How long can the average man stay erect?

You’ve probably heard about some celebrities claiming to have 7-hour sex sessions. You know you don’t last nearly that long, but what is a “normal” length of time to maintain an erection? We can tell you this off the bat: it’ll be nowhere near seven hours, and it’ll vary for every person. 

A penile erection can normally last anywhere from a few minutes to about half an hour. On average, men have five erections a night while they’re sleeping, each lasting about 25 to 35 minutes (Youn, 2017). Does that mean all of your erections should last that long? Read on to learn more about how long the average man can stay erect.

An erection is the most obvious sign of sexual arousal for those with penises, and it’s important for a healthy sex life. It's a physical response to chemical reactions in the body. 

Erections are complicated—each one requires your heart, lungs, hormones, nerves, blood vessels, and mood to work together. One missed reaction in this chain can lead to erectile dysfunction or other problems with your sexual functioning.

During sexual arousal, tiny blood vessels in the penis dilate, increasing blood flow. Three tubes of spongy tissue (known as the corpus cavernosum and corpus spongiosum) fill with blood, and an erection occurs. 

After ejaculation, the extra blood drains away, and the penis reverts to its flaccid size and appearance. Then your penis enters a rest or refractory period before it can get hard again (Panchatsharam, 2021).

Erection time is a range because no one has sat and timed thousands of men to try to figure out exactly how long the average erection lasts, down to the second. It would be a difficult study to undertake because many variables can affect how long an erection lasts, including: 

• Age

• Health problems 

• Side effects of medications

• Level of sexual stimulation or arousal

• Sexual activity—whether you're masturbating or having sex 

• Mental state—whether you are trying to become aroused vs. a surprise erection at work

There is a distinct upper end of the spectrum—erections can last too long. That's a condition called priapism. If you ever have an erect penis that lasts more than four hours, seek medical attention to avoid permanent damage (Deveci, 2019).

Perhaps the best way to answer the question, "How long do normal erections last?" is with a question—why do you ask? If you're concerned that your erections aren't lasting as long as you like, read on.

There are three different types of erections (Yafi, 2016): 

• Reflexive erections happen spontaneously, without thinking about sex.

• Psychogenic erections occur in response to sexual stimuli, memory, or fantasy (Schmid, 2004).

• Nocturnal erections happen during sleep (i.e., "morning wood")

If you find that you're having difficulty getting an erection, your erections aren't as firm as you'd like, or they don't last long enough for satisfying sex, you might have erectile dysfunction or ED.

ED is very common—it's estimated that more than 30 million American men experience erectile problems (Sooriyamoorthy, 2021).

ED medications

Oral medications for ED are safe and effective, especially the phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors like sildenafil (brand name Viagra), tadalafil (brand name Cialis), and vardenafil (brand name Levitra) (Sooriyamoorthy, 2021).

Foreplay

You might be having erection issues because your head isn't in the game, or you're not sufficiently in the mood. Being stressed or distracted can affect the quality of your erections. Slowing things down and spending more time on foreplay might help. 

Lifestyle changes

Your erections will be best when you're healthy. Making simple lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet, might be enough to improve ED (Sooriyamoorthy, 2021).

Avoid alcohol and smoking

Drinking too much and using tobacco products can definitely affect the quality of your erections. Knocking back too many might lead to occasional incidents of "whiskey dick." Smoking can also lead to blood vessel damage and ED. It's best to drink in moderation and avoid tobacco altogether (Sooriyamoorthy, 2021).

Open communication with your partner

Talking openly with your partner about your sexual likes, dislikes, and fantasies can keep sex in a long-term relationship more exciting. Try not to bring conflicts into the bedroom—relationship issues can certainly contribute to ED.

ED can be more than a problem with your sexual health. It may be a sign of an underlying medical issue, like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, among others. If you think you're experiencing ED, get medical advice from your healthcare provider. They'll help you find solutions that are right for you. 

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Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

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Current version

August 11, 2021

Written by

Michael Martin

Fact checked by

Chimene Richa, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Chimene Richa, MD

Dr. Richa is a board-certified Ophthalmologist and medical writer for Ro.