The Sleep Economy Is Worth $585 Billion and It's Just Getting Started

The global sleep economy has reached $585 billion. Here is the specific products driving growth, the science behind sleep optimisation, and what actually helps you sleep better.

The global sleep economy — encompassing mattresses and bedding, sleep tracking devices, pharmaceutical and supplemental sleep aids, sleep coaching, weighted blankets, light therapy devices, sound machines, blackout curtains, and the growing category of sleep-adjacent products including melatonin gummies, magnesium supplements, and 'moon milk' recipes — reached approximately $585 billion in 2025 and is projected to exceed $700 billion by 2028.

The market's growth driver is genuine need: approximately 70 million Americans have chronic sleep disorders, one-third of adults in developed countries regularly sleep fewer than the seven to nine hours recommended for adults, and the health consequences of chronic sleep insufficiency — elevated cardiovascular risk, impaired immune function, reduced cognitive performance, increased appetite, and higher all-cause mortality — are among the most robust findings in health research.

The products with the strongest evidence for improving sleep outcomes: continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea — which affects approximately 25 percent of adults and is dramatically underdiagnosed — is the most impactful sleep intervention available, with treatment improving daytime function, cardiovascular outcomes, and mood. Blackout curtains and cool bedroom temperature (65-68°F) address the two physical environment factors with the strongest evidence for improving sleep quality. CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I) — available through several digital platforms including Sleepio — is more effective than sleep medications for chronic insomnia and produces lasting rather than symptomatic benefit.

The products with compelling marketing and limited specific evidence: weighted blankets show evidence for improving sleep in specific populations (autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorder) but limited evidence for improving sleep in the general population. 'Sleep supplements' combining melatonin, magnesium, ashwagandha, and various botanical extracts have evidence components for individual ingredients (particularly magnesium glycinate for sleep quality and melatonin for circadian phase shifting) but limited evidence for the specific formulations being sold.

For the investment dimension: the sleep economy is the wellness sector where the gap between consumer need and product efficacy is most commercially exploited, because poor sleep is aversive enough that sufferers will try almost anything that promises relief, and many products provide enough placebo benefit to maintain repurchase.