Whats your minimum and maximum age limit? I’m getting back into online dating and the majority of people on dating apps are likely to be younger but I’m 25 and the idea of dating a 20 year old just doesn’t sit well with me. But I will also get men over 50 wanting to connect and that’s a little beyond my desired scope but feels more natural than dating younger. I’m curious to know how others feel about age gaps.
Rule of 7 (min: half your age plus 7, max: subtract 7 from your age and double it)
10 years older/younger (assuming they are still within legal age limits)
less than 5 years older/younger
same age
other ~ pls comment
Select gender and age to cast your vote:
Please select your age
Updates
+1 y
Thanks for all your contributions, it’s understandable everyone has preferences and of course there is no right or wrong answer. I love to learn about others insights on topics like these. I’ve also tried to like everyone’s reply because I appreciate your input.
I'd date 18 to 30, but my ideal age range would be 22 to 27. The reason 22 is more ideal than 18 is because I would know if she was going to turn into an alcoholic or not. The reason 27 is more ideal than 30 is because it gives us a couple extra years of being able to go places without considering who would need to watch the kids.
The top end age is because of wanting healthy kids and if I want 3 kids it would likely take 7 years from the first time meeting them before all 3 are born. The low end is because I want someone that doesn't have kids from someone else, hasn't damaged themselves or their future children (eggs) from using drugs/heavy drinking. I also have more interests in common with 18 to 30 year old women and most of the time am very incompatible with women around my own age when it comes to interests, morals, and an acceptable past. (That also applied when I was a teenager and in my 20s. The ones from my own generation/age group were never compatible with me, not even as friends)
I think rule of 7 is generally okay. I'd probably stick to a 4-5 year gap generally. Not to say that is a hard limit. If I like someone I like someone.
In more practical terms I want someone at a similar stage in life. In my case having quite recently wrapped up uni that means I'd be looking for someone else who is also done studying and ideally with a higher education, albeit no must.
This realistically means that while I would be fine dating a 19-20 something (4-5 years), in actual terms with Uni starting at 19, 3 to 5 years there my realistic lower age when adapting to my preferences is 22 to my upper at say early 30s. Not because I am against someone older or younger but because I want someone who is at a similar phase in life.
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Anonymous
(18-24)
+1 y
Im 19, I wouldn’t date someone who is 18 because to me it just feels weird. I also wouldn’t date someone who is 22-25+ because that’s probably someone in whole different world than im in regarding life (career, finances, stability). Many people in that age group in my city are living on their own, have life figured out, have a stable career or getting their career started, have enough finances to support themselves, etc. Im nowhere close to that, and it would cause tension in the relationship because we’re so different. Im still in college, Im still living with parents, and Im not financially stable yet. The age I would date is probably up to 21 because I want them to be at my same level in life (working/college). If I were to be older, maybe 25, I would go for someone about 5 years older than me. At that age, I will have most of my life figured out.
I’m 22. The youngest I would date is 21, but that’s just because I like having the option to go to bars and such. Or to get a wine at a restaurant. I have a hard enough time convincing workers that I’m old enough to drink. Not to mention, I want to get married and have kids sooner rather than later. I’m more likely to get that from a slightly older person.
The oldest I would date is probably 28 ish, but that’s pushing it. Most of the people I date are currently 24-ish. Once they get above 26, I get pickier, but there are still some that have enough going for them that I remain interested.
If I followed the rule of 7, I would date from 40 to 118! That obviously does not work.
I am 66 years old. I am in a relationship now, but when I was dating, I would date anyone over 50 who was still healthy and active, but most of my dates were over 55.
I voted ten years younger or older. But really, at 35, my age range for women is 23 to 30, but I'm willing to date 21 to 39. A woman 40 or older just turns me off. Like, I'm just thinking "she should have pre-teen or teenage children, by then. Why is she still single?"
When you said "A woman 40 or older just turns me off. Like, I'm just thinking "she should have pre-teen or teenage children, by then. Why is she still single?"
Someone could say the same thing about you.
No offense but you're that age in just 5 years. If 40 is too old for you, then 23 is way too young for you and if 30 is your limit, that's quite weird given that you're 5 years older than your 'maximum' age limit.
@atiquahbby Women mature faster than men. And they also "spoil" faster than men, too. Plenty of women also date older as well, and plenty of men prefer younger. So no, a 40 year old bachelor is not the same as a 40 year old single woman. A 40 year old single woman is equal to like a 55-60 year old single man.
Also, we all know why men are still single nowadays, and there's plenty of single men in their 40s and 50s on this site. Women don't have that excuse. They can get a decent man at any time and are spoiled for choice. Men often have to just take what they can get, but I'm not that type of person, as I've been in bad relationships before.
So stop trying to pretend men and women are the same and have equal leverage and power in relationships. Women gatekeep almost everything when it comes to sex and relationships, whether that's how things should rightfully go or not. Women can't have their pick of any man they want and then get mad when they hit the wall at 40 because a man who was only an 8 out of 10 wasn't "good enough" for her at 26.
I also specifically didn't say "30 is my limit" either. It's my preference. Not that I owe a random internet stranger I've never even seen on here before an explanation for what I like or anything, but there you go.
@atiquahbby I understand your point as the wording wasn’t very gentle but women do tend to date older men and men reach financial maturity around 35-40 so more successful men tend to wait to have kids. Also men can contribute to procreation much longer than women’s eggs are viable so sadly this is our reality.
I understand that women date older men, however since many find their partner in their younger years I. e 20s and 30s, their partners are relatively close to their age and usually only a couple of years older. To say that women age 20 years before men is quite an exaggeration and also not true either. This is almost a generation apart in age which is relatively creepy.
I have no issue dating someone younger as long as they are comfortable with doing the same I was talking to this girl age 24 and I'm age 53 but she wants to live a relationship online and possibly never meeting cause she has a son who is sick but if there were ways for me and her to meet and spend time together I would be fine with it she is in the State of Cali USA and I'm in Pennsylvania USA and traveling for me would be an issue cause I have disabilities but I'm able to walk, I have mental health and some physical health is so hard to relocate with the income I have coming in but I'm getting a big raise so possibly I will have more money to come and go on and trust me I'm not a cheap guy I like treating a girl right by all means and I believe a girl means more than just sexual stuff
Being a female this will probably sound odd. But it would different for dating or having a friends with benefits. So if we are talking a friends with benefits then I would go as young as 21 and as old as 50. If it was actual dating I would go 30 to 50.
I hate dating men my age or close to it. They are so immature and most of the guys my age I’ve met are low lives with no job and still live with their parents. I always go for older men who already know what they’re doing with their lives, have a job and already have a place of their own (even a flat is better than parents house).
@rebeliouse my current partner is 29, which is the oldest I have ever dated. I have slept with much older, but never been interested in dating anyone too much older than myself. By too much older I mean 10+ years.
@Armourdillo im sure that’s possible, but regardless I don’t like dating people my own age. I prefer older. If I was truly the problem, I doubt older men would date me either? So I’m not sure.
Age isn't the biggest factor. Maturity and intelligence, on the other hand, definitely are. Typically, I have found that I have absolutely nothing in common with women below 25/26. Then again, I've met total immature morons that were the same age as me or older. I've also met a few girls that were several years younger who were on the same level as me. So, those factors come into play when deciding if a girl is appropriate to date/marry or not.
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Anonymous
(25-29)
+1 y
Age is just a number If I really like someone and feel a connection with him, I'm not going to reject him cause of his age I have a mad crush on a guy, who happens to be older than me. He's so handsome, co, funny and nice that it drives me crazy All I wish is to be with him
I don't really think of age. As long as there is mutual physical attraction, sexual compatibility, and no glaring personality conflicts, we're fine. Granted, I'm less likely to be physically attracted to her if she is much older than I am, and I'm more likely to have personality conflicts if she is much younger than I am. But nothing is absolute.
I don’t tend to set ages, mainly as I do not know what age she is until I ask. I always say my age to avoid any confusions later.
i work off:
we get on great, we are compatible, there is an emotional connection, she accepts my stupidity and weird humour and other stuff.
Some people say 2 years difference, I defy anyone to guess an adults age consistently to even within 5 years at times (especially if a girl is wearing make up).
not bothered... if she is an adult i base it on whether or not we get along... bit older or a lot younger makes no difference to me. disclaimer... i didn't say a lot older because anyone a lot older than me is probably already in the ground and one stipulation i do have in regard relationships is that the other person is in fact still alive lol
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Anonymous
(25-29)
+1 y
I'm 29 but honestly, I could see myself going as low as 17. Some 17 year olds, especially in Europe and the Arab countries are mature as hell. Maximum, I think no more than early 30s. But that's "DATING". For friends with benefits/sex, I could go as high as late 40s. Possibly higher, if she looked really good, but that rarely happens, so late 40s would pretty much be my max.
Though to be honest, I care more about "mental age", because I want to be able to relate to her. So I feel I could go slightly higher than my max dating age, if she had the same mental/emotional age as me. But for "DATING", I think anything after 30s is pushing it. But for sex and friendship, it's fine.
I don't really have a cap on numbers like that. Must be legal and must visually appeal enough. I want kids so if she's a bit older and can't have it doesn't want she needs to be okay with a surrogate. Ideally not younger than 23 and not older than 36 but I have seen some ladies in their mid 40'svwhi take good care of themselves i'd date assuming they treated me like a dignified man and equal.
Is age even thought of, some say no. It depends of the characteristics of the individual and the honesty, caring, knows how to joke and gets a joke. Basic communication for some. An individual that smells clean as not dirty or depending if you are connecting in after work. Some dates are same day, ..
For years now (since around 20 years old) I've been following the half your age plus 7 rule. I find it accurately calculates what age is socially acceptable and not socially acceptable.
It's not so much an age limit as a "what do I have in common limit". I find I don't have a lot to talk about with a 25 year old (10 yr difference) unless she's mature for her age. I have more in common with a 45 year old. It's not the age gap that matters to me, but how well we get along, converse and connect on all levels, including sexually.
I don't have a limit other than minimum 18. That's not to say I don't usually date within -5 to 20 years, but attraction to me is mostly about chemistry, though physical attraction of course plays a role as well. Societal norms play no part for me.
Almost any age gap is fine as long as you two get along well and you understand each other. I used to like to date really close to my age, until i started meeting women who are above or below what i previously thought i would be okay with dating.
So i feel like, it's more about the person, and not their age.
There is obviously a limit to that tho, so i don't like the extremes. If she could be my mom or my girl, that's where it starts to get weird for me.
Too hard to do the math. I no longer date since I've found my match, but when I did...
Someone close to my age was preferred, but anyone that sounded interesting, whether much younger or much older, than me was dating material. Sometimes, the younger ones had great sex.
I would never date more then 2 years younger! unless he was super experienced and confident and realllly hot. Id date up to 3 years older but i prefer to stick as near to my age as possible. Too much older or younger just feels creeeepy
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