Applies to: Sleep Number® app, SleepIQ® account
Heart rate, HRV, and breath rate measured by the Sleep Number® app are averaged overnight, not recorded in real time. If your heart rate doesn’t appear, it means the system did not detect enough high‑quality signal data during your sleep session. This does not affect your SleepIQ® score.
Overview
Your Sleep Number® smart bed measures three biosignals while you sleep:
- Heart rate
- Heart rate variability (HRV)
- Breath rate
These measurements are:
- Averaged over the night, not real‑time
- Intended for wellness tracking, not medical diagnosis
- Useful for spotting trends, not moment‑to‑moment readings
Your average heart rate and breath rate can vary due to:
- Cardiovascular conditioning
- Stress levels
- Alcohol use
- Age
- Weight
- General health
For example, runners often have a lower resting heart rate than others in their age group.
Important:
- Missing heart rate does not affect your SleepIQ® score.
- The Sleep Number® pump and sensors are not medical‑grade heart rate monitors.
- If you are concerned about your heart rate or changes in your biosignals, consult your physician.
Why Your Heart Rate Might Be Missing
Sometimes the Sleep Number® app cannot gather enough high‑quality data to calculate an average heart rate for the entire sleep session. This is typically caused by sleeping position, bed settings, or signal interference.
Below are the most common causes.
Side Sleeping
When you sleep on your side, less of your body makes contact with the bed’s full‑body sensor, making heart rate detection more difficult.
High Sleep Number® Setting
Very firm settings can reduce the sensor’s ability to detect subtle biosignals.
Low Body Weight
Lighter-weight sleepers may apply less pressure, which can limit sensor detection.
Sleeping Near the Center or Edge
If you sleep too close to:
- the center gap (for dual-system beds) or
- the outer edge
…the sensor may not capture enough signal.
Animals Sleeping on the Bed
Pets can interfere with pressure-based biosignal detection.
Two Sleepers on the Same Side
If both partners sleep on one side, the system may not be able to differentiate the biosignals clearly.
CPAP Usage
Some CPAP machines can create vibrations or airflow patterns that interfere with biosignal detection.
When to Contact a Physician
If you have concerns about:
- changes in your nightly biosignals
- differences between your data and your sleep partner
- or overall heart rate trends
…it’s a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider.
Sleep Number® biosignals are designed for wellness tracking only, not for diagnosis.
Troubleshooting Tips to Improve Heart Rate Detection
Try the following steps to increase sensor accuracy:
Adjust your Sleep Number® setting - If your setting is very firm, try lowering it slightly.
Aim to sleep toward the center of your side of the bed - Avoid the center gap and outer edges.
Remove pets from the bed - Animal movement or weight can interfere with readings.
Ensure both sleepers stay on their own side - If partners are sharing a single side, detection is more difficult.
Review CPAP equipment placement - Make sure airflow or tubing is not transmitting vibrations to the mattress surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Missing Heart Rate Affect My SleepIQ® Score?
No. If the Sleep Number app cannot detect your heart rate during a sleep session, it does not reduce or change your SleepIQ® score.
Is the Sleep Number® heart rate sensor medical-grade?
No. It is for wellness tracking and trend insights, not medical diagnosis.
Does missing heart rate mean my sensor is broken?
Not necessarily. Sleeping position, pets, CPAP use, or firmness settings usually cause the issue.
Why does my partner’s heart rate show up but mine doesn’t?
Each sleeper’s body type, position, and weight affect detection sensitivity. This is normal.
Is real-time heart rate available?
No. Heart rate is averaged across your sleep session for consistency and trend visibility.