Benchmarks

Reaction Time Statistics

Human Distribution Bell Curve

Most people react to visual signals within 200ms to 300ms. Below is the statistical distribution.

No local records detected. Complete a reaction test to overlay your reflexes on this distribution.

Latency by Age

Reaction times naturally slow down as you age. Here are the average speeds by age group.

Age Cohort	Average speed
18–24 years	210 ms
25–34 years	224 ms
35–44 years	238 ms
45–54 years	255 ms
55–64 years	272 ms
65+ years	305 ms

Professional Benchmarks

Average reaction times from studies of trained professionals.

Profession	Reaction Time
Pro Esports Players	175–185 ms
Fighter Pilots	185–195 ms
Olympic Sprinters	190–200 ms
Formula 1 Drivers	200–210 ms
Casual Gamers	220–235 ms
General Population	250–260 ms

Key Performance Factors

Sleep & Fatigue

Lack of sleep is the #1 factor slowing your reaction time. After 18 hours awake, your speed drops 20% to 30% — equivalent to a 0.05% blood alcohol level. Prioritize rest for peak reflexes.

Stimulants (Caffeine)

Caffeine sharpens your reflexes. A single cup of coffee (100mg) can improve reaction speed by 10ms to 20ms, with peak effect about 45 minutes after drinking.

Monitor Refresh Rate

Your monitor adds hidden latency. A 60Hz screen adds 16.7ms per frame, while a 240Hz gaming monitor cuts that to 4.17ms — removing up to 12.5ms of display delay from your results.

Input Connection (Polling Rate)

Wired mice are faster than wireless. Bluetooth mice add 8ms–15ms of variable lag, while a wired mouse polling at 1000Hz registers your click in just 1ms for the most accurate reading.

Data citations: Benchmarks extracted from "Age and sex differences in reaction time in adulthood: Results from the UK Health and Lifestyle Survey" (Der & Deary, 2006) and "Moderate sleep deprivation produces cognitive impairments equivalent to alcohol intoxication" (Williamson & Feyer, 2000).