Illness & Symptoms
How long does a headache last?
Estimated wait
~4 hours
Based on published sources
Timeline guide
- Faster cases~2 hours
- Average cases~4 hours
- Slower casesUp to 1 day
A headache that is sudden and severe ("worst ever"), follows a head injury, or comes with a stiff neck, rash, confusion or weakness needs urgent medical attention — that is not an ordinary tension headache.
A common tension headache usually lasts from about 30 minutes to a few hours, though some episodes can drag on for a day or even several days (NHS). Most everyday headaches ease on their own within hours and are not dangerous.
More details
The several-day figure is the upper end, not the typical case — most tension headaches are over in a matter of hours.
Sources
Last updated: 4 Jul 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.