How Long Is a Cold Contagious? An Expert Explains

Cold season is back, which means whether it’s you, your friends, or your family, someone is likely to come home feeling stuffy and achy. One of the reasons for this seasonal spike in illness, according to Johns Hopkins, is because colder temperatures lead people to spend extended time indoors with others. Colds are highly contagious, so this exposure — in combination with the dry winter air — leaves us more vulnerable to infection. Knowing this, it’s worth asking: exactly how long is the cold contagious?

“The common cold spreads quickly and easily,” says Janice Johnston, MD. “Symptoms of the common cold appear between one and three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.” Although symptoms of a cold vary from person to person, Johnston says they generally include a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, body aches, mild headaches, and sneezing.

Unfortunately, most of us will catch a cold at one point or another. The CDC estimates that most adults will have two or three colds a year, which may explain the dreaded summer cold. One of the best ways to minimize the impact of cold season is to understand how colds spread and how long a cold is contagious for. Here’s what to know, including expert-approved tips to protect yourself and others this cold season.

Experts Featured in This Article:

Janice Johnston, MD, is the chief medical officer and co-founder of Redirect Health.

How Do You Catch a Cold?

The common cold is an upper respiratory infection that can be caused by over 200 different viruses, according to the Cleveland Clinic. While the rhinovirus is the most common (causing up to 50 percent of all colds), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), and even coronaviruses can also cause colds.

“People catch the common cold much like any virus — through the spread of the virus from an infected person to others through air and close personal contact,” Dr. Johnston explains. Exposure happens when people spread the cold through sneezing, coughing, or touching surfaces — all of which spread respiratory droplets that others can come into contact with, Dr. Johnston says.

How Long Is a Cold Contagious?

Unfortunately, a cold can last up to three weeks — which means you can be contagious for just as long. After contracting a cold virus, symptoms take one to three days to develop, which means a cold may could technically be contagious even before symptoms appear. Symptoms tend to peak about three days into the cold, and last for around 10 days after, Dr. Johnston says. People are considered contagious a day or two before symptoms begin and will continue to be contagious for as long as symptoms last — usually a week or two, Dr. Johnston says.

Those with a common cold are most contagious during the two to three days when symptoms are at their worst, per the National Health Service (NHS). The silver lining? Eventually, a cold will go away on its own, Dr. Johnston says. Just give it some time, so as not to spread the virus to others.

How to Avoid Spreading a Cold

If you come down with a cold, the best thing to do is avoid close contact with others. “Kissing, hugging, or shaking hands create incredibly close contact between those who are infected and those who want to avoid getting sick,” Dr. Johnston says. To avoid spreading the virus, you should also wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly (one study found that rhinoviruses can survive as long as two hours on human hands and several days on other surfaces like countertops).

As a reminder, there’s no cure for the common cold. Antibiotics will not help with cold symptoms, as cold viruses are not caused by bacterial infections (which is what antibiotics treat). Dr. Johnston says the best thing you can do to alleviate symptoms is drink plenty of water, rest, and use over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and cough syrup. Always speak with a healthcare provider before trying any new medications or supplements.

Sometimes, a cold can develop into something more serious, like an ear infection or strep throat, Dr. Johnston says. If your symptoms don’t resolve on their own after 10 days or feel severe or unusual, the CDC recommends contacting your doctor for additional medical attention.

Sara Youngblood Gregory was a contributing staff writer for PS Wellness. She covers sex, kink, disability, pleasure, and wellness. Her work has been featured in Vice, HuffPost, Bustle, DAME, The Rumpus, Jezebel, and many others.

Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.