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Polysomnography - the sleep study, read by a specialist.

An overnight recording of your breathing, oxygen, heart and brain during sleep - at home or in a monitored unit. The right level of study first time, scored by an accredited scientist and interpreted by a consultant sleep physician.

See indicative pricing
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Indicative pricing

What a private sleep study costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner sleep units.

In short

£250–£500, report back in 3–7 days.

Study Indicative range
Home respiratory polygraphy (level 3) £250–£500
Attended in-lab polysomnography (level 1) £1,200–£2,500
Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) £900–£1,800
CPAP titration study £1,000–£2,000
Actigraphy (1–2 week wrist recording) £150–£350
Paediatric in-lab polysomnography £1,500–£3,000
Sleep medicine consultation only £250–£450

Prices vary by unit, by whether the study is home or attended, and by whether a daytime test or CPAP titration is added. Attended in-lab and paediatric studies are always at the top of the range.

The problem

The right level of study, a proper scorer, and a plan you can act on.

Sleep testing is where quick fixes quietly under-deliver - a wristband app instead of a real study, a number with no clinician, a diagnosis with no next step. We fix all three.

  • Is a home test enough?

    For most snorers, yes - and it is cheaper and more comfortable. But some symptoms need a full attended study. We say which before you book.

  • A human scores it

    Consumer trackers estimate. An accredited scientist scores every 30-second epoch by hand, so the AHI and sleep stages are ones a clinician can trust.

  • A diagnosis that leads somewhere

    The report ends with a plan - CPAP, a dental device, ENT referral or reassurance - not just a figure you are left to interpret alone.

When it helps

When a sleep study is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an urgent study rather than a routine appointment.

  • Loud snoring with breathing pauses

    Snoring your partner notices, with pauses, gasping or choking overnight - the classic picture of obstructive sleep apnoea.

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness

    Falling asleep at the desk, on the sofa or - dangerously - at the wheel, despite what should be enough time in bed.

  • Morning headaches and unrefreshing sleep

    Waking with a dull headache, dry mouth or the sense you have not slept, often with early-morning high blood pressure.

  • Restless legs and periodic limb movements

    An urge to move the legs at night, or repetitive kicks that fragment sleep and are only seen on a full study.

  • Suspected narcolepsy or hypersomnia

    Sleep attacks, sudden muscle weakness with emotion, or overwhelming sleepiness - assessed with an overnight study plus a daytime MSLT.

  • Acting out dreams or unusual night behaviour

    Shouting, punching or walking in sleep - parasomnias and REM behaviour disorder need EEG and video, not a home oximeter.

  • Fitness-to-drive and pre-surgery clearance

    DVLA questions about sleepiness, or anaesthetic planning before major or bariatric surgery, often require an objective study.

  • Red flag: sleepiness plus heart or lung disease

    Uncontrolled hypertension, atrial fibrillation, heart failure or falling asleep while driving warrant an urgent study, not a routine booking.

Study options

The level of study depends on the question.

What each study involves - from a simple home recorder to a full attended night, daytime nap testing and CPAP set-up.

  • Home respiratory polygraphy

    A level 3 study: airflow, oxygen saturation, snoring, chest and abdominal effort, and heart rate - recorded in your own bed. Enough to confirm most obstructive sleep apnoea.

  • Full attended polysomnography

    The gold standard. EEG, EOG and EMG add true sleep staging to airflow, oxygen, ECG, effort and limb sensors, all watched overnight by a sleep scientist.

  • Video polysomnography

    Synchronised infrared video alongside the EEG - essential for parasomnias, REM behaviour disorder and separating nocturnal seizures from sleep events.

  • Multiple Sleep Latency Test

    A daytime series of nap opportunities the day after an overnight study, measuring how quickly you fall asleep and enter REM. The key test for narcolepsy.

  • Maintenance of Wakefulness Test

    The mirror image of the MSLT - it measures your ability to stay awake, often used for occupational and fitness-to-drive questions.

  • CPAP titration study

    An attended night on CPAP where pressures are adjusted to abolish apnoeas, snoring and oxygen dips, setting the therapy up correctly from the start.

  • Actigraphy

    A wristwatch-style recorder worn for one to two weeks, mapping your true sleep–wake pattern. Ideal for insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders.

  • Paediatric polysomnography

    A child-appropriate attended study, with a parent staying overnight, used for suspected sleep apnoea before adenotonsillectomy and for other childhood sleep disorders.

What to expect

What a sleep study is like - honestly.

Polysomnography is safe and non-invasive. The things worth knowing are the comfort of the sensors, the limits of a home test, and what a diagnosis unlocks.

  • A sleep study is a recording, not an operation

    Nothing is cut and no medication is needed. The sensors are stuck to the skin and scalp with gentle paste or tape and simply record while you sleep.

  • Skin irritation is the main nuisance

    Some people find the electrode paste, tape or nasal cannula mildly irritating. It settles within a day, and sensitive skin can be flagged in advance.

  • Sleeping in a strange bed

    An in-lab night is rarely your best sleep, and the study accounts for that. A home study avoids the problem entirely, which is why it suits most straightforward cases.

  • A normal study does not always mean nothing

    One quiet night can under-call mild disease, especially if you barely slept. If symptoms persist, we repeat or escalate to a fuller study.

  • Home studies have limits

    They do not stage sleep and can miss central apnoeas, limb movements and parasomnias.

  • Driving and the DVLA

    If sleepiness affects your driving you must not drive until it is controlled, and you may have a legal duty to inform the DVLA. We explain exactly where you stand.

  • Children need a paediatric setting

    Childhood studies are done in units set up for children, with a parent present and staff experienced in settling and monitoring young patients.

  • What a diagnosis unlocks

    Confirmed obstructive sleep apnoea opens the door to CPAP, mandibular devices or surgery - treatments that lower blood pressure and cardiovascular risk and restore daytime function.

  • When to seek help sooner

    Falling asleep at the wheel, chest pain at night, or severe breathlessness on lying flat need urgent medical attention, not a routine sleep booking.

Reading your sleep report

Your report in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever study was done - home or attended - the report the sleep physician sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant sleep physician reviewing a patient’s polysomnography report

A quiet reminder

Sleep reports are full of indices and abbreviations - we translate them for you.

If you would like us to talk you through your AHI, oxygen profile and sleep stages before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Study type and how well you slept

    Whether it was a home or attended study, total sleep time, sleep efficiency and how representative the night was of your usual sleep.

  2. 02 Respiratory

    AHI, oxygen and severity

    The apnoea–hypopnoea index (events per hour), your lowest and average oxygen levels, and whether events are obstructive, central or mixed.

  3. 03 Architecture

    Sleep stages, arousals and limbs

    Time in light, deep and REM sleep, how often you were roused, and any periodic limb movements - the detail only a full study provides.

  4. 04 Impression

    Diagnosis and treatment plan

    Read this first: the diagnosis, its severity, and the recommended next step - CPAP, a dental device, ENT referral or reassurance.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Sleep studies are usually covered when there are symptoms of sleep apnoea or another sleep disorder. Screening for otherwise-well snorers may not be.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about sleep studies.

Quick answers on home versus attended studies, AHI, narcolepsy testing, cost and NHS options.

  • What is the difference between a home sleep study and a full polysomnogram?

    A home respiratory study records airflow, oxygen, effort and heart rate while you sleep in your own bed - enough to confirm most obstructive sleep apnoea. A full attended polysomnogram adds brain-wave, eye and muscle sensors to stage your sleep precisely, plus limb and video monitoring, all watched by a sleep scientist overnight. The full study is needed when central apnoea, limb movements, parasomnias or narcolepsy are in question.

  • Will I actually be able to sleep with all the sensors on?

    Most people sleep more than they expect. The sensors are light and the scoring allows for a less-than-perfect night, so even a broken night usually gives a reliable answer. If you barely sleep, the study can be repeated. Many patients avoid the issue altogether with a home study in their own bed.

  • What is an AHI and what counts as sleep apnoea?

    The apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) is the number of breathing pauses and shallow-breathing events per hour of sleep. Broadly, 5–15 is mild, 15–30 moderate and above 30 severe obstructive sleep apnoea. Your symptoms and oxygen levels matter alongside the number, which is why a clinician, not just a figure, interprets the result.

  • How do I get tested for narcolepsy?

    Narcolepsy needs an overnight polysomnogram followed the next day by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test - a series of nap opportunities measuring how quickly you fall asleep and enter REM. Medications and shift patterns can affect the result, so preparation is planned carefully beforehand.

  • How much does a private sleep study cost in the UK?

    Roughly £250–£500 for a home respiratory study, £1,200–£2,500 for a full attended in-lab polysomnogram, £900–£1,800 for an MSLT and £1,000–£2,000 for a CPAP titration night. A sleep medicine consultation alone is £250–£450.

  • Can I get a sleep study on the NHS?

    Yes. The NHS provides home and in-lab sleep studies through respiratory and neurology sleep services, and waits vary by region. Private testing appeals when you want a fast diagnosis - for example because sleepiness is affecting your driving or work - or want to choose your consultant. We are happy to say when the NHS route is the sensible one.

  • Do I need to stop my medication or caffeine before the study?

    It depends on the study. For a straightforward sleep apnoea test you usually carry on as normal but avoid alcohol and afternoon caffeine on the day. For an MSLT, some medications - especially antidepressants and stimulants - must be adjusted in advance under guidance. We give you a tailored preparation list.

  • What happens if the study confirms sleep apnoea?

    You move straight into treatment planning. Mild cases may respond to weight loss, positional advice or a mandibular device; moderate to severe cases usually do best with CPAP, which is titrated to your needs. Where the blockage is anatomical, ENT options such as hypoglossal nerve stimulation or palate surgery are discussed. Treating apnoea lowers blood pressure and cardiovascular risk as well as restoring daytime energy.

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