How to test reaction time, and what is a good result?
Updated 7 November 2026 · 3 min read
To test reaction time fairly, use the same task, the same device and the same way of answering each time, take several attempts and use the median, not the best one. Simple reaction to a light, pressing as soon as it appears, is typically around 0.2 to 0.3 seconds in young adults; tests that need a choice or a movement take longer.
"What is my reaction time?" sounds like a simple question, but the answer depends on what is measured. Tapping a screen when it turns green is not the same as running two metres to a light, and two apps on two phones will not agree. Here is how to test in a way that means something.
Simple, choice and movement reactions
| Type | Task | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Simple reaction time | Press as soon as a light appears | Seeing and pressing |
| Choice reaction time | Press the side that lights, or only on green | Seeing, deciding and pressing |
| Movement response time | Move to a light and touch it | Seeing, deciding, starting and moving |
Sport mostly uses the last two. A footwork drill with lights measures the whole movement response, which is why its times are measured in seconds rather than tenths.
What is a good result?
Lab studies usually put simple visual reaction time for healthy young adults at roughly 0.2 to 0.3 seconds, with choice tasks slower and results getting slower with age. Numbers from apps vary more, because the screen, touch sensor and software all add delay.
For a movement drill there is no universal norm: the time depends on the distance between pods, the layout and how the athlete answers. The useful comparison is with the same athlete on the same drill last week.
Why phone tests disagree
- Screen refresh: a light can appear up to one frame later than the software asked for.
- Touch and camera sampling: the device checks for a touch or a movement a set number of times per second.
- Network delay: if the timer runs on another device, the time a message takes is added in. Timing on the pod itself, from its own light to its own detection, avoids this.
None of this matters much when you compare like with like: same devices, same drill, same answer.
How to run a fair test
- Warm up for a few minutes; the first attempts of the day are slower.
- Use the same drill, layout, number of pods and answer every time.
- Do several attempts, or one drill with 10 to 20 lights.
- Use the median or average time, and note the misses. A single best attempt is often luck.
- Test at a similar time of day, rested, and record it so you can compare.
Can reaction time improve?
Practice on a task makes you faster at that task, mainly through better anticipation, a quicker decision and a more efficient first step. The basic speed of seeing and pressing changes less. That is why training drills that look like your sport, and measuring them consistently, is more useful than chasing a lower number on a tapping test.
Common questions
What is the average human reaction time?
For simple visual reactions in young adults, studies usually report about 0.2 to 0.3 seconds. Choice reactions and anything involving movement take longer.
Is a lower time always better?
Only when accuracy holds. In go / no-go drills, a fast time with mistakes is worse than a slightly slower clean round, so track misses alongside time.
Why are my times different on another phone?
Each device adds its own small delays from the screen, touch sensor and camera. Compare results on the same devices.