ObjectivesThere are limited data on the relationship between sleep duration and possible sarcopenia. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the associations of sleep duration with possible sarcopenia and its defining components based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingThis study was conducted on participants aged over 45 years applying the 2011 baseline and 2015 follow-up survey from CHARLS covering 450 villages, 150 counties and 28 provinces.ParticipantsData from 5036 individuals (2568 men and 2468 women) free of possible sarcopenia at baseline were analysed.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe dose-response relationship between sleep duration and possible sarcopenia.ResultsDuring 4 years of follow-up, 964 (19.14%) participants developed possible sarcopenia. Compared with participants who slept 6–8 hours per night, those with shorter sleep duration (<6 hours per night) were independently associated with 22% (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.44) increased risk of developing possible sarcopenia and 27% (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.57) increased risk of developing low handgrip strength after controlling for potential confounders. Long sleep duration (>8 hours per night) was not significantly associated with incident possible sarcopenia. The plots of restricted cubic splines exhibited an atypical inverse J-shaped association between sleep duration and possible sarcopenia. Subgroup analysis showed a stronger association between sleep duration and possible sarcopenia in participants aged 45–59 years and composed of male populations.ConclusionsShort sleep duration was a potential risk factor for possible sarcopenia and low handgrip strength. The improvement of sleep duration should be considered a target in early preventive and administrative strategies against the development of handgrip strength decline and further reduced the occurrence of sarcopenia.