What is the average human reaction time?
The short answer
The average human visual reaction time is approximately 273 milliseconds — just over a quarter of a second. This figure comes from tens of millions of tests collected on platforms like Human Benchmark and reflects the time from the moment a stimulus appears on screen to the moment a person clicks.
Reaction time varies significantly by the type of stimulus:
The data
| Stimulus type | Average RT | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Visual | 250–270ms | Visual cortex processing adds time |
| Auditory | ~170ms | Shorter auditory pathway |
| Tactile (touch) | ~150ms | Direct sensory nerve path |
What it means for you
The Human Benchmark Reaction Time test measures visual reaction time — the most commonly studied form. It captures the complete chain from stimulus onset to mouse click using performance.now() for millisecond precision.
Factors that influence individual averages: age (RT peaks in the early 20s), sleep deprivation (50ms slower after one bad night), caffeine (can reduce RT by ~10ms), and practice (regular test-takers score 15–20ms faster on average).
Key fact: large online reaction-time datasets put the average click response around 273ms. Under 200ms puts you in the top 10% globally.
Measure it yourself
Take the Reaction Time Test — free, no account needed, results in under 5 minutes.
Quick Answer
Average human reaction time is ~273ms for a simple visual stimulus - slightly faster for audio (170ms) and touch (150ms).
Related Test
More Questions
Go deeper
The Science Page
Peer-reviewed research, methodology, and citations behind every test.