Women's Health
How long does a period last?
Estimated wait
~5 days
Based on published sources
By case
- Faster cases~4 days
- Average cases~5 days
- Slower casesUp to 7 days
Community insightsBased on 1 real experience
Average5 days
Most common5 days
Range5 days
Share your experienceThe ~5 days of bleeding is not the same as the ~28-day cycle. Periods regularly outside the 2–7 day range, or very heavy bleeding, are worth discussing with a doctor.
A period typically lasts about 5 days of bleeding, with a normal range of 2 to 7 days — those are the figures the NHS gives. The flow is usually heaviest in the first couple of days and then tapers off.
More details
This is the bleeding phase only. It sits inside the full menstrual cycle, which averages about 28 days (and can normally range from 21 to 35), so the two numbers should not be confused.
Recent experiences
JJuliaSweeden
5 daysSources
Last updated: 17 Jul 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.