Abstract. We show that any positive integer is the least period of a factor of the Thue-Morse word. We also characterize the set of least periods of factors of a Sturmian word. In particular, the corresponding set for the Fibonacci word is the set of Fibonacci numbers. As a byproduct of our results, we give several new proofs and tightenings of well-known properties of Sturmian words.Mathematics Subject Classification. 68R15.