Should you turn your router off at night?

Getting enough sleep is fundamental to our well-being, and if you're spending hours tossing and turning at night, it could be your router that's to blame. We're exposed to electromagnetic fields from Wi-Fi which, while generally not considered harmful to our health, can compromise the quality of our slumber.

Whether you're desperate to know how to sleep fast or are wondering whether turning your Wi-Fi off could save money at home, we've asked professionals for the answers. So, should you turn your wifi router off at night as part of your bedtime routine, or is it simply not worth the hassle?

If you want to wake up feeling more energized, some sleep experts highly recommend it.

Should you turn your router off at night for better sleep?

There's lots of debate around whether Wi-Fi disrupts our sleep. If you've already tried everything, from investing in the best mattress and pillows to banishing electronics before bed, but still struggle to nod off, it's certainly worth a try. Science says so: Tom Greenspan, a sleep expert from VS Mattress (opens in new tab) says that an active WiFi connection can interfere with the natural production of melatonin, preventing you from getting restorative sleep.

Similarly, Isabella Gordan, a sleep science coach and co-founder of Sleep Society (opens in new tab) 'highly recommends' switching off your Wi-Fi at night – for two reasons. First, for better sleep, and second, to safeguard your connection and reduce hacking risk. 'Radiofrequency signals transmitted by routers can negatively affect sleep quality, potentially leading to headaches or fatigue,' she says. 'Furthermore, turning off the router helps keep other people from accessing or disrupting your connection without permission.'

While the radiation from your router isn't necessarily dangerous, Isabella explains that it is still a source of EMF radiation that could cause restlessness. 'Turning WiFi off overnight will help ensure that you get an uninterrupted night's sleep and wake up feeling refreshed,' she says.

There's a connection between turning Wi-Fi off and deeper sleep, says James Oliver, the lead researcher, sleep expert, and founder at HeyMattress (opens in new tab). He argues that switching it off can mean you wake up feeling more energized because electromagnetic fields from the router disrupt your body's natural circadian rhythm. 'Some people experience electromagnetic hypersensitivity due to wireless radiation from routers,' he adds, 'so turning off your internet each night may reduce their symptoms.'

And it's not just sleeping experts who recommend it: Jeremy Dawes, the CEO of website design and SEO service Jez North Web (opens in new tab) is also team 'turn it off', and chooses to switch his own Wi-Fi off at night. That said, he points out that leaving it on isn't something to worry about because the levels of radiation emitted by Wi-Fi routers are far below the safe levels set by international guidelines.

Jeremy comments that while there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that it is harmful to sleep with your Wi-Fi on, some experts recommend turning it off at night to reduce exposure to the low levels of electromagnetic radiation emitted by WiFi routers.

Should you turn your Wi-Fi off when it's not in use?

'Whether to turn off your Wi-Fi when not in use depends on a few factors, such as energy consumption, security, convenience, and interference,' says Jeremy. 'Turning off your Wi-Fi can reduce energy consumption, minimize security risks, and reduce interference with other networks.' But it may be more convenient to leave it on if you frequently use it, or have devices that connect to it automatically.

What are the potential problems of turning Wi-Fi off at night?

On the flip side, Robert Johnson, the senior director of merchandising at Coast Appliances (opens in new tab) argues that it's better to leave your Wi-Fi on overnight given that routers a small amount of energy (around 2 to 20 watts, depending on the model). He also emphasizes that turning off your router overnight may mean the device misses important automatic software updates. 

This could affect its stability, speed, and overall performance, and stresses the internal parts due to temperature and power changes. Any router-connected devices, such as a home security system, may also experience update and optimization delays. So the bottom line is it won't save much energy, could affect WiFi speeds, and potentially decrease the lifespan of your broadband.

Andreas Grant, a Network Security Engineer at Networks Hardware (opens in new tab) strongly recommends leaving it on, too. 'Your Wi-Fi router doesn’t require rest like other devices. It is designed to be working 24/7 and that’s every single day of the year. Whenever you turn your router off, it can automatically send signals to your internet provider,' he explains. 

'This works as a signal that your internet connection is unstable. To keep your connection stable, it can then automatically reduce the speed,' he says. 'Broadband providers constantly work on optimizing your connection to provide the best performance. You are also affecting this process by frequently turning off your router. The only good side that I see is that it can keep you from mindlessly scrolling at night. But the cons are way too big for you to take this pro seriously,' he says.

If getting better sleep is your priority, it's worth experimenting by turning your router off at night for a week, based on what the sleep experts are saying. But evidently, there are some risks to your connection. One huge benefit is the reduced risk of excessive stimulation from electronics near bedtime. At a time when we're switched on all the time, turning off the Wi-Fi as part of your bedtime routine might help us wind down, even if it's purely psychological.