Table by age
These are the group averages from Table 2 of a 2015 lab study: simple reaction to a visual stimulus, that is, pressing as soon as a signal appears (Woods et al., 2015).
| Age | Average time | Standard deviation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–24 | 217.9 ms | 19.5 ms | Woods et al., 2015, Table 2 |
| 25–31 | 221.0 ms | 22.8 ms | Woods et al., 2015, Table 2 |
| 32–38 | 224.8 ms | 23.4 ms | Woods et al., 2015, Table 2 |
| 39–45 | 227.7 ms | 26.6 ms | Woods et al., 2015, Table 2 |
| 46–51 | 233.6 ms | 27.2 ms | Woods et al., 2015, Table 2 |
| 51–58 | 236.4 ms | 27.0 ms | Woods et al., 2015, Table 2 |
| 59–65 | 239.1 ms | 28.1 ms | Woods et al., 2015, Table 2 |
| All (18–65) | 230.8 ms | 26.8 ms | Woods et al., 2015, Table 2 |
They are group averages, not a cut-off for “normal”. They were measured on a calibrated PC and include about 18 ms of screen and mouse delay, which the study itself measured (Woods et al., 2015). There is no 70+ row because the study does not publish group averages above 65.
What makes you react faster or slower
Mostly age, sleep and the device you measure on; practice makes your average reliable.
Age
Between 18 and 65, the average rises by about 0.5 ms per year (Woods et al., 2015). It is a slow change: from the youngest group to the oldest there are about 21 ms, roughly two hundredths of a second.
Fatigue and sleep
Sleep loss slows responses and makes lapses, responses that take longer than half a second, more frequent (Lim & Dinges, 2008).
Practice
One try says little. Do several and keep the average; if you do many, rest between rounds, because even within one long session responses get a little slower (Woods et al., 2015).
Your device
Screens, mice and software can add up to 100 ms to the measured time (Woods et al., 2015). That is why an online test cannot be compared with the table to the millisecond: always compare on the same device.
Is my time normal?
This guide is educational: an online test cannot diagnose anything.
The averages in the table were measured in a lab on calibrated equipment; your browser and screen add their own delay, so compare yourself mainly with yourself. If you notice your reflexes have changed suddenly, talk to a health professional.
FAQ
At what age is reaction time fastest?
In the youngest group of the study, aged 18 to 24: 217.9 ms on average. From there the average rose in every age group up to 65 (Woods et al., 2015, Table 2).
Do video games improve reflexes?
On fast choice tasks, action video game players responded 11% faster than non-players, with the same accuracy. Some training studies indicate that playing can speed up responses (Dye et al., 2009).
What is the difference between simple and choice reaction time?
Simple reaction has one signal and one response, like our test. Choice reaction has several signals, each with its own response. In a study of 7,130 adults, simple reaction time showed little slowing until around 50, whereas choice reaction time slowed throughout adulthood (Der & Deary, 2006).
