What's a Good Reaction Time? Averages, Benchmarks and How to Improve

A good reaction time on an online click test is under about 250 milliseconds, and under 200 ms is quick. Reaction time is how long it takes you to respond to something you see or hear, and it matters for gamers, drivers and, more and more, for people who train robots. This guide covers typical averages, what affects your score, and how to get faster.

Want your number before you read on? Take the free reaction time test: five tries, about 30 seconds, no sign-up. This guide is part of our series on AI training jobs for gamers, because quick, consistent reactions are one of the skills robots learn from people.

What counts as a good reaction time?

Reaction time tests measure the gap between a signal and your response. In a simple visual test, the screen changes colour and you click as fast as you can. Studies of simple visual reactions in adults usually find averages in the low-to-mid 200s of milliseconds. Online tests often read a little slower, because your device adds its own delay.

SlowerFaster

1. 01Over 300 msRoom to improve, or a slow device
2. 02250–300 msTypical for most people
3. 03200–250 msQuick
4. 04Under 200 msVery quick, usually on fast hardware

These bands are a rough guide for click-or-tap tests on a computer or phone. They aren't medical norms, and a single round tells you less than your average over several tries.

Average reaction time by situation

Your reaction time isn't one fixed number. It changes with what you're reacting to and what you have to do:

• Sound versus sight. People generally react a little faster to a sound than to a visual signal.
• Simple versus choice reactions. Clicking when one thing happens is faster than choosing between several responses, like pressing left or right depending on the colour.
• Expected versus surprise. When you know roughly when the signal is coming, you're faster. Random delays, like the ones in our test, keep you honest.
• Age and practice. Reaction times tend to be quickest in young adulthood and slow gradually with age, but practice and familiarity with the task make a real difference at any age.

What affects your reaction time test score

Online tests time everything between the screen changing and your click registering, so part of your score is hardware, not you.

• Display refresh rate. A 60 Hz screen draws a new frame about every 16.7 ms, so the change can show up to a frame late. At 144 Hz a frame lasts about 6.9 ms.
• Input device. Wired mice and keyboards usually respond faster than touchscreens and some wireless devices.
• Browser and system load. Background tabs, power-saving modes and low battery can add delay.
• Your state. Sleep, focus, caffeine and warm-up all show up in your numbers.

Because of this, compare scores taken on the same setup. A phone score and a gaming-PC score aren't a fair match.

How to improve your reaction time

• Warm upPlay a round or two before the one that counts.
• Rest on the buttonKeep your finger on the key or mouse, not hovering.
• Watch the centreFix your eyes on the middle of the panel and relax your hand.
• Use fast hardwareA wired mouse and a high-refresh screen remove delay.
• Practise little and oftenShort daily sessions beat one long one.
• SleepTired players are slower and less consistent.

Most gains come from consistency rather than raw speed. Cutting your slow tries matters more than shaving a few milliseconds off your best one. That's why our test shows both your best try and your average.

Why reaction time matters beyond games

Drivers, pilots and athletes rely on quick reactions, and so do robots. A delivery robot that has to stop for a pedestrian or a drone that has to dodge a branch needs to react fast and correctly. Robotics companies teach that partly with examples of people reacting well, which is why speed is one of the six skill tracks on Metagaming.

On Metagaming, you can save your arena score to your Access Pass as a proven Speed skill, then take paid missions that robotics companies and AI labs post. Pay is per task, from $1 for common tasks. Rates are estimates, and we don't promise income. Get your Access Pass to start, or read how Metagaming works.

Comparing other ways to earn from games? Read our honest look at apps that pay you to play games.

FAQ

Is 300 ms a good reaction time?

It's around average to slightly slow for an online click test. Many people land between 200 and 300 ms. Check your device and setup before deciding it's you: a slow screen or touchscreen can add a lot.

Is 150 ms reaction time possible?

On a single lucky try, sometimes. As an average over several tries on a visual test, it's very rare. Averages under 200 ms are already quick.

Do gamers have faster reaction times?

Players of fast action games often do well on reaction tests, and practice with fast see-and-react loops helps. Good hardware also helps their scores.

How many tries should a reaction time test use?

Several. One try is mostly luck. Our reaction time test uses five and shows your average and your best, and a click before the signal counts as a false start and is retried.