Metrics · Brand · Ops · Weekly · hours · Updated 2026-07-21

What is Community Response Time?

Short answer: The average time it takes for a question or post in a community to receive its first reply.

Definition

The average time it takes for a question or post in a community to receive its first reply.

Formula

Sum of (First reply time - Post time) / Number of posts

How to measure

Timestamp every community post and its first reply, then average the elapsed time across a sample period.

Why track it

Fast community response time keeps a forum feeling alive and helpful, which retains both askers and the members who enjoy answering.

Example

A community team recruits volunteer moderators after average response time creeps past 24 hours, cutting it back down to under 2 hours.

FAQ

What is Community Response Time?
The average time it takes for a question or post in a community to receive its first reply.
How do you calculate Community Response Time?
Sum of (First reply time - Post time) / Number of posts
Why track Community Response Time?
Fast community response time keeps a forum feeling alive and helpful, which retains both askers and the members who enjoy answering.
What is Community Response Time? Definition, formula, and growth use · Cofounderbase