Gina Johnson
Fitbit devices are smart wearables that can track your sleep patterns and quality. Fitbits with heart-rate tracking can record sleep stages, including light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. The device uses movement and heart-rate patterns to estimate sleep cycles, with sleep mode settings that can be adjusted for sensitivity. Fitbits can also detect and record naps over an hour long and set bedtime reminders to help maintain a consistent sleep schedule. The more sleep data logged, the more accurately the Fitbit reflects your sleep patterns, with the ability to compare your sleep data to averages of others in the same age range and sex.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How does Fitbit track sleep? | Fitbit uses actigraphy to track sleep. It tracks movement and heart-rate patterns to estimate sleep cycles. |
| How to track sleep with Fitbit? | Wear the Fitbit device during sleep for at least 14 days in a month. The sleep logs must include sleep stages data. |
| How to check sleep data? | Open the Fitbit app and sync the Fitbit device. Tap the sleep duration tile. Swipe down to the sleep timeline graph. |
| How to set bedtime reminders? | Open the Fitbit app. Tap the Sleep duration tile from the Today tab. Tap the menu icon and then tap Sleep settings. Set the time and frequency. |
| How accurate is Fitbit's sleep tracking? | Fitbit's sleep tracking is generally accurate for healthy adults with "normal" sleep patterns. It may be less accurate for people with disrupted sleep or sleep disorders. |
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What You'll Learn
Fitbit sleep tracking methods
Fitbit devices use a combination of movement and heart-rate patterns to track sleep. Wrist-based Fitbit devices and the Google Pixel Watch series automatically detect sleep when the user wears the device to bed. The device records that the user is asleep when there is no movement for about an hour. Additional data, such as the length of time when movements indicate sleep behaviour (like rolling over), also help confirm the user's sleep status.
The Fitbit app allows users to understand their sleep patterns and quality. The app displays a Sleep timeline graph, which shows the user's sleep stages. The graph displays the typical range for each sleep stage as a shaded area, with the benchmark based on published data for the same age range and sex. Fitbit's sleep researchers and the National Sleep Foundation describe the following sleep stages: Light Sleep, Deep Sleep, and REM Sleep. Light sleep serves as the entry point into sleep each night as the body unwinds and slows down. Deep sleep periods are typically longer early in the night, while REM sleep periods are longer towards the end of the night.
Fitbit devices that track heart rate (except Charge HR and Surge) also track sleep stages. While the user sleeps, the device tracks beat-to-beat changes in the heart rate, known as heart rate variability (HRV), which fluctuate as the user transitions between sleep stages. When the user syncs their device in the morning, it uses movement and heart rate patterns to estimate sleep cycles from the previous night.
The Fitbit app also offers a Premium subscription with a snore and noise detection feature. This feature allows the Fitbit Sense or Fitbit Versa 3 to track noise, including snoring from the user or someone next to them. A summary of the nightly results is provided in a report when the user wakes up.
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Fitbit sleep modes
Fitbit devices with a heart rate monitor can track your sleep stages. These devices use your movement and heart rate patterns to estimate your sleep cycles. When you sync your device in the morning, it uses your movement and heart rate patterns to estimate your sleep cycles from the previous night. The more disrupted your sleep, the less accurate the data will be.
Fitbit's sleep researchers and the National Sleep Foundation describe the following sleep stages:
- Light Sleep: This is the entry point into sleep each night as your body unwinds and slows down.
- Deep Sleep: This stage has less brain activity than REM sleep and usually lasts longer earlier in the night.
- REM Sleep: The stage associated with vivid dreams, REM sleep periods are typically longer towards the end of the night.
Fitbit devices with a heart rate monitor can also track your sleep patterns, including your time spent awake, restless, and asleep. If your device detects excessive movement, it will record this time as awake.
The Fitbit app allows you to set bedtime reminders to help you maintain a consistent sleep schedule. You can also check your sleep profile, which reflects your sleep patterns over the previous month. This data can be used to track your patterns and notice variations.
Fitbit's sleep mode has two settings: regular and sensitive. The regular sleep mode counts more time in bed as asleep, leading to an overestimation of sleep time. The sensitive mode is more accurate, counting even small movements as awake time, which may lead to an underestimation of sleep time.
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Fitbit sleep data
Fitbit devices can be used to track sleep patterns and quality. The Fitbit app provides a sleep profile and sleep timeline graph, which displays sleep stages and sleep duration. The sleep profile is based on sleep logs, which include sleep stages data, and the more sleep that is logged, the more accurately the profile reflects an individual's sleep patterns. The sleep timeline graph displays the typical range for each sleep stage as a shaded area, and users can compare their data to the averages of others in the same age range and sex.
Wrist-based Fitbit devices and the Google Pixel Watch series automatically detect sleep when worn to bed. It is recommended that the device is worn in a snug wristband, as devices in a clip or pendant accessory will not detect sleep. Fitbit devices detect when the wearer has not moved for about an hour and assumes they are asleep. Additional data, such as the length of time when movements indicate sleep behaviour, help to confirm the wearer's sleep status.
Fitbit devices that track heart rate can also track sleep stages. While asleep, the body typically goes through several sleep cycles that last on average 90 minutes. Each cycle alternates between two types of sleep: light sleep and deep sleep. Periods of deep sleep are usually longer earlier in the night, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is associated with vivid dreams, is longer towards the end of the night. Fitbit devices track the beat-to-beat changes in the wearer's heart rate, known as heart rate variability (HRV), which fluctuate as the wearer transitions between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep.
Fitbit's sensitive sleep mode counts small movements as time awake, so the "time asleep" stats are usually accurate. However, restless time asleep is often counted as "awake time". Fitbit's regular sleep mode requires more movement to register as time awake, which leads to more accurate "awake time" data but an overestimation of sleep time.
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Fitbit sleep stages
Sleep is an important aspect of health, impacting everything from mood to appetite, physical activity, and chronic conditions. Fitbit offers tools to help you understand your sleep patterns and quality, and get better rest.
Fitbit devices with heart-rate tracking can record the sleep stages you cycle through. While you're asleep, your body typically goes through several sleep cycles that last on average 90 minutes each. Each cycle alternates between two types of sleep: Light Sleep and Deep Sleep. With less brain activity than REM sleep, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) includes the stages of light sleep and deep sleep.
Light sleep serves as your entry point into sleep each night as your body unwinds and slows down. During this stage, your breathing and heart rate usually decrease slightly, and you may drift between being awake and asleep. Light sleep promotes mental and physical recovery and strengthens memory and learning.
Deep sleep typically occurs in the first few hours of sleep. During this stage, your body becomes less responsive to outside stimuli, making it harder to be awakened. Deep sleep enables physical recovery.
The final stage of sleep is Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, associated with vivid dreams. During this stage, your brain becomes more active, and your eyes move quickly in different directions. Your heart rate increases, and your breathing becomes more irregular. REM sleep has been shown to play an important role in mood regulation, learning, and memory consolidation. It also helps with strategic thinking and creativity.
Fitbit estimates your sleep stages by using your movement and heart-rate patterns. When you don't move for about an hour, your tracker or watch assumes you're asleep. It tracks beat-to-beat changes in your heart rate, known as heart rate variability (HRV), which fluctuate as you transition between sleep stages. In the morning, you can sync your device to view your sleep stages and trends over time in the app.
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Fitbit sleep patterns
Fitbit devices can help you understand your sleep patterns and quality. Wrist-based Fitbits and the Google Pixel Watch series automatically detect your sleep when you wear your device to bed. It is recommended that you wear your device in a snug wristband during sleep. When your body is completely at rest and you haven't moved for about an hour, your device records that you're asleep.
Fitbit devices that track heart rate (except Charge HR and Surge) also track sleep stages. While you're asleep, your body typically goes through several sleep cycles that last on average 90 minutes. Each cycle alternates between two types of sleep: light sleep and deep sleep. Fitbit estimates your sleep stages by using your movement and heart-rate patterns. When you sync your device in the morning, it uses your movement and heart rate patterns to estimate your sleep cycles from the previous night.
The Fitbit app allows you to check your sleep pattern, which includes your time spent awake, restless, and asleep. Restless sleep indicates that you move in your sleep, like if you toss and turn. If your device detects excessive movement, enough that restful sleep won't be possible, your device records time spent awake.
To get a more accurate picture of your sleep patterns, it is recommended that you wear your Fitbit during sleep for at least 14 days during the previous month (these do not have to be consecutive days). The more sleep you log, the more closely your sleep profile will reflect your patterns. On the first of the month, you can check your sleep profile in the Fitbit app or on your Fitbit device.
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Frequently asked questions
Wear your Fitbit device to bed and make sure it's snug on your wrist. Fitbit devices automatically detect your sleep when you wear them to bed. The device records that you're asleep when your body is completely at rest and you haven't moved for about an hour.
Your Fitbit device uses your movement and heart-rate patterns to estimate your sleep cycles. When you sync your device in the morning, it uses your movement and heart rate patterns to estimate your sleep cycles from the previous night.
You can set a bedtime reminder in the Fitbit app to help you maintain a consistent sleep schedule. You can also check your sleep profile in the Fitbit app or on your Fitbit device.
