Reaction Time Test
Wait for the box to turn green, then click as fast as you can. You get your reaction time in milliseconds for each try, plus your average. Works with a mouse, a touch screen, or the keyboard.
Click to start
The box turns red. When it turns green, click as fast as you can. You can also press Space.
Clicks, taps, Space, and Enter all count. The wait before green is random, between 2 and 5 seconds.
What is reaction time?
Reaction time is how long it takes you to respond after something happens. In this test it is the gap between the box turning green and your click, measured in milliseconds (ms). There are 1,000 ms in a second, so a score of 250 ms means you reacted in a quarter of a second.
The wait before green is random, so you cannot predict it. You have to see the change and react, which is what the test measures.
Why use our reaction time test
- ·Free. No signup and no limits on how often you test.
- ·Careful timing. The clock starts on the frame that draws green and stops on your press, not when the page gets around to it.
- ·Mouse, touch, or keyboard. Click, tap, or press Space or Enter.
- ·Fair results. Early clicks are caught and not counted, and your average covers every try.
- ·Easy to read. Every screen also says what to do in words, so you do not need to tell red from green.
How to test your reaction time
- 1
Pick how many tries
Choose 3, 5, or 10 tries. More tries give a steadier average, since one slow or lucky try counts for less.
- 2
Start the test
Click the blue box, or press Space or Enter. The box turns red and you wait.
- 3
Click when it turns green
After a random wait of 2 to 5 seconds the box turns green. Click, tap, or press Space as fast as you can. Clicking while it is still red counts as too soon and that try is not used.
- 4
Read your results
After each try you see your time. When all tries are done you get your average, fastest, and slowest time, with a bar for each try.
What is a good reaction time?
On an online test like this one, most people land between about 200 and 300 ms. Use these ranges as a rough guide, not exact rankings, since your device adds its own delay:
| Average time | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Under 200 ms | Very fast. Common for practiced gamers on a fast setup. |
| 200 to 250 ms | Faster than most people. |
| 250 to 300 ms | A typical score on an online test. |
| Over 300 ms | Slower than most. Often caused by device lag, a phone touch screen, or being tired. |
Why your reaction time score includes device lag
Every online reaction test measures your whole setup, not only you. Your screen has to show the green box, and your mouse, touch screen, or keyboard has to report your press. Each step adds a few milliseconds.
The biggest one is usually your screen's refresh rate. A screen draws a new image once per refresh, so a change can wait up to one full refresh before you see it:
| Refresh rate | Time between frames |
|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.7 ms |
| 120 Hz | 8.3 ms |
| 144 Hz | 6.9 ms |
| 240 Hz | 4.2 ms |
To get the fairest score:
- ·Use a wired mouse or keyboard if you have one. Bluetooth devices can add delay.
- ·Use your fastest screen, and turn off battery saver modes that lower the refresh rate.
- ·Close other busy tabs and apps while you test.
- ·Compare scores from the same device. A phone and a gaming PC will give different numbers for the same person.
Who uses a reaction time test
- ·Gamers. Warm up before a match, track progress, or compare a new mouse or monitor with the old one.
- ·Students and teachers. Run a quick science experiment, for example comparing reaction times before and after exercise or across a class.
- ·Friends and family. See who has the fastest reflexes.
- ·Anyone checking their setup. See how much faster a wired mouse or a high refresh rate screen feels.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good reaction time?
- On an online test like this one, most people score between about 200 and 300 milliseconds. Under 250 ms is faster than most people, and under 200 ms is very fast. Your setup matters too, so compare scores taken on the same device.
- What is the average human reaction time?
- For a simple test like this, where you react to one thing you can see, around 250 milliseconds is often quoted as typical. Online scores are a little slower than lab results because your screen, mouse, and browser add a small delay.
- Why does it say Too soon?
- You clicked while the box was still red, or less than 100 ms after it turned green. The wait is random, so clicking early is a guess, and nobody can react to what they see in under 100 ms. Sprint races use the same 100 ms cutoff for false starts. That try is not counted. Click again to retry it.
- Why is my reaction time slower on my phone?
- Touch screens take a little time to detect and process a tap, and many phones run at 60 Hz. Both add delay that a wired mouse and a fast monitor do not, so phone scores are usually slower than computer scores for the same person.
- Does my monitor affect my reaction time score?
- Yes. A screen only shows a new image once per refresh. At 60 Hz that is every 16.7 ms, while at 144 Hz it is every 6.9 ms, so a faster screen shows the green box sooner. Some screens also add their own processing delay.
- Can I use the keyboard instead of the mouse?
- Yes. Click the test box once, then press Space or Enter to start and to react. Holding a key down does not count, so you have to press it fresh each time.
- How does the test measure my time?
- The timer starts on the frame where your browser draws the green box, and stops at the moment your click, tap, or key press reaches the page. The result includes the delay of your screen, mouse or keyboard, and browser, not just your own reaction.
- Is my best score saved?
- Your fastest try and best average are saved in this browser on this device, so you can try to beat them later. They are not sent anywhere, and clearing your browser data removes them.
- Can I improve my reaction time?
- Scores usually get a little faster with practice as you get used to the test. Removing lag helps more: use a wired mouse, a high refresh rate screen, and close other busy tabs. Being rested and focused also helps.