The great health benefits of sleeping with socks on

A South Korean study shows that sleeping with socks on offers several advantages, including giving your brain a gentle nudge to realise that it is time to go to sleep.

By Sidsel Senius , in Health, Lifestyle · 28 Sep 2026, 07:01 · 0 Comments

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Ekaterina Brycheva;

Some might say that this world is divided into two groups of people. Those who enjoy sleeping with their socks on, and those who absolutely despise it.

Somewhere in the grey area, there’s the group of people who sleep with socks on depending on the specific season, for instance, wearing bell-jingling ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ socks during freezing December nights.

In this article, we will explain the health benefits of sleeping with your socks on, and we will debunk the myth that socks prevent circulation, along with some tips on choosing the best socks for sleeping, and how to warm your feet without socks.

Increasing blood flow

When our body starts producing melatonin, the hormone that is responsible for inducing sleep, our body temperature naturally begins to drop. Simply put, a lower body temperature is essential for falling asleep.

However, having cold hands or cold feet is a significant factor contributing to difficulty falling asleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), wearing socks is a great way to combat this by increasing blood flow to the feet, while simultaneously reducing the core body temperature, helping to induce sleep more quickly.

South Korean study

A small study conducted in South Korea demonstrated that sleeping with socks on can have several beneficial effects, including the improvement of sleep quality; reducing nighttime awakenings; reducing the time it takes to fall asleep; and extending the duration of sleep.

These effects are associated with keeping your feet warm during the night. According to NSF, wearing socks while sleeping also contributes to the likelihood of achieving orgasm during sexual intercourse; may help prevent hot flashes during menopause (since the core body temperature drops when the feet are hot); and may help prevent cracked skin on the feet (apply moisturising cream to your feet before putting on socks).

However, the effects can vary from person to person, and wearing socks is not a substitute for maintaining regular sleep habits, good ventilation and a suitable bedroom temperature.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Gabriel Gonzalez;

The best socks for sleeping

In order to avoid hindering blood circulation during your sleep, choosing the right socks to sleep in has to be considered carefully. Try to find some socks that are made with breathable fibres, such as cotton, cashmere, or merino wool, which help keep feet comfortable without retaining too much moisture. The socks also should not squeeze your feet or ankles but stay loose enough to not leave marks on your legs or cause any discomfort.

Compression stockings

Compression stockings can affect circulation when worn incorrectly, so wearing them to sleep is not recommended unless they are specifically recommended by a healthcare professional.

Alternatives to socks

If you belong to the group of people who despise sleeping with socks on, here are some great alternatives to avoid cold feet before going to sleep: take a nice, warm bath immediately before going to bed; put on socks until bedtime so your feet are already warm; use (with caution) a hot water bottle on your feet; place a blanket or throw at the foot of the bed to provide extra warmth to the foot area.