What Is the Ideal Temperature for Bath Water?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 31, 2020

The ideal temperature for bath water is about 2 degrees more than the normal body temperature, which is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Bathing in water that is hotter than 102 F can cause injuries that can compromise a person’s health.

Bath water that is too hot can cause burns to the skin. Setting a hot water thermostat at a maximum of 107 F will help to decrease the risk of hot water burns to elderly or disabled people who may have impaired temperature perception. Bathing in water that is too cold could cause a loss of body heat, resulting in hypothermia. When bathing a baby, the bath water should be no warmer than 100 F, according to Mayo Clinic.