Last updated: 29 April 2026 · 7 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Peer review duration varies substantially across disciplines, journals, and individual manuscripts. Authors who understand the typical sequence of stages are better placed to interpret silence from an editorial office and to plan responsibly around realistic timelines.
Typical stage-by-stage duration
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Editorial screening | 1–14 days |
| Reviewer invitation and acceptance | 1–4 weeks |
| Reviewer evaluation | 3–8 weeks |
| Editorial decision after reviews returned | 1–3 weeks |
| Author revision (major) | 4–8 weeks |
| Re-review and final decision | 3–6 weeks |
Aggregating these stages, a first decision frequently arrives within two to four months, and a final decision after one round of major revision within six to eight months. Some disciplines, particularly in the humanities, routinely operate on longer cycles.
Factors that lengthen review
- Difficulty in identifying suitable reviewers in a specialised area.
- Reviewer non-response, requiring re-invitation.
- Conflicting reviewer recommendations that necessitate a third opinion.
- Author requests for revision deadline extensions.
- Holiday periods and end-of-academic-year congestion.
Factors that shorten review
- A manuscript that conforms precisely to journal guidelines on first submission.
- Concise cover letters that articulate the contribution clearly.
- Prompt and complete responses to reviewer comments.
- Suggesting (where invited) reviewers with appropriate expertise.
Key points
- Two to four months to first decision is a reasonable expectation for most journals.
- Six to eight months to final decision after one major revision is common.
- Reviewer availability is the principal source of variability.
- Author preparation directly affects the duration of subsequent stages.
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Editorial enquiries
Questions about this guide or about preparing a manuscript for submission may be directed to the editorial office. Where a query relates to a specific journal in the portfolio, please indicate the journal abbreviation in your message.
Email: editor@ep-journals.org