OBJECTIVES:  To evaluate sleep characteristics (difficulty initiating sleep [DIS], difficulty maintaining sleep [DMS], non-restorative sleep [NRS] and time slept on weekdays) in patients with self-reported insomnia. METHODS: Using data from a nationally representative research survey fielded in 2016, sleep characteristics, quality of life, emergency department visits and productivity loss were assessed in participants with insomnia. Standardized sleep questionnaires were used to characterize sleep complaints. Descriptive and multivariable models with US population-based weighting was used to obtain adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across patient groups. RESULTS:  Insomnia was reported in 26.8% of the US adult population. The most frequent sleep complaints reported for those with insomnia were NRS alone (30.6%), DIS, DMS and NRS (27.8%) and DMS and NRS (10.9%). Comparing patients with DIS alone or DMS alone (4.6%) and NRS alone (30.6%) weekday hours slept were 7.5, and 6.6, respectively. Days with reduced productivity in the past week were higher for those with NRS alone compared to those reporting DIS alone or DMS alone (3.43 vs. 0.42; p<0.001). Emergency department visits over the last 6 months were higher for those with DIS alone or DMS alone compared to those with NRS alone (0.91 vs. 0.38; p<0.001). Scores on the Restorative Sleep Questionnaire (v2) were lower (worse) for those with NRS alone compared to those with DIS alone or DMS alone (50.23 vs. 53.41; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:  Insomnia is common complaint expressed in several ways. How patients characterize insomnia symptoms is related to health related quality of life, productivity and resource utilization.