What is a good reaction time?
The short answer
A "good" reaction time depends on context, but here's a practical scale based on data from millions of tests on the Human Benchmark Reaction Time test:
The data
| Score | Percentile | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Under 150ms | Top 1% | Elite |
| 150–200ms | Top 10% | Excellent |
| 200–250ms | Top 25% | Above average |
| 250–300ms | 25th–75th | Average |
| 300–400ms | Bottom 25% | Below average |
| Above 400ms | Bottom 10% | Slow |
What it means for you
For practical contexts: Formula One drivers average ~200ms in official tests, professional esports players 150–180ms, and healthy young adults without gaming experience typically land between 200–250ms. The physiological floor for simple visual RT is approximately 100ms - no human can react faster than this due to the time nerve signals take to travel.
The Aim Trainer test measures choice reaction time (pointing to a moving target), which is naturally slower than simple RT and correlates with gaming skill.
Measure it yourself
Take the Reaction Time Test - free, no account needed, results in under 5 minutes.
Quick Answer
Under 250ms is above average. Under 200ms puts you in the top 10%. Elite athletes and gamers often achieve 150–180ms.
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