How To Get Paid To Sleep (Yes, It’s A Real Thing!)

Imagine this: you roll into bed, pull up the covers, drift off into dreamland, and wake up richer. Sounds too good to be true, right? Believe it or not, there are actually legit ways to get paid to sleep. Whether you’re a night owl, nap queen, or just really good at snoozing, here’s how you can turn your downtime into dollar signs.

1. Sleep Studies

Medical researchers are always looking for volunteers to participate in sleep studies. These studies help doctors understand everything from insomnia to how new medications affect rest.

• What you’ll do: Sleep in a lab or clinic while hooked up to monitoring equipment.
• What it pays: $100 to $3,000+ depending on the length and complexity of the study.
• Where to find them: Check universities, hospitals, or clinical trial sites like ClinicalTrials.gov or local research centers.

Pro tip: Read the fine print as some studies require overnight stays for multiple nights or restrictions like avoiding caffeine or alcohol beforehand.

2. Mattress Testing

If you’ve ever dreamed of getting paid to lie on a bed, this one’s for you. Mattress companies often hire testers to try out their products and give feedback on comfort, firmness, and sleep quality.

• What you’ll do: Sleep on a mattress for a set period and fill out a review or questionnaire.
• What it pays: $200–$3,000, plus you often get to keep the mattress!
• Where to find them: Follow brands like Casper, Nectar, or Sleep Junkie as they occasionally run “sleep reviewer” programs.

3. Hotel Mystery Shopper

Fancy falling asleep in luxury hotels for free? Some companies hire mystery shoppers to evaluate their stays.

• What you’ll do: Spend the night at a hotel, then submit a detailed review about the room, staff, cleanliness, and sleep experience.
• What it pays: Usually free stays + $100–$500 per review.
• Where to find them: Check out mystery shopping platforms like BestMark or Market Force, or join influencer and travel tester programs.

4. Content Creation: Sleep Influencer

Yes, there’s such a thing as a sleepfluencer. People film themselves testing sleep gadgets, reviewing pajamas, or even live-streaming “sleep ASMR.”

• What you’ll do: Create sleep-related content on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram.
• What it pays: It depends; brand deals, ad revenue, and affiliate links can add up fast.
• Where to start: Post honest reviews of sleep aids, bedding, or white noise apps. Tag the brands and you might get noticed (and paid!).

5. NASA Sleep Studies

NASA sometimes conducts studies to understand how long-term bed rest affects astronauts’ bodies.

• What you’ll do: Stay in bed for weeks (literally) while they monitor your health and muscle activity.
• What it pays: $10,000–$20,000 for 60–90 days.
• Where to find them: NASA’s Human Research Program occasionally posts openings online. Keep an eye on official NASA pages or science job boards.

6. Dream Research Projects

Some universities study dreams, lucid dreaming, or sleep paralysis and pay volunteers for their participation.

• What you’ll do: Keep a dream journal or participate in overnight studies.
• What it pays: $50–$500 depending on the project.
• Where to find them: Psychology departments at universities often recruit on bulletin boards or via their websites.

7. Sleep App Beta Testing

App developers love feedback from real users. You can earn money (or at least free subscriptions) testing apps that track sleep cycles, play calming sounds, or guide meditations.

• What you’ll do: Use the app nightly and report bugs or feedback.
• What it pays: $20–$200 per test.
• Where to find them: Try sites like UserTesting or Appen for beta testing gigs.

8. Sleep Product Reviews

If you love gadgets, you can make extra cash testing pillows, weighted blankets, eye masks, or white noise machines.

• What you’ll do: Try the product, write a review, or post a photo/video.
• What it pays: Free products or $50–$500 per review.
• Where to find them: Join affiliate platforms like Skimlinks, Impact, or Amazon Associates to monetize product reviews on your blog or social media.

9. Sleep Model or Photo Shoot

Brands need “real people” to model in cozy bed scenes for marketing.

• What you’ll do: Pose or pretend to sleep in a photo shoot.
• What it pays: $100–$1,000+ depending on the brand and campaign.
• Where to find them: Look for local casting calls or post on platforms like Backstage or Model Mayhem.

10. Host Sleep Studies From Home

If you have spare rooms and live near a medical research facility, you might even get paid to host participants or provide space for at-home trials.

• What you’ll do: Allow participants to use your space for research monitoring.
• What it pays: Variable—often $100–$500 per night.

11. Nap Cafes and Sleep Pods

In some cities, businesses like nap cafes or relaxation spas pay people to test their pods, soundscapes, or sleep environments.

• What you’ll do: Test-drive a nap pod or sleep suite and provide feedback.
• What it pays: $20–$100 per session, often with freebies like spa access.

Final Thoughts: Sleep On It

If you love your bed, this might be the ultimate side hustle. The trick is to look for legitimate research institutions, brand opportunities, or affiliate programs and not random “get paid to nap” scams.

So yes, you really can make money while you snooze. The dream job might just be… sleeping.