Experts Explain How Often You Should Pee Each Day Based On Your Age

How often should you really be going to the bathroom each day?

When it comes to urination, there is a general range that doctors consider healthy. Needing to pee far more often than usual can sometimes point to medical issues such as a smaller bladder or an enlarged prostate.

If frequent urination continues, it may also signal conditions like diabetes or a urinary tract infection. Pregnancy can also cause someone to need the bathroom more often due to changes in the body.

Even with all of these factors in mind, there is still a typical number of times most people should be urinating each day.

What surprises many people is that this number shifts with age, which reflects how the body develops, adapts, and changes over time.

Consultant urologist Hamid Abboudi shared age-based guidance with Metro, explaining how different life stages can affect how often you need to use the bathroom.

Age can effect how often you need to visit the smallest room in the house Christian Moro/Getty

Children aged 12 and under

Children generally need to urinate more frequently than adults. On average, younger people tend to use the bathroom between six and twelve times a day.

The frequency also varies within this age group, with younger children typically needing to go more often than older ones.

"Young children may urinate 8 to 14 times a day, which decreases to 6-12 times for older children," Dr Abboudi explained.

If a child consistently needs to urinate more often than this range, it could point to an underlying medical issue and may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

Teenagers

During puberty, the body goes through major hormonal changes as it transitions from childhood into adulthood. As a result, the average number of daily bathroom visits usually drops to around four to six times a day.

Dr Abboudi noted that because hormones fluctuate during this stage, it is not unusual for teenagers to experience periods of increased frequency. In most cases, this is not a cause for concern and settles over time.

If frequent urination continues for an extended period, however, it may be a sign that something else is going on.

Medical conditions can also have an impact grinvalds/Getty

Adults aged up to 60

For adults under the age of 60, the typical range is around five to eight bathroom visits per day. This can vary widely due to lifestyle, diet, hydration, and overall health.

Dr Abboudi explained that people with a vagina may notice a higher frequency than those with a penis.

He added that pregnancy and a higher risk of urinary tract infections can also influence how often someone needs to urinate during these years.

"Pregnancy can be a trigger," Dr Abboudi said, "as the pressure effect of the baby on the uterus can cause increased frequency of urination and nocturia [peeing at night]."

The consultant added that urinary tract infections “can lead to increased urinary frequency.”

Adults aged over 60

After the age of 60, many people begin to notice an increase in how often they need to use the bathroom, sometimes up to ten times a day.

This can be linked to factors such as weakened pelvic floor muscles, reduced kidney function, and changes in bladder strength.

Medication also plays a role at this stage of life. Dr Abboudi explained: "Older adults are more likely to be on a form of medication called diuretics for various medical conditions."