What is the average reaction time?
For a simple visual signal, the average human reaction time is about 250 ms, a quarter of a second. That single figure hides a lot. The average depends on which sense picks up the signal and on where the measurement is taken.
Averages by sense
| Signal | Typical average |
|---|---|
| Touch | About 150 ms |
| Sound | About 170 ms |
| Sight | About 250 ms |
Sight is the slowest of the three. The eye takes longer to turn light into a nerve signal than the ear takes with sound. The test on this page uses a color change, so your result belongs in the sight row. To measure the sound row, use the auditory reaction time test.
Online averages and lab averages
Two sets of numbers are in circulation, and they do not match.
Lab studies of young adults report about 200 to 250 ms for a simple visual reaction. Online tests report 250 to 300 ms. Human Benchmark, a well known site for this kind of test, reports a median of 273 ms.
People are not slower at home. The difference is hardware. Your screen, mouse and browser typically add 20 to 50 ms that lab equipment does not. A 60 Hz screen refreshes only every 16.7 ms, so the green panel can reach your eyes a little late before you even begin to react.
Why your number may differ from the average
- Device. A phone, a TV or a wireless mouse can add delay.
- Age. Speed peaks in the early to mid twenties and declines slowly afterwards.
- Sleep. A short night slows reactions.
- Caffeine. A moderate dose gives a small improvement.
- Practice. A familiar task produces steadier results.
None of these makes a score good or bad on its own. Together they explain why the same person can score differently on two days or on two devices.
How to compare fairly
Compare your online score with online averages, not lab ones. On this site, 260 to 299 ms is the average band and anything under 230 ms is fast.
Use your five-try average, never a single best click, and repeat the test on the same device. The Your scores panel keeps your past results, so after a few runs you can see your own typical value. For more on limits and age, see human reaction time.