How Long Does a Hangover Last? Timeline, 2-Day Hangovers and Why Some Last Longer

Most hangovers begin as your blood alcohol level falls toward zero and resolve within about 24 hours, though heavy drinking, short sleep and other factors can stretch symptoms into a second day.1,2 That's the short answer to "how long does a hangover last?" Symptoms that last longer or get worse, especially shakiness, sweating or anxiety after heavy drinking, are worth discussing with a doctor.3

Key takeaways

  • In a 1974 study of 23 men, hangover severity peaked 12 to 14 hours after drinking stopped and was gone 16 to 21 hours after drinking.2
  • NIAAA says hangover symptoms peak as blood alcohol returns to about zero and can last 24 hours or longer.1
  • About 1 in 5 people in a survey of 727 students (21.8%) had a hangover that built to a peak later in the day instead of easing from waking.2
  • In a survey of 578 students, shorter sleep after drinking was linked with more severe hangovers.4
  • Alcohol withdrawal usually starts within 8 hours of the last drink and peaks at 24 to 72 hours, so a 'hangover' that worsens over days needs medical attention.3

When does a hangover start?

A hangover starts when blood alcohol approaches zero, which can be mid-morning, mid-afternoon or even later, depending on how much you drank and when you stopped.5 Your body clears alcohol at a fairly fixed pace. For many adults that's roughly one standard drink every one to two hours, and nothing has been shown to meaningfully speed it up.6

So a late finish pushes everything later. Blood alcohol can also keep rising for a while after the last drink.7 Our guide to how long alcohol stays in your system walks through the math.

How long does a hangover last, hour by hour?

For most people the worst is over within a day. Below is an average; individuals differ.

A typical hangover timeline, counted from the last drink
Time after last drink What's typically happening
First few hours Blood alcohol peaks and starts to fall. Sleep comes quickly but the second half of the night is fragmented, with less REM sleep8
Morning, as blood alcohol nears zero Symptoms begin and build: fatigue, thirst, headache, nausea1
12–14 hours Average peak severity in a classic study of 23 men2
16–21 hours Hangover gone in that same study2
24 hours and beyond Some symptoms can linger, especially after very heavy drinking1
24–72 hours (after heavy or daily drinking) Peak window for alcohol withdrawal, which is not a hangover3

The shape of the day varies too. Among 727 Dutch students reporting on their latest hangover, 54.5% felt worst on waking and steadily improved, 21.8% felt worse as the day went on before improving (with more stomach complaints), and 19.1% had a milder hangover that stayed about the same all day. The milder, flat group had drunk less: 8.7 drinks versus 11.4 for the steadily improving group.2

Why do some hangovers last two days?

Mostly because of how much was drunk, how late, and how little sleep followed. Higher blood alcohol and slower alcohol elimination are linked with worse hangovers.9 A long session that ends at 3 a.m. may not reach zero blood alcohol until the next afternoon, which starts the hangover clock late.6

Sleep matters on both nights. Alcohol fragments the night you drink, and the next night's sleep is part of recovery.8 If day two brings a headache, consider coffee too: if you skipped your usual cup, caffeine withdrawal typically starts 12 to 24 hours after the last dose and causes headache in about half of people in experiments.10

What makes hangovers longer: amount, sleep, age, drink type and food

  • Amount: the total amount you drink matters most.1
  • Sleep: students who slept less after drinking had more severe hangovers. Those who slept more than 7 hours reported milder but longer ones; they had also drunk more.4
  • Age: surveys suggest the opposite of the folk wisdom. Among 51,645 Danes, severe hangovers after binge drinking were far more common in younger adults.11 More in do hangovers get worse with age?
  • Drink type: bourbon produced worse hangover ratings than vodka at the same breath alcohol level, but next-day performance didn't differ.12
  • Food: eating before or while drinking slows alcohol absorption, and meals high in fat, carbohydrate or protein work about equally well.6

Can you shorten a hangover?

Not reliably. NIAAA says there is no cure for a hangover other than time.1 A 2022 systematic review of 21 placebo-controlled trials found only very low-quality evidence for any remedy, and drinking water during a hangover didn't change its severity in the available studies.13,14

What you can do is make the hours easier: sleep if you can, eat something bland, sip water for thirst, and skip more alcohol, which can prolong the malaise.1 Don't drive: hangovers affect attention and coordination even at zero blood alcohol.1 Our how to cure a hangover guide has a full plan, and alcohol and sleep explains the overnight part.

Is a three-day "hangover" normal? Signs of withdrawal

Not usually. Even the delayed headache that follows drinking resolves within 72 hours by the international headache definition.15 Symptoms that are getting worse on day two or three, rather than better, suggest something else.

The most important possibility after a run of heavy or daily drinking is alcohol withdrawal. It usually starts within 8 hours of the last drink, peaks at 24 to 72 hours, and can include anxiety, shakiness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, insomnia, nausea and vomiting. MedlinePlus calls it "a serious condition that may quickly become life-threatening." Its severe form, delirium tremens, brings confusion, fever, hallucinations and seizures.3 Don't treat it with more alcohol.

When should you call a doctor?

  • Call 911 for seizures, fever, severe confusion, hallucinations or an irregular heartbeat after a period of heavy drinking.3
  • Get emergency care after any blow to the head with a worsening headache, repeated vomiting or one pupil larger than the other.16
  • See a doctor if symptoms are worsening after a day, if you can't keep fluids down, or if long hangovers are becoming routine.

For help sorting look-alikes, see hangover or something else? and hangover symptoms. The best way to get a shorter hangover is a smaller night: US guidance says to "consume less alcohol for better overall health"; pregnant women, people in recovery or unable to control their drinking, and people on interacting medicines shouldn't drink at all.17

What we don't know yet

Most timing data come from student surveys and small lab studies, often in men, so typical duration in older adults or after moderate drinking is unclear.2 Two-day hangovers haven't been studied as their own category.

Frequently asked questions

Can a hangover last 2 days?

Yes, sometimes. NIAAA says symptoms can last 24 hours or longer, and heavy drinking, a late finish and short sleep push the end point later.1,4 If you feel worse on day two, especially shaky, sweaty or anxious after heavy drinking, talk to a doctor.

Can hangovers be delayed until the next afternoon?

Yes. A hangover starts as blood alcohol approaches zero, so drinking late into the night or morning pushes it later.5 And in about 22% of students surveyed, symptoms built during the day before easing.2

Why does my hangover feel worse in the afternoon?

Some people's hangovers follow an inverted-U pattern, rising to a peak later in the day; in one survey, that group reported more stomach complaints.2 Skipping your usual coffee can add a caffeine-withdrawal headache, which typically starts 12 to 24 hours after your last dose.10

Is a 3-day hangover normal?

It isn't typical. Even the delayed headache after drinking resolves within 72 hours by definition.15 Symptoms that worsen over two or three days, especially tremor, sweating, anxiety or a racing heart after heavy drinking, can be alcohol withdrawal, which can become dangerous and needs medical care.3

How long after drinking does a hangover start?

Usually within hours of your last drink, as blood alcohol returns toward zero; for most people that means the next morning.1 In a classic study of 23 men, average severity peaked 12 to 14 hours after drinking stopped.2

Sources

  1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Hangovers. Updated December 2025. NIAAA
  2. Verster JC, et al. Differences in the temporal typology of alcohol hangover. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2018;42(4):691-697. PubMed
  3. MedlinePlus (NIH). Alcohol withdrawal. Reviewed January 1, 2025. MedlinePlus
  4. van Schrojenstein Lantman M, et al. Total sleep time, alcohol consumption, and the duration and severity of alcohol hangover. Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:181-186. PubMed
  5. Verster JC, et al. Updating the definition of the alcohol hangover. J Clin Med. 2020;9(3):823. PubMed
  6. Cederbaum AI. Alcohol metabolism. Clin Liver Dis. 2012;16(4):667-685. PubMed
  7. NIAAA. Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose. Updated December 2025. NIAAA
  8. Ebrahim IO, et al. Alcohol and sleep I: effects on normal sleep. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2013;37(4):539-549. PubMed
  9. Mackus M, et al. The role of alcohol metabolism in the pathology of alcohol hangover. J Clin Med. 2020;9(11):3421. PubMed
  10. Juliano LM, Griffiths RR. A critical review of caffeine withdrawal: empirical validation of symptoms and signs, incidence, severity, and associated features. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004;176(1):1-29. PubMed
  11. Tolstrup JS, et al. Does the severity of hangovers decline with age? Survey of the incidence of hangover in different age groups. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2014;38(2):466-470. PubMed
  12. Rohsenow DJ, et al. Intoxication with bourbon versus vodka: effects on hangover, sleep, and next-day neurocognitive performance in young adults. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2010;34(3):509-518. PubMed
  13. Roberts E, et al. The efficacy and tolerability of pharmacologically active interventions for alcohol-induced hangover symptomatology: a systematic review of the evidence from randomised placebo-controlled trials. Addiction. 2022;117(8):2157-2167. PubMed
  14. Mackus M, et al. Alcohol hangover versus dehydration revisited: the effect of drinking water to prevent or alleviate the alcohol hangover. Alcohol. 2024;121:9-18. PubMed
  15. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3): 8.1.4.2 Delayed alcohol-induced headache. ICHD-3
  16. CDC. HEADS UP: Signs and Symptoms of Concussion. September 2025. CDC
  17. USDA and HHS. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. January 2026. PDF
  18. SAMHSA. National Helpline. SAMHSA

Published by Fuller Health, which makes After Party. This article is general information, not medical advice: talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your own health, medicines and drinking. Last reviewed October 9, 2026. How we research and write.

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