What time should I go to bed if I wake up at 4:45 AM?

Go to bed at 9:00 PM for 7.5 hours of sleep, or 7:30 PM for 9 hours.

Both times give you whole 90-minute sleep cycles, so you wake up in lighter sleep, and include 15 minutes to fall asleep.

Personalise: age, time to fall asleep, cycle length

To wake up at 4:45 AM, go to bed at one of these times:

7:30 PM
9 hours · 6 cycles
9:00 PM
7.5 hours · 5 cycles
10:30 PM
6 hours · 4 cycles
12:00 AM
4.5 hours · 3 cycles

Includes 15 minutes to fall asleep. Adults need 7 to 9 hours, so 7.5 hours (5 cycles) is marked as the best fit.

All bedtimes for a 4:45 AM wake-up

Go to bed atSleepCycles
7:30 PM9 hours6Good for teens and people who need more sleep
9:00 PM7.5 hours5Recommended for most adults
10:30 PM6 hours4Short: below the 7-hour minimum
12:00 AM4.5 hours3Very short: only for an emergency

Bedtime by age for a 4:45 AM wake-up

WhoNeedsLatest bedtimeBedtime in sync with cycles
School-age child (6–12)9+ hours7:30 PM7:30 PM
Teenager (13–18)8+ hours8:30 PM7:30 PM
Adult (18–64)7+ hours9:30 PM9:00 PM
65 and older7+ hours9:30 PM9:00 PM

Recommended sleep: AASM and CDC. Latest bedtime gives the minimum sleep for that age, plus 15 minutes to fall asleep.

If you take longer to fall asleep

Time to fall asleepBedtime for 5 cyclesBedtime for 6 cycles
5 minutes9:10 PM7:40 PM
15 minutes9:00 PM7:30 PM
30 minutes8:45 PM7:15 PM

Waking up before 5 AM means an early bedtime. If you start work this early, keep the same bedtime on days off where you can, so your body clock stays steady. On a very early start, a short afternoon nap can help: see the nap calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What time should I go to bed if I wake up at 4:45 AM?
Go to bed at 9:00 PM for 7.5 hours of sleep (5 sleep cycles), or at 7:30 PM for 9 hours (6 cycles). Both include 15 minutes to fall asleep.
What time should I fall asleep to wake up at 4:45 AM?
Aim to be asleep by 9:15 PM for 7.5 hours, or 7:45 PM for 9 hours.
Is going to bed at 10:30 PM enough sleep if I wake up at 4:45 AM?
It gives about 6 hours of sleep. That’s 4 full cycles, but less than the 7 hours adults are advised to get, so it’s best kept for the occasional night.

Other wake-up times

For general information only, not medical advice. If you often feel tired despite enough sleep, snore loudly, or have trouble sleeping most nights, talk to a doctor.