the debate entirely. As one commentator jokingly put it, there are still ‘lizard people’ and ‘polar bears’ among us.

But if science has its way, the office thermostat may soon settle on a clear winner: not too hot, not too cold – just over 20 degrees.

For more information, listen to international correspondent Adam Gilchrist using the audio player below: