Set thermostat target temperature

Use this action to set the target temperature of a climate device, for example to warm a room to a comfortable temperature.

Using this action from the user interface

If you prefer building automations and scripts visually, Home Assistant walks you through this action step by step. You pick what to target, tweak a few options, and save. No YAML knowledge required.

To set the target temperature from an automation or a script:

  1. Go to Settings > Automations & scenes.
  2. Open an existing automation or script, or select Create automation > Create new automation.
  3. If you’re setting up a new automation, add a trigger in the When section. Scripts don’t need a trigger. They run when something else calls them.
  4. In the Then do section, select Add action.
  5. Select what you want to control. Under By target (see Targets), select the climate device you want to control.
  6. From the actions shown for that target, select Set thermostat target temperature.
  7. Set the temperature options you want to apply.
  8. Select Save.

Options in the UI

Target temperature (Optional)

The temperature setpoint. Use this when the device targets a single temperature.

Upper target temperature (Optional)

The highest temperature in a target range. Use this together with the lower target temperature when the device targets a range, such as in heat/cool mode.

Lower target temperature (Optional)

The lowest temperature in a target range. Use this together with the upper target temperature when the device targets a range, such as in heat/cool mode.

HVAC mode (Optional)

The HVAC mode to switch to before applying the temperature. If not set, the current mode is kept.

Using this action in YAML

If you work directly in YAML, or you want to know exactly what Home Assistant does under the hood, this section has the technical reference. It lists the field names you use in YAML, their types, and which ones are required.

In YAML, refer to this action as climate.set_temperature. A basic example looks like this:

ActionActions are used in several places in Home Assistant. As part of a script or automation, actions define what is going to happen once a trigger is activated. In scripts, an action is called *sequence*. [Learn more]
action: climate.set_temperature
target:
  entity_id: climate.living_room
data:
  temperature: 21
  hvac_mode: heat

This sets climate.living_room to heat to 21 degrees.

To set a temperature range in heat/cool mode, use the upper and lower target temperatures instead:

ActionActions are used in several places in Home Assistant. As part of a script or automation, actions define what is going to happen once a trigger is activated. In scripts, an action is called *sequence*. [Learn more]
action: climate.set_temperature
target:
  entity_id: climate.living_room
data:
  target_temp_high: 24
  target_temp_low: 20
  hvac_mode: heat_cool

Options in YAML

temperature float

The temperature setpoint. Use this when the device targets a single temperature. Do not use together with the upper and lower target temperatures.

target_temp_high float

The highest temperature in a target range. Required together with the lower target temperature when the device targets a range, such as in heat/cool mode.

target_temp_low float

The lowest temperature in a target range. Required together with the upper target temperature when the device targets a range, such as in heat/cool mode.

hvac_mode string

The HVAC mode to switch to before applying the temperature. If not set, the current mode is kept.

Targets of the action

This action requires a target. The target is the object of the action. You can point the action at a single entityAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more], a device, an area, a floor, or a label, and Home Assistant will run the action on every matching climate entity behind that target.

  • Entity: one specific climate entity, such as climate.living_room.
  • Device: every climate entity that belongs to a device.
  • Area: every climate entity in a room or area.
  • Floor: every climate entity on a floor.
  • Label: every climate entity that shares a label.

You can also select different target types in one action. For example, you can add a specific entity and an area as targets in the same action to run the action on both of them at once.

Good to know

  • Use either a single target temperature or a target range, depending on what the device supports. Devices in heat/cool mode use the upper and lower target temperatures together.

Try it yourself

Ready to test this? Open Developer tools > Actions, search for this action, fill in the fields, and select Perform action. You see what happens on your actual entitiesAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more] without writing a line of YAML.

More examples

Real scenarios where this action shows up in automations and scripts. Copy any example and adapt it to your setup.

Tip

You don’t need to edit YAML to use these examples. Copy a YAML snippet from this page, open the automation editor in Home Assistant, and press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V on Mac). Home Assistant automatically converts the pasted YAML into the visual editor format, whether it’s a full automation, a single trigger, a condition, or an action.

Automation: lower the temperature at night

Set a climate device to a cooler temperature at bedtime to save energy overnight.

  • Trigger: Time: 22:30
  • Action: Set thermostat target temperature
    • Target: Living room thermostat
    • Target temperature: 18
Show example YAML
AutomationAutomations in Home Assistant allow you to automatically respond to things that happen in and around your home. [Learn more]
- alias: "Lower the living room temperature at night"
  triggers:
    - trigger: time
      at: "22:30:00"
  actions:
    - action: climate.set_temperature
      target:
        entity_id: climate.living_room
      data:
        temperature: 18

Still stuck?

The Home Assistant community is quick to help: join Discord for real-time chat, post on the community forum with the action you’re calling and what you expected to happen, or share on our subreddit /r/homeassistant.

Tip

AI assistants like ChatGPT or Claude can also explain actions or suggest the right one when you describe what you want in plain language.

Related actions

These actions work well alongside this one: