How Many Dates is Considered Dating?

If you're wondering how many dates you need to go on with someone to classify the relationship as such, the answer is ten. But this isn't just an arbitrary number - there are certain signs and factors to consider before making the transition. To help answer these questions, we turned to Sarah Kahan, a licensed clinical social worker in Brooklyn who helps individuals and couples manage their relationships. You might feel ready to become exclusive after four dates, or you might be more comfortable waiting until appointment ten.

Some people find it useful to have a certain number of dates before making a relationship official. It can prevent you from casually seeing someone with whom you don't have a future. Previous surveys have estimated that people are willing to kiss and sleep with someone after two to five dates. The five-date rule is the understanding that if you've had five dates with the person, you should make your relationship official.

Yes, there can be a lot of messages back and forth between dates, but that can't compare to the volume of words exchanged in person. Being exclusive means that you don't hang out with other people and you certainly don't participate in any sexual or physical act with other people. Some will say that the number of dates you go on depends entirely on the person you're going out with and how quickly you fall in love with that person. However, it's important to remember that it takes time to get to know someone and build a strong connection.

For help answering these questions, we turned to Sarah Kahan, a licensed clinical social worker in Brooklyn who helps individuals and couples manage their relationships. She suggests paying attention to signs that could show that you're ready for exclusivity. She also provided advice on how to make the transition.