Urinating is a normal part of life, whether you call it “having a wee,” “emptying the tank,” or “taking a wizz.” While frequent trips to the toilet can be perfectly normal, it’s natural to wonder how much is too much.
Consultant urologist Hamid Abboudi from New Victoria Hospital told Metro that age plays a major role in how often you should expect to pee. While factors like tea, coffee, alcohol, and fizzy drinks can increase frequency, Abboudi says getting older has the biggest impact on urinary habits.
“Across a patient’s life span, there are likely to be several changes to toilet habits,” he explained.
Here’s what Abboudi says is a healthy range at different stages of life:
- Children: Young children may urinate 8 to 14 times a day, decreasing to 6–12 times for older children. Frequent urination in kids may also be influenced by anxiety, constipation, caffeine, allergies, or a small bladder capacity.
- Teenagers: Typically urinate 4–6 times a day. Hormonal changes during puberty can increase bathroom visits, but this is usually temporary. Persistent frequent urination could indicate infection, diabetes, excessive caffeine intake, or, rarely, a more serious issue.
- Adults under 60: Generally go 6–9 times a day, with occasional nighttime urination. Women tend to go slightly more often than men, averaging 5.6 vs 4.8 times daily. Pregnancy and urinary tract infections can also increase frequency.
- Adults over 60: May urinate up to 10 times a day due to declining kidney function, weaker bladder muscles, and medications like diuretics. Nocturia—waking at night to urinate—also becomes more common, particularly in men with an enlarged prostate.
Abboudi emphasises that individual patterns vary, but there are warning signs to watch for. People should seek medical advice if they notice blood in their urine, a sudden change in urinary habits, or if they wake more than once per night. Smokers should also be vigilant, as they face a higher risk of bladder cancer.
While there’s no single “normal” number for everyone, understanding what’s typical for your age can help you identify when something may be wrong.
