Many men struggle to perform in bed, which may adversely affect their relationship with their partner. Maintaining erections and lasting long in bed is a priority for most men.
There is no universal standard of how long sexual activity lasts or how long a penis stays erect.
The duration of an erection varies among individuals and depends on several physical and psychological factors.
This article will answer the most common question of many men: “How long can the average man stay erect, and what factors affect an erection?”.
How long can the average man stay erect
A man’s erection should remain as long as achievable for a satisfying sex drive.
On average, an erection lasts about 4-5 minutes during sex, but it can last anywhere between a few minutes to hours. There is no fixed time for which an erection should last.
Depending on your level of sexual arousal, state of mind, and other factors, the length of time you get hard can vary significantly.
Men sometimes find it challenging to get an erection during sexual intercourse.
If you are frequently losing erection during sex, then you may probably have Erectile Dysfunction (ED).
It is a common sexual condition affecting the majority of men across the globe.
According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, it has been reported that most of men above 40 years are suffering from ED.
However, the good news is that doctors often prescribe pills such as Sildenafil and Tadalafil to regain sexual health.
Recommended read: How to Maintain Erection for 30 Minutes: Tips for Treating Erectile Dysfunction
There’s insufficient research available on the duration of average erection of men during sexual intercourse.
But in the last few years, researchers have studied how long men can have sex without ejaculating.
Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time (IELT) is a common term used for this purpose.
It measures the period between initial vaginal penetration and intravaginal ejaculation — the moment at which a man attains orgasm and ejaculates.
In a 2005 study published by NIH, 500 couples in five different countries were examined.
During the examination, researchers discovered that average IELT ranged from as little as 55 seconds to more than 44 minutes, with a median IELT of around five minutes.
Erections during the night, also known as Nocturnal erections, usually last for at least 10 minutes during the night, according to research published in the Asian Journal of Andrology.
Recommended read: How To Improve Erections: The Ultimate Guide
Factors affecting erections

Erection is a complex process that can be influenced by several physical and psychological factors.
Physical causes affecting erections include:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Hormonal changes
- Excessive body weight
- Injury to the pelvic region or spinal cord
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Cardiovascular issues
- Recreational use of alcohol and other substances
- Certain medicines, such as antidepressants and blood pressure medicines
Apart from these physical factors, certain psychological factors also influence erections.
These include:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship problems
Conclusion
How long can the average man stay erect- this is a common question among many men.
Although the exact duration for how long an average man stays erect isn’t known, usually an erection can last, on average, for about 5.4 minutes.
Sometimes men may find it difficult to get or sustain an erection during sexual encounters, a condition known as Erectile Dysfunction.
Several medications and treatment methods are available to treat Erectile Dysfunction and regain erections and sexual health.
Various physical and psychological factors affect your erections.
These include certain medicines, specific health conditions, hormonal imbalances, alcohol and drug abuse, stress, Anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.
If you have trouble having erections or staying hard in bed, consult a health specialist before opting for any treatment method.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a man remain hard?
The average duration for a man to remain hard is around a few minutes, up to around a half hour
Can a guy remain standing for two hours?
It is not good if your erection last around 2 hours, and prolonged erections for more than 2 hours can be painful or distressing.
At what age men failed to get erections?
There is no specified age at which a man stops getting erect. Some older men may also be able to get erections.
Is erecting every day OK?
A usual amount of erections is hard to define.
The erections vary among individuals and are influenced by several factors.
Some males may get erect every day, while others cannot.
How long does it take for a man to release sperm?
Various factors govern the release of sperm.
A male typically needs 5 to 7 minutes to attain orgasm and ejaculate.
However, ejaculation time varies among individuals ranging from under a minute to more than half an hour.
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