What Is the Average Human Reaction Time? Benchmarks and How to Measure
Ever wondered whether your reflexes are fast or slow? This page lays out average human reaction times by stimulus type and age. Then measure your own number for free with the reflex game at the bottom of the page.
Average reaction time by stimulus type
The time from a signal appearing to your response is called simple reaction time. The average differs by the type of stimulus.
| Stimulus type | Average reaction time |
|---|---|
| Visual (light, color) | approx. 200–250ms |
| Auditory (sound) | approx. 170–200ms |
| Touch (contact) | approx. 150ms |
The typical reflex game — react when the screen changes color — is a visual test, so around 250ms is the average benchmark. Under 200ms counts as fast; over 300ms is slower than average.
How reaction time changes with age
Reaction speed tends to peak around your twenties and slow gradually with age. It also swings day to day with sleep, condition, and focus — a slow day often says more about your condition than your ability.
Measure your own reflexes
The clearest answer comes from measuring. The reflex game runs right in your browser — test your reaction speed and share the result on social media if you like.