Reaction time is the short delay between a stimulus appearing and your response. In a simple visual task, it mainly reflects perception speed, attention, and the time it takes to trigger a motor action.
Age is one of the strongest predictors of reaction time. Below you’ll find practical benchmarks and an easy way to compare your own result.
What is an average reaction time?
For a simple visual stimulus, many healthy adults land around 200–250. Faster results are more common in people who practice quick responses (for example gamers and athletes), while slower days happen with poor sleep, stress, distraction, or device differences. If you want benchmarks by age, see: Average Reaction Time by Age.
Trend: reaction time changes with age
Typical reaction time by age group
Click a point to see the benchmark range
Average reaction time by age (benchmarks)
| Age group | Typical range |
|---|---|
| 10–14 | 220–250 |
| 15–24 | 190–220 |
| 25–34 | 200–230 |
| 35–44 | 210–240 |
| 45–54 | 220–260 |
| 55–64 | 240–290 |
| 65+ | 260–320 |
Is 200 a good reaction time?
Yes. For most adults, 200 is very good in a simple visual task. Values in the 160–190 range can happen with practice and low-latency setups. If you see extremely low numbers repeatedly, it may reflect anticipation, hardware latency differences, or measurement quirks rather than “superhuman” performance.
Why reaction time slows with age
Slower reaction time is usually a normal, gradual change. Several factors contribute: slower nerve conduction, reduced synaptic efficiency, changes in attention stability, and slightly delayed motor initiation. Lifestyle also matters: sleep quality, stress, fitness, and day-to-day cognitive load.
Measure your reaction time
The most reliable number is your average across multiple attempts, not one click. Take the test and compare with the age benchmarks above:
How to improve reaction time
- Prioritize sleep and consistent wake times
- Reduce distractions before testing
- Practice short reaction drills a few times per week
- Stay physically active (cardio + coordination)
- Track trends on the same device
This article is educational and not diagnostic. Reaction time varies naturally with stress, fatigue, caffeine timing, practice effects, and device latency.