If you’ve ever sat down for “one quick game” of League of Legends only to look up and realize half your afternoon is gone, you’re far from alone. New and veteran players alike often wonder how many hours in League of Legends they actually spend each week, and how that stacks up against other players or their own goals. This guide breaks down average play times across different player types, what those hours actually translate to in terms of progress, and how to make the most of every minute you spend on the rift. You don’t have to quit your job or skip social plans to get the most out of the game, no matter what your play goals are.
How Many Hours in League of Legends Do Average Players Spend Weekly?
Official player data from Riot Games shows that play time varies wildly depending on what you want out of the game. There’s no universal “correct” number of hours to play, but you can compare your habits to common player groups to see where you fall. If you’re curious how many hours in League of Legends you’ve already spent overall, you can use third-party trackers to pull your total play time across all modes, including normals, ARAM, and ranked.
The three most common player groups have very different average weekly play times: Casual players (play for fun only) spend 2-7 hours per week, mostly logging on for ARAM or normal games on weekends with friends. This group makes up roughly 68% of the active LoL player base, according to 2024 player survey data. Semi-competitive ranked players spend 8-16 hours per week, splitting time between ranked queues, normals to practice new champions, and occasional ARAM to unwind. Most players in this group are focused on climbing 1-2 tiers per split. Amateur competitive or high-elo grinders spend 20+ hours per week, with many adding extra time for VOD reviews, scrims with teams, or practicing specific mechanics like wave management or skill shot accuracy.
For context, a standard ranked or normal summoner’s rift game lasts 25-35 minutes, while an ARAM game runs 18-25 minutes. That means a casual player logging 4 hours a week can fit between 7 and 13 games per week, depending on the modes they play. I’ve had weeks where I only squeezed in 2 hours of ARAM between work deadlines, and other weeks where I pushed 18 hours to climb from Silver to Gold before a split ended, so I know how much play time can shift based on real life and in-game goals.
What Your Play Time Actually Translates To In Terms Of Progress
More hours logged doesn’t always equal more progress, especially if you’re playing on autopilot or not focusing on areas you need to improve. No matter how many hours in League of Legends you have logged, you can always adjust your play style to make more progress in less time. The key is to align your play habits with your specific goals, whether that’s climbing ranked, unlocking a mastery skin, or just having fun with friends.
For common player goals, you can expect the following time commitments for consistent progress: Champion mastery level 7 takes roughly 20-30 hours of play on a single champion, depending on your win rate and how many S ranks you earn per game. You can cut this time down by focusing on one champion at a time instead of switching between multiple new champions every week. Climbing one full tier (like Bronze to Silver) takes most players 15-25 hours of focused ranked play, if you have a 52%+ win rate. If your win rate is below 50%, climbing a tier can take twice as long, so it’s worth taking a small amount of time to learn basic macro like wave management and objective timers to boost your win rate and cut down on required grind time.
If your only goal is to have fun, there’s no benchmark to hit. Even 1 hour a week of playing ARAM with friends is enough to enjoy new event content, try out new champions, and get the entertainment value you want from the game. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re “playing wrong” because you don’t log 10+ hours a week of ranked play.
Common Mistakes That Waste Your Play Time On The Rift
Even if you’re logging 10+ hours a week, you might be wasting a huge chunk of that time on habits that don’t help you have fun or rank up. A lot of players fall into these traps without realizing it, and end up feeling frustrated that they’re not making progress even when they play often. The most common time-wasters for LoL players include:
- Queuing for ranked when you’re tired or tilted: Your win rate drops by 15-20% on average when you’re frustrated, leading to lost LP and hours spent climbing back to where you started. I’ve made this mistake too many times to count, and it’s never worth pushing through a bad streak just to “get your LP back”.
- Spending 10+ minutes in champion select arguing with teammates over roles, only to dodge and waste even more time waiting for the next queue. If you can’t agree on roles in the first 2 minutes, it’s better to dodge immediately instead of wasting time fighting and then playing a game where everyone is already frustrated.
- Playing modes you don’t actually enjoy just to grind event rewards, which makes your play time feel like a chore instead of entertainment. If you hate playing ranked, don’t force yourself to grind 10 ranked games just to get a free skin. You’ll get more enjoyment out of 2 hours of your favorite mode than 10 hours of a mode you hate.
If you notice you’re not having fun or playing poorly, it’s okay to log off for the day. You’ll get more out of two hours of focused, fun play than six hours of grinding while you’re frustrated. I learned this the hard way last split, when I queued for four straight ranked games after a bad loss, dropped two entire divisions, and wasted almost three hours that I could have spent playing ARAM with friends instead.
How To Balance Your LoL Play Time With Real Life Responsibilities
One of the biggest struggles for regular LoL players is balancing play time with work, school, family, and other real life commitments. It’s easy to lose track of time while playing, but you don’t have to give up the game entirely to keep up with your responsibilities. A few small adjustments can help you make the most of your play time without letting it take over your life.
Set a hard time limit for each play session before you log on. Most consoles and PC launchers have built-in timer features you can use to get an alert when your time is up, or you can set a timer on your phone. If you know you only have 2 hours to play, you’ll be less likely to waste time arguing in champion select or playing tilted games that don’t help you reach your goals. Prioritize your highest-priority LoL goal first each session. If you want to climb ranked, play your ranked games first before you mess around in ARAM or custom games, so you don’t run out of time before you hit your goal for the week.
If you’re worried you’re spending too much time on LoL, try tracking your play time for two weeks. Most people are surprised to find they spend less time playing than they think, but if it’s cutting into other priorities, you can scale back to 2-3 sessions a week and still enjoy the game. I know a Gold 3 player who only plays 4 hours a week, but he only plays his main Veigar support, reviews one replay a week, and has climbed consistently for two splits. You don’t need to grind 20 hours a week to make progress if you’re using your time wisely.
At the end of the day, there’s no “right” answer for how many hours in League of Legends you should spend playing. It all depends on your goals, how much fun you’re having, and what other responsibilities you have in your life. If you’re playing for fun, even 1 hour a week is enough to enjoy new champions and event content. If you’re trying to climb to Diamond or compete in amateur tournaments, you’ll need to put in more time, but make sure you’re not sacrificing sleep, work, or time with people you care about to grind. Every hour you spend on the rift should feel worth it, whether you’re winning a ranked game or just laughing through a messy ARAM with friends.