Normal body temperatures vary, but if your temperature is 96 and you feel sick, there might be something else going on.

You may feel ill and take your temperature, assuming you have a fever. Instead, your thermometer reads 96°F (35.55°C).

This lower-than-average temperature could occur for several reasons, including an underactive thyroid, low blood sugar, circulation issues, vitamin deficiency, medication, or, more rarely, sepsis.

Understanding body temperature is important to making sense of your 96°F reading. A temperature of 98.6°F (37°C) is considered a “normal” temperature. However, studies suggest “normal” may vary from 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C).

Typical temperature may change depending on your age and the method you use to measure your temperature.

A 2019 review found that body temperature can vary depending on the method used. These average temperatures for each method were:

  • Rectal: 98.67°F (37.04°C)
  • Eardrum: 97.95°F (36.64°C)
  • Oral: 97.83°F (36.57°C)
  • Armpit: 96.75°F (35.97°C)

Ranges of normal temperatures vary widely in the literature, but a guideline of average temperatures for newborns and children is:

  • Newborns: 97.7 to 99.5°F (36.5 to 37.5°C)
  • Children: 96.8 to 99.5°F (36 to 37.5°C)

It’s important to know a person’s typical baseline in order to determine if the temperature reading is unusual for them.

Incorrect temperature readings could factor into why your thermometer reads 96°F (35.55°C).

To make sure you measure accurately, follow these guidelines:

  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your thermometer.
  • Consider any factors that could have led to an inaccurate temperature. An oral reading may be affected if you’ve sipped a cold drink or kept your mouth open while taking your temperature. An armpit reading may be lower if you did not hold the thermometer in the correct place or if you improperly closed your arm.
  • Take your temperature a few times to make sure the reading is correct.

If you have taken your temperature correctly, though, it’s possible that a condition or serious illness may be the cause.

Hypothermia occurs when your body is at 95°F (35°C) or lower. Hypothermia is a very serious medical condition that can be fatal if not treated immediately by medical professionals.

This condition can occur because of exposure to cold weather, submersion in cold water, prolonged time in cold and wet clothes, or a cold home environment. An early symptom of hypothermia is shivering.

Hypothermia requires immediate medical attention, so you should call for emergency help if you suspect you have hypothermia.

If you have to wait for medical help, try to warm yourself up with blankets or a hot drink.

Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid is not functioning properly. It is underactive and does not create enough of your thyroid hormone for your body. You may experience:

You can take medication to improve your thyroid’s hormone production.

A drop in body temperature could be a symptom of sepsis. This occurs when your body starts fighting itself instead of an infection. It can damage your tissues, shut down your organs, and even lead to death. Other symptoms of sepsis include:

  • signs of infection
  • changes in mental state
  • feeling very sick, such as having a hard time breathing or feeling pain

Seek immediate medical help if you think you might have sepsis.

Keeping babies in a normal temperature range is very important to avoid hypothermia or other illnesses. Some factors that could influence a baby’s temperature include:

Take your baby’s temperature using the same method every time. Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature, and let the infant warm up if they have been brought in from the cold.

The best temperature-taking methods for infants and toddlers are:

  • In the armpit: Place the thermometer in the middle of the armpit and close the arm against the body. Wait 3 minutes for an accurate measurement, or follow the thermometer’s instructions.
  • In the rectum: Put a protective sleeve over the thermometer and add a lubricant to it. Insert the tip of the thermometer in the rectum (no more than 2 centimeters) and wait 5 seconds before taking it out and reading it, or follow the thermometer’s instructions.
  • In the eardrum (for infants over 3 months old): Place the thermometer into the ear, making sure it is snug, and turn on the thermometer. Pull it out when the thermometer indicates the reading has been taken.
  • Contactless forehead: Some thermometers allow you to take a child’s temperature without contact. The thermometer and forehead must be movement-free to get an accurate reading. Press the temperature button. Your device will beep or flash to let you know the temperature is ready to be read.

Other factors that can cause a lower temperature include:

  • Advanced age: You may have a lower body temperature as you age. You may have less body fat in your arms and legs, dry skin, and a slowed metabolism as you get older. These can all contribute to a lower body temperature as heat can escape more easily.
  • Medications: Taking certain medications could lower your temperature. These include beta-blockers and some antipsychotics.
  • Exposure to cold temperatures: Your temperature may be low if you’ve been outside in cold weather. Wear warm enough clothes and keep your head covered in cold weather. Avoid getting wet in cold weather.

If you have additional symptoms of illness, however, you may have a condition associated with a low temperature. Or it could be a symptom of a serious illness, but you’d typically have severe symptoms if this were the case.

Call a healthcare professional if your temperature is 96°F (35.55°C) and you feel sick. You can describe your symptoms over the phone. They may offer a diagnosis or ask you to make an office visit.

You need immediate medical treatment if your temperature drops due to hypothermia or sepsis. Seek care if your temperature is declining and you have:

  • breathing difficulty
  • slowed speech
  • confusion or other mental changes
  • tiredness
  • blue skin or lips

Infants with a low body temperature should be seen by a doctor immediately. Other symptoms of hypothermia in infants include red or discolored and cold skin, sleepiness, and disinterest in feeding.

Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

Below are commonly asked questions about a low body temperature.

Certain health conditions may cause a drop in body temperature, including hypothermia, hypothyroidism, and sepsis.

If your body temperature is low, you should move to a warm, sheltered location as soon as possible and retake a temperature reading. If a low body temperature accompanies other symptoms such as breathing difficulty or skin changes, you should seek medical assistance.

A temperature of 96°F (35.5°C) is not a fever. In fact, it is a slightly low temperature. You have low grade fever if your temperature is higher than 99.1°F (37.2°C) and outright fever when it’s above 100.4°F (38°C).

A temperature of 96°F (35.5°C) is considered low. It’s important to recheck the temperature to make sure it is not a false reading.

That said, 96°F (35.5°C) is not substantially low, so if you’re not having any other concerning symptoms, it’s not likely to be anything to worry about.

There may be several reasons you feel ill and have a thermometer reading of 96°F (35.55°C).

You may have taken your temperature incorrectly. Or you may have another underlying factor contributing to the lower temperature, like advanced age, medication use, or hypothyroidism.

Rarely, you may have a serious illness like hypothermia or sepsis that requires immediate attention.