How Many Times a Day Do Guys Get Hard?

There’s no rule about how many erections a day men should have. Plenty of different factors impact how often men get erections, and the different types of erections they get.

But if you’ve noticed a dip in your sex drive or you’re struggling to get hard, it may be time to seek medical advice.

Below, you’ll find out what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to guys getting hard, the average amount of normal erections men get per day, and what that number says about erectile health.

Erections might seem pretty straightforward, but there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Learning how many times a day guys get hard requires some background info on penile and erectile function.

Why do guys get hard? Well, it makes sexual intercourse easier. How do guys get hard? That answer is a bit more complex.

An erection is a process that occurs when you feel sexual arousal, which usually begins with physical or mental stimulation. When you see your partner’s body, feel their touch, or watch sexually explicit material, you might feel sexual arousal.

This causes sexual stimulation and sets off an internal process involving the nervous system, as well as the cardiovascular system.

When you’re sexually stimulated, nerves inside the penis release naturally-occurring chemicals called neurotransmitters that communicate with nerve cells in your body. These neurotransmitters cause blood vessels to relax and widen, allowing increased blood flow to the erectile tissue inside your penis.

This increased blood flow, combined with chemical communication and smooth muscle contractions, raises the blood pressure in your penis. This allows your penis to get hard enough for penetrative sex — and stay that way during sexual activity.

After you’ve reached an orgasm and ejaculated — or if you no longer feel sexual arousal — veins increase in size to allow blood to flow out of the penis. The penis then relaxes and softens, although it’s not unusual for an erection to last a bit after ejaculation.

The average erection during sex lasts for almost six minutes, as noted by a 2009 study involving nearly 500 men. The study also found the duration of an erection between initial vaginal penetration and intravaginal ejaculation lasted anywhere from six seconds to more than 52 minutes.

In some cases, an erection can last longer than four hours. This is a medical emergency known as priapism. It occurs when blood flow to or from your penis is disrupted and can be extremely painful. You should seek medical help if you experience this kind of erection problem.

So, how many times do guys get hard each day? The way erections work may be straightforward, but the answer to this question isn’t. Some men may have multiple erections a day. Others may not have any. The number can also vary day by day for each person.

Many erections are caused by sexual arousal or physical stimulation, although some can occur without any sexual stimulation, and be seemingly random. These are known as spontaneous erections. There are several different types of erections, each caused by different factors.

A psychogenic erection, for example, is caused by mental stimulation, while a reflexogenic erection is caused by physical stimulation or touch. Nocturnal penile tumescence — AKA morning wood — is an erection that commonly occurs throughout the night.

Nocturnal erections can happen three to five times a night on average, according to the International Society for Sexual Medicine. Other studies have found men experience a similar range of three to six erections at night.

These nighttime or morning erections are very normal and are even a reliable indicator that your body is physically capable of getting an erection.

But you don’t need to worry if you’re not getting random boners during the daytime. Not only would these be a bit distracting, but erections when you’re awake only happen when there’s sexual stimulation or arousal.

Though there’s no set number of erections a guy should get each day — and your own number can vary on different days — you might still feel like you’re having fewer than the normal amount.

If you’re struggling to get hard enough or maintain a firm enough erection for penetrative sex, you may have erectile dysfunction (ED). While ED is a common sexual dysfunction and nothing to be ashamed about — around 30 million men in the U.S. are affected — it can be distressing.

Find out more about what causes ED and what you can do about it below.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

Many factors, from lifestyle choices to medical conditions, can contribute to erectile dysfunction, including:

• Age

• Overweight or obesity

• Low testosterone

• Smoking

• Drinking alcohol

• Heart disease

• Diabetes

• Depression

• Performance anxiety

• Side effects of medications like antidepressants or high blood pressure drugs

The good news is that there are ways you can still get an erection, even if you’re dealing with erectile dysfunction.

What ED Treatment Options Are Available?

There are many medications for erectile dysfunction. Some of the most common ED treatments include:

• Sildenafil. The active ingredient in Viagra®, sildenafil is one of the most common erectile dysfunction treatments available. This drug, which is in a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors (phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors), works by increasing blood flow to the erectile tissue and making it easier for you to get hard.

• Tadalafil. Providing similar effects to sildenafil, tadalafil (Cialis®) is one of the longest-lasting ED drugs on the market. Tadalafil is also a PDE5 inhibitor and helps allow blood flow for an erect penis.

• Vardenafil. The active ingredient in Levitra® and Staxyn®, another type of PDE5 inhibitor, vardenafil works similarly to tadalafil and sildenafil.

• Avanafil. The active ingredient in Stendra® is one of the newest FDA-approved ED medications available. It works in as little as 15 minutes.

• Hard Mints. These chewable ED meds contain the active ingredients in Viagra® and Cialis® at different dosages. They’re personalized to fit your needs and come in a discreet case.

There are also certain lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Keeping an active lifestyle is important for cardiovascular health, which can help your sexual health as well. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important, as obesity is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction. The use of illicit drugs or recreational drugs can also affect your sexual function.

How many erections does the average man have per day? There’s no straightforward answer to this question. But here’s what you should know:

• Men typically have multiple erections per day. These erections often occur during sleep. However, how often a guy gets hard each day can vary, not only by the day but by other factors, including lifestyle, age, health, and more.

• The average erection is around six minutes, but this number also varies. After ejaculation or a loss of arousal, blood flows out of the penis, causing it to soften.

• Having ED can affect how many erections you have. If you’re not getting as hard as often as you’d like, you might be dealing with erectile dysfunction. There are ways to treat ED, from medication to therapy and more.

Remember, there’s no fixed number for how many times a day guys typically get hard. But if you feel like your number is lower than usual, talking with a healthcare provider is a good place to start.