They roost in caves, buildings, foliage, and hollow trees. The species living in temperate regions hibernate during the winter in retreats other than their summer roosts, but they awaken readily and change their hibernating sites occasionally, sometimes flying 1,500 meters or more to a new place. These bats begin feeding on insects and spiders later in the evening than most bats and often return to the roost to eat their catch. They usually hunt within six meters of the ground, and will also feed on the ground. Like many bats, they generally have regular feeding territories or hunting areas.
Most species roost in moderate-sized groups, but some are solitary.
In some species the sexes live together all year, whereas in others the females form maternity colonies. The clusters are segregated by sex during the birth season. Individuals of this species may establish well-defined foraging territories near their roosts. In general, individuals of Rhinolophus are solitary hunters, while those of Hipposideros forage in small groups. In some species, including those that hibernate, mating occurs during the fall, but there is a delay in ovulation, so that actual fertilization does not occur until the spring.