How many times a day do men get erections?

If you’ve ever wondered, “how many times a day do guys get hard?” — that’s a question without a one-size-fits-all answer. There can be many factors in how many erections (or how few) a guy has in a day. Read on to learn how erections work and what to do if you’re not getting as many erections as you’d like. 

Most data on erection frequency focuses on nighttime erections, so there's no established "normal" number of erections men should have each day. Most healthy men experience 3–6 erections during REM sleep each night. If you wake up with an erection, often called morning wood, it's usually the last of these nighttime erections.

The average erection duration varies. When you’re sleeping at night, the duration of an erection can be around 25–35 minutes. It’s normal to have short spurts of erections, and it’s actually unhealthy for the penis to have an erection for too long. If an erection lasts for 4 hours or more, it can be a sign of priapism, a dangerous condition that requires prompt medical attention to avoid permanent damage to the penis. 

While erections at night can happen automatically and without any specific cause, during the day, erections are usually triggered by sexual arousal or stimulation. So, if you’re not getting spontaneous erections during the day, don’t fret. After all, that would probably get in the way of your daily life, wouldn’t it?

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A number of factors can affect the number of erections you experience per day, including:

• Age: It’s normal for erections to occur less frequently as you age. Older men also have a higher risk of medical conditions that can contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED), and it may also take longer to get another erection after ejaculation (called the refractory period). 

• Arousal: Erections typically occur due to sexual thoughts, physical stimulation, or other sexually arousing cues. Research suggests stress and anxiety could make it harder to become aroused and may interfere with erectile function, which can affect how often you get erections.  

• General health and lifestyle: Chronic conditions like diabetes, low testosterone, and heart disease, along with habits like smoking, heavy alcohol use, and physical inactivity, can all affect erectile function and make it harder to get or maintain an erection.

• Sleep: Most healthy men get 3–6 erections during REM sleep each night. Studies suggest poor sleep or sleep disorders can reduce the frequency of nighttime erections and contribute to ED.

Although there is no set “normal” number of erections someone should have, you may question if you’re doing okay in that department. If you consistently have difficulty getting or keeping an erection that’s firm enough for satisfying sex (whether through masturbation or sexual intercourse), you may have erectile dysfunction.  

While ED is incredibly common and nothing to be embarrassed about, it can cause both physical and psychological distress. ED can happen to anyone — even younger men. It’s estimated that 52% of men have ED between the ages of 40 and 70, and that number increases to 70% after age 70. 

Many factors and health problems can contribute to ED, including:

• Increasing age

• High blood pressure

• Having overweight or obesity

• Smoking

• Alcohol use

• Heart disease

• Low testosterone

• High cholesterol

• Diabetes

• Depression

• Side effects of some medications, such as antidepressants and blood pressure medicines

If you have ED, can you still get hard? Yes, you can still get an erect penis and have satisfying sex, with the help of some of the many treatment options for ED, such as:

ED medication: Prescription drugs like Viagra (sildenafil)and Cialis (tadalafil) help increase blood flow to the penis when you are aroused, making it easier to get and keep an erection.They’re also available in other formulations,like Ro Sparks, a dissolvable tablet combining sildenafil and tadalafil, and Ro Daily Rise Gummies, a daily tadalafil gummy. Of note, these last two formulations are compounded and not specifically FDA-approved for ED, though their active ingredients are FDA-approved for ED treatment. 

• ED injections: Penile injections deliver medication like alprostadil directly to the penis to increase blood flow and support erections. ED injections don’t require you to be aroused to kick in, which is an advantage compared to PDE5 inhibitors (the drug class Viagra and Cialis belong to).  

• Penis pumps: A vacuum erection device, or penis pump, uses a plastic tube to create suction, which draws blood into the penis to help you maintain an erection. Penis pumps are not recommended to be used for more than 30 minutes at a time because of the possibility of bruising or injury to the penis. 

• Lifestyle changes: Making healthy lifestyle changes may help improve ED. Exercising regularly, following a balanced diet, getting quality sleep, lowering your stress levels, and cutting down excess alcohol can all make a difference.

• Surgical intervention: If all else fails, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery. A penile implant is a surgically placed device that can be inflated or bent into position to help you achieve an erection. Surgery is an invasive option associated with its own risks but can make sex possible for some people. 

If you’re concerned about how many erections you’re having (or not having), don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider. Here’s what we know about erection frequency:

• There's no set number of erections men should have each day. Healthy men may have multiple erections or none at all while awake, while most experience 3–6 erections during REM sleep each night.

• Many factors influence how often you get erections. Age, sexual arousal, overall health, lifestyle habits, and sleep all play a role in how many erections you might have per day.

• Consistently having trouble getting or keeping an erection may be a sign of ED. If erection problems are affecting your sex life, talk with a healthcare provider about your treatment options.