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How long should I wait for a response?

Author

William Rodriguez

Published Jan 14, 2026

Wait 4 hours before texting again if they don't respond. You may need to send a second message to remind the other person. Studies have shown that after 4 hours, you're more likely to get a response if you text again. That gives you enough time to restart the conversation and makes you sound less clingy.

How long is too long to wait for a response?

"After the 48-hour mark, if you really haven't said anything at all and someone asks you a question that needs an answer, then that's where you're starting to get into ... rudeness or inconsideration," she says.

How long should you wait to text again?

A study from the dating app Hinge shows that double-texting can increase a date's likelihood to respond. The key is to wait four hours before the second text. Sending a second text even a week later increased the likelihood of a response.

How long is too long for someone not to text back?

“And anything longer than 12 hours begins to look like something far more problematic — an illness, a crisis, or direct avoidance.” Bottom line: If they take more than 12 hours to respond and don't offer an explanation, you have reason to feel wary.

How long do most people take to respond?

People aged 20-35 are almost as speedy, sending a reply in 16 minutes, on average. It takes people, ages 35-50, about 24 minutes to reply. People age 51 and older take a whopping 47 minutes to reply to their emails, on average. Women take about four minutes longer than men to send a reply.

19 related questions found

Should you text again after no response?

If it's been three hours and you haven't heard from them, don't send a second message. Seriously… give them some time to get online and read through their messages and get back to you. Ideally, we recommend waiting at least 8 days before sending your second message.

Should I text after being ignored?

So how long should you wait to text him back after he ignores you? The general consensus is that you should wait around 2 to 3 days before texting him back. This gives him the idea that you aren't constantly waiting on him, and that you are not going to be the only one to make an effort going forward.

How long should you wait for a guy to text you?

Give it a few days (or even a week).

It might feel tough waiting for him to text you, but your crush might truly be busy and unable to respond to your messages right away. Waiting 2–3 days or up to a week before reaching out gives him a chance to text you first once he realizes what he's missing.

Why do guys take so long to reply?

It can mean a lot of things when a guy replies late. If he takes more than 12 hours to reply, he may be extremely busy with work. Notably, some common reasons a guy suddenly stops replying may be that he gets involved in an accident, he's lost his phone, or he doesn't have access to it due to an emergency.

How can I politely tell someone that I'm waiting for their response?

7 alternatives to “I look forward to hearing from you”

  • 1 Use a call-to-action. ...
  • 2 I'm eager to receive your feedback. ...
  • 3 I appreciate your quick response. ...
  • 4 Always happy to hear from you. ...
  • 5 Keep me informed . . . ...
  • 6 I await your immediate response. ...
  • 7 Write soon!

How long should I give him to reply?

Post Senning's general rule is to not wait longer than one to three hours to reply, he tells TI. "A text conversation can go stale in a few hours," he says. "Don't just make them wait." If you're crushing on someone, don't play mind games, he says.

How do you respond to no response?

If you get the “no response” response: Accept that you can't control what other people do. You don't know their motivations or reasoning. So, don't automatically assume a “no response” equals no unless you really know the person and his/her modus operandi. Do follow up once, but probably no more than that.

Why does she take a day to text back?

Yet, we all also understand that people are sometimes so busy that they won't check their phone for several hours. So, if you're messaging a woman and she takes a long time to text back, it could be that she's ignoring you. Or, it could be that she's genuinely very busy.

Why do guys not reply for hours?

Sometimes, the simplest reason he is not texting back could be hidden in his past. Maybe he had a rough past relationship and is still recovering. Often, men take time to open up and respond in such cases. They might be interested in you, but they are simply being cautious and taking time to respond and reciprocate.

How do you tell if a guy is not into you over text?

7 Text Messages That Prove He's Just Not That Into You

  1. They're Always Talking About Sex. ...
  2. They Ghost You and Then Text You to Come Over. ...
  3. They Always Have Multiple Excuses. ...
  4. Everything is "Haha" This and "LOL" That. ...
  5. They "Miss" Your Messages. ...
  6. They Constantly Respond With Memes.

Why do guys wait 3 days to text?

Popularized by the romcom, the three-day dating rule insists that a person wait three full days before contacting a potential suitor. A first-day text or call is too eager, a second-day contact seems planned, but three days is, somehow, the perfect amount of time.

What to do when he starts texting less?

Ask him about his interests.

If you find the conversation is getting a little stale, try asking him about the things he really enjoys. It should loosen him up and he should give more detailed replies. Now he knows you're interested in the things he likes, and you've got an opening for more conversation topics.

How long is considered ghosting?

While every relationship is different, three days is enough time to consider yourself ghosted. Sure, everyone has emergencies or can come up with a valid excuse for not responding, but letting things linger for three days or longer is enough to categorise it as a ghosted situation.

Do guys wait for you to text them?

Yes, guys sometimes wait for you to text first.

While some guys like to make the first move, others are a bit shy. Don't be afraid to make the first move! Pay attention to how the guy acts around you.

Should I text him or wait for him to text me?

Look at the facts. If you notice it's always you text him first – pull back a bit, don't text him and see what he does, see if he gets in touch with you. If he does text after a while when you don't, but there's still an imbalance and not as much effort as you'd like, ask yourself: What is this?

Why is he ignoring me on purpose?

If a guy truly starts to ignore you, it's usually either because he is upset with you and needs you to give him space, he is losing interest, he feels like the relationship is moving too fast, he is playing games with you or trying to lead you on.

Should you double text a guy if he hasn't replied?

Double-texting, or messaging two times before someone responds, is viewed as taboo in modern dating. While double-texting can feel bad, therapists say there is no rule for how much you should text. If you feel bad about double-texting, put your phone down and let the other person reply at their own pace.

Is no response a rejection?

When we put ourselves out there by sending people messages on an online dating site (or many), we risk the chance of not getting a message back. But, let me be clear: Non-response does not equal rejection. In other words, the absence of a positive reply — a return message — is not the same as someone turning you down.

How many unanswered texts is too much?

When it came to how many consecutive texts were considered "needy," both people in long-distance relationships and not in long-distance relationships said that about six texts hit the mark.

What is considered double texting?

The simple definition of double texting is this: You send two or more text messages to someone before they send you a response. The general idea is that someone who can't wait long enough for a response (and thus texts again) is clingy, needy, and lacking the social decency needed to give someone time to respond.