What is the average human reaction time?

A large study of 1,469 adults aged 18 to 65 measured an average simple visual reaction time of about 231 milliseconds, or about 213 ms after correcting for equipment delays.

Does reaction time get slower with age?

Yes, gradually. Studies find simple reaction time is fastest in your twenties and slows by roughly half a millisecond per year after that.

Why is my reaction time slower on my phone?

Every device adds a small delay between you tapping and the tap being registered, and between the screen changing and you seeing it. Screens, touchscreens, wireless mice and some TVs can add anywhere from a few to many milliseconds.

What is a good reaction time?

Q: What is a good reaction time?

For a simple visual test where you tap as soon as the screen changes, most adults score roughly 200 to 300 milliseconds. Under 240 ms is very fast, and under 200 ms is exceptional on a typical phone or computer.

Updated November 2026 · 4-minute read

Short answer: on a simple "tap when it turns green" test, most adults score roughly 200 to 300 milliseconds. Under 240 ms is very fast, and under 200 ms is exceptional on an ordinary phone or computer.

What reaction time measures

Reaction time is the gap between something happening and you responding to it. In a simple test like ours, that means the moment the box turns green and the moment your tap registers. It includes the time your eyes and brain need to notice the change, plus the time to send the signal to your finger and move it.

A millisecond (ms) is a thousandth of a second, so 250 ms is a quarter of a second.

Typical reaction time ranges

These ranges match the ratings on our reaction test, for an average of 5 taps on a normal device.

Average time	Rating	What it means
Under 200 ms	Lightning fast	Exceptional, especially on a phone
200 – 239 ms	Very fast	Quicker than most adults
240 – 289 ms	Fast	A solid, typical result
290 – 349 ms	About average	Common, especially on touchscreens
350 ms and over	Keep practising	Often tiredness, distraction or device lag

What does the research say?

In a study of 1,469 adults aged 18 to 65, the average simple visual reaction time was about 231 ms, or about 213 ms once the delay added by the testing equipment was removed (Woods and colleagues, 2015). Results below roughly 100 ms are generally treated as guessing rather than reacting, because the signal can't travel from eye to finger that quickly.

Does age make a difference?

Yes, but slowly. A test of 5,325 visitors at a public exhibition found reaction times were fastest in people's twenties and got gradually slower in each older age group (Wilkinson and Allison, 1989). Long-running studies put the slowdown at roughly half a millisecond per year from about age 20 (Fozard and colleagues, 1994). So a 60-year-old might be around 20 ms slower than they were at 20: noticeable on a test, but small.

Why your score changes from day to day

Your device: touchscreens, slower screens, wireless mice and Bluetooth keyboards all add a few milliseconds or more. Some TVs add a lot more. Compare scores on the same device.
Tiredness: late at night or after poor sleep, most people are noticeably slower.
Focus: a notification, a conversation or music with lyrics can add tens of milliseconds.
Practice: scores usually improve over the first few attempts as you get used to the test.

How to get a faster score

Rest your finger just above the screen or mouse button, ready to tap.
Watch the centre of the box, not your finger.
Don't try to predict the change: the delay is random, and tapping early just restarts the round.
Use a computer with a wired mouse if you want your fastest possible number.
Try at a time of day when you feel alert, and take a few practice runs first.

Frequently asked questions

Is 250 ms a good reaction time?

Yes. It's a solid, typical result for an adult on an online test, and in the "Fast" band on our test.

Is 200 ms good?

Very good. Averaging around 200 ms on a phone or computer is quicker than most people manage.

Do gamers have faster reactions?

Regular practice at fast-paced games can help with this kind of task, but there's a natural limit, and device delay matters as much as skill on an online test.

Is reaction time linked to intelligence?

There is a modest link: people with faster and more consistent reaction times tend to score a little higher on intelligence tests on average. But it's a weak connection, so a slow reaction time says very little about how clever someone is.

See where you stand. Our free reaction test takes about a minute: 5 rounds, no registration, no email, and your average straight away.

Take the reaction test Try the memory test

Sources: Woods et al. (2015), Factors influencing the latency of simple reaction time, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · Wilkinson & Allison (1989), Age and simple reaction time: decade differences for 5,325 subjects · Fozard et al. (1994), Age differences and changes in reaction time: the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging · Der & Deary (2017), The relationship between intelligence and reaction time varies with age