What Temperature and Humidity Should Be in an Office? Standards, Regulations, and Ways to Achieve Comfort

18°C – that is the current minimum temperature in an office workspace according to occupational health and safety regulations. Does this mean that working in such conditions is truly ideal? Not necessarily. Comfort is also determined by air humidity, ventilation, air movement, and the way you arrange your interior. Find out what values really support concentration, what regulations say, and how to improve your office microclimate without expensive renovations.

What Temperature Should Be in an Office? A Concrete Answer

The minimum temperature in an office is currently 18°C. This obligation is imposed on employers by Polish occupational health and safety regulations. However, if you’re wondering what temperature should be in an office for comfortable work throughout the day, the answer looks a bit different. Most research and standards concerning thermal comfort point to a range of approximately 20–22°C in winter and 23–26°C in summer. It is precisely in these values that most people assess working conditions as most comfortable.

This is an important distinction. 18°C is not a comfortable temperature, but rather a minimum threshold resulting from regulations. In practice, many people feel cold at such temperatures, especially during hours of work at a computer.

However, the thermometer alone won’t tell the whole story. Two people sitting next to each other may feel the same temperature completely differently. This is influenced by, among other things:

• Air humidity,
• Air movement,
• Radiation from windows,
• Sunlight exposure,
• Clothing,
• Physical activity,
• Individual biological predispositions.

This is precisely why, at 4Nature System, when designing office spaces, we don’t look solely at air conditioning settings. Microclimate is created by the entire interior system – from ventilation, through access to light, to live greenery. A well-designed vertical garden helps create a space where temperature is perceived as more comfortable, and air no longer feels dry.

Office Temperature and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations – What Must an Employer Provide?

Occupational health and safety regulations require that the temperature in an office workspace not fall below 18°C. This is a basic employer obligation resulting from regulations concerning general occupational health and safety rules. In the case of other workspaces, the minimum temperature is 14°C, provided the technological process allows such values.

If you’re looking for the answer to what temperature in an office occupational regulations currently mandate, the most important information looks as follows:

However, regulations say more than just what a thermometer indicates. An employer should ensure that workstations are protected against:

• Drafts,
• Influx of cold air,
• Excessive heat radiation,
• Direct air-conditioning flow.

Many questions also concern high temperatures. Currently, regulations do not specify one maximum temperature for offices, but an employer still bears responsibility for ensuring safe working conditions. They must also provide free beverages when the room temperature exceeds 28°C due to atmospheric conditions.

It’s worth remembering one more recent change. Starting January 11, 2027, new regulations concerning work in high temperatures will come into effect. If the room temperature exceeds 35°C, work must be temporarily halted. The amendment also introduces the obligation to take action earlier to limit the risk of overheating.

In daily practice, much more effective than constantly adjusting air conditioning turns out to be appropriate space design. In our projects, we use plant walls that help create a more welcoming work environment and reduce the feeling of dry air. Greenery doesn’t replace HVAC systems, but complements them well and improves the perception of the entire interior.

Wondering how the presence of plants translates into your team’s daily work? Check out our research on work comfort in the office and find out what impact well-designed greenery has on employee well-being and productivity.

Air Humidity in an Office – A Forgotten Comfort Parameter

Optimal air humidity in an office usually ranges from 40 to 60%. Polish occupational health and safety regulations do not specify one mandatory value for all offices, but this range is recommended by experts dealing with indoor environmental quality. This is the level at which most people feel comfortable, and the risk of drying out mucous membranes or mold development remains low.

When someone asks about air humidity in an office, they usually think about temperature. Meanwhile, very often it’s precisely overly dry air that accounts for fatigue at the end of the day, burning eyes, or a sensation of “scratching” in the throat.

This becomes most noticeable in winter. Heating reduces relative humidity, and air conditioning further accelerates air drying. The result? Even at 22°C, you might have the impression that the room feels unpleasant.

Scientific sources agree here – 40–60% RH ensures the best compromise between comfort and building safety. At the same time, the WHO points out that preventing persistent dampness and mold development is even more important than maintaining a specific number.

What Happens When Air Is Too Dry?

• Eyes tire more quickly, especially during computer work.
• Dry nose and throat appear.
• Skin becomes more irritated.
• The amount of static electricity increases.
• Dust more easily becomes airborne.

It’s no accident that during the heating season, employees more frequently complain about eye fatigue. In many offices, humidity drops even below 30%, even though the thermometer reads correctly.

This is why at 4Nature System, when designing offices, we look beyond just air conditioning parameters. Investors increasingly decide on a vertical garden because live plants participate in the natural water cycle through the process of transpiration. They don’t replace professional HVAC systems, but they help create a more welcoming microclimate and improve the perception of the entire interior.

Appropriately selected plants can improve not only the aesthetics of an interior but also air quality. Find out which air-purifying flowers in an office work best in office spaces.

How to Improve Your Office Microclimate? Proven Solutions

The best results come from combining proper temperature, appropriate humidity, efficient ventilation, and live greenery. Simply turning up heating or purchasing a humidifier usually solves only part of the problem.

If your office regularly hears complaints about overly dry air or thermal discomfort, start with the simplest actions.

Most often, these help:

• Regulating the HVAC system,
• Changing the direction of air-conditioning airflow,
• Regular filter replacement,
• CO₂ level monitoring,
• Ventilating rooms,
• Limiting heat from large glazing,
• Using live plants as a microclimate element.

We often encounter the belief that buying a few potted plants is enough. Reality looks somewhat different. Individual plants improve interior aesthetics, but in large office spaces, properly designed green systems have much greater impact.

This is precisely why we have been conducting our own research for years on the impact of greenery on conditions in interiors. At 4Nature System, we analyzed, among other things, the effect of vegetation on air humidity, work environment quality, and comfort of office users.

These research results show that appropriately designed green systems can support microclimate stabilization and limit negative effects of dry air. From our perspective, a well-designed space consists of several elements:

• Efficient ventilation,
• Temperature control,
• Humidity monitoring,
• Appropriate plant selection,
• Regular green system maintenance.

Only then do all elements start working together.

Furniture with a vertical garden is also attracting increasing interest. It allows you to introduce live greenery where there’s no room for a large green wall. Such solutions work well at workstations, in conference rooms, or relaxation areas where employees spend many hours.

The way parameters are measured is also significant. A thermometer placed on a windowsill or directly under an air conditioner won’t show real conditions at an employee’s desk. It’s much better to take measurements at breathing zone height, over several days, and in different locations in the office. Only then can you assess whether the problem really concerns temperature, humidity, or perhaps improper ventilation.

Want to learn how live plants affect humidity levels in rooms? Discover our research on air humidity optimization, in which we examine how green walls support the microclimate of modern offices.

Temperature, Humidity, and Productivity – How Much Does Bad Microclimate Really Cost?

Excessively high or low temperature and inappropriate humidity affect concentration, well-being, and the number of errors made. This is a problem felt by both employees and employers. Microclimate in an office is not merely a matter of comfort – it also translates to work efficiency, absenteeism, and the perception of the entire workplace.

Research shows that people working in overheated rooms more frequently report:

• Drowsiness,
• Headaches,
• Concentration problems,
• Fatigue,
• More mistakes when performing tasks.

Conversely, excessively low temperature promotes muscle tension, cold hands, and impairs manual dexterity. It’s then hard to focus on work, even if occupational health and safety regulations are formally met.

It’s not without reason that more and more organizations are stopping to look at air conditioning solely through the prism of energy costs. A well-designed microclimate becomes an element of workplace experience strategy and employer branding.

The problem is that temperature is just one piece of the puzzle.

Comfort is simultaneously influenced by:

• Relative air humidity,
• Ventilation quality,
• CO₂ levels,
• Sunlight,
• Air movement,
• Workstation placement,
• Presence of natural greenery.

From our own experience, we know that employees very often describe the problem with words like “it’s stuffy” or “the air feels heavy.” However, after taking measurements, it turns out that temperature is within normal ranges. The cause might be CO₂ levels that are too high, dry air, or poorly adjusted airflow.

If you’re planning office modernization or setting up a new space, think about microclimate already at the design stage. Appropriately selected temperature, humidity, ventilation, and vegetation complement each other.

More and more companies are also opting for furniture with a vertical garden or extensive green installations because they allow you to improve space perception without undertaking costly renovations. These are solutions that work well in work zones, receptions, conference rooms, and communal spaces.

Discover how green walls and furniture with live greenery can support microclimate, employee comfort, and your office’s modern image. At 4Nature System, we select solutions tailored to specific space needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Office Temperature and Humidity

What is the minimum office temperature according to regulations?

For office work, the current minimum is 18°C. This is a requirement resulting from occupational health and safety regulations, not a temperature that ensures the highest work comfort.

What temperature should an office be in summer?

Most commonly, 23–26°C is recommended. Excessive cooling of rooms increases the risk of discomfort and large temperature differences between the office and surroundings.

What air humidity is optimal in an office?

The most comfortable range is considered to be 40–60% relative humidity. At lower values, dry eyes, nose, and throat appear more often.

What should I do when an office is too cold?

First, check the actual temperature at your workstation. The problem often turns out to be air-conditioning airflow, drafts, or cold surfaces near windows, not thermostat setting.

Does dry air in an office harm?

Yes. It can cause irritation of mucous membranes, eye burning, skin dryness, more dust in the air, and reduced work comfort.

Do plants humidify air in an office?

Yes. Live plants release water to their surroundings through transpiration, which helps maintain a more favorable microclimate. However, the best results are provided by professionally designed green systems that work with ventilation and other interior equipment elements.

Sources

State Labour Inspectorate, “Work Premises”, no publication year indicated, State Labour Inspectorate: https://www.pip.gov.pl/dla-pracodawcow/porady-prawne/pomieszczenia-pracy

Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy, “Regulation of July 9, 2026 amending the regulation on general occupational health and safety rules”, 2026, Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland: https://eli.gov.pl/eli/DU/2026/927/ogl

International Organization for Standardization, “ISO 7730:2025 – Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Analytical determination and interpretation of thermal comfort using calculation of the PMV and PPD indices and local thermal comfort criteria”, 2025, ISO: https://www.iso.org/standard/85803.html

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, “ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2023 – Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy”, 2023, ASHRAE: https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/standard-55-thermal-environmental-conditions-for-human-occupancy

World Health Organization, “WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould”, 2009, WHO Regional Office for Europe: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789289041683

Palonen, O. Seppänen, J. J. K. Jaakkola, “The Effects of Air Temperature and Relative Humidity on Thermal Comfort in the Office Environment”, 1993, “Indoor Air”: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.00025.x

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Preventing Occupational Respiratory Disease from Exposures Caused by Dampness in Office Buildings, Schools, and Other Nonindustrial Buildings”, 2012, NIOSH / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/publications/numbered/2013-102.html

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Office Environments and Your Safety”, no publication year indicated, NIOSH / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/office-environment/about/index.html