On average, it takes 5 to 10 dates for two people to realize there’s long-term potential and decide to be exclusive with each other.

As long as the dates have been consistent, this usually happens within 1 to 3 months.

Depending on the dynamics, you two may require more or fewer dates before deciding on whether there is long-term potential for a relationship.

This said, it isn’t only about the dates.

Deciding on whether he is someone with long-term potential for a relationship also requires that there be consistent communication in between dates.

This means that you are building a rapport with each other outside of the dates as well.

You are consistently communicating with each other in-between dates.

He is calling and texting you, initiating conversations about your hobbies, interests, future goals, family, friends, worldviews, etc.

You are gleaning the same information from him too.

In-between dates, the frequent communication is enlightening the two of you about each other as you fill in the gaps and establish a deeper understanding of one another.

Instead of totally relying on the dates you go on to gain this information, you use the time in-between dates to gain this information.

When communication in-between dates is nonexistent, sporadic, or primarily about the logistics of the next date, neither one of you is taking advantage of the time in-between dates.

This is detrimental to building a solid rapport and emotional foundation with each other.

It puts too much weight on the dates to gain extensive information about each other, and unless you two are having 24-hour-long dates, this is impossible.

Additionally, with too little to no communication in-between dates, the momentum is too erratic, which makes it feel as though you are almost meeting a stranger on each subsequent date.

There has been such a lapse in communication since the last date; you might even struggle to remember details of information you learned about him on said last date.

Without consistent and intentional communication in-between dates, you are also incapable of expanding on information you learned about him during the last date.

This is where he expands on a personal anecdote he told you about during the last date, or you get to ask him follow-up questions on it.

All of this builds a romantic and emotional connection with him so that by the next date you go on with him, you feel as though you have learned a good deal about him and built a stronger base of trust.

If there are consistent dates, which is at least one a week, along with consistent and significant communication in-between dates, you should naturally fall into the average number of dates it usually takes to know whether there is long-term potential, which is 5 to 10 dates.

Before all of this, you should have already established that this is a man who is intent on finding a person with long-term relationship potential.

Thus, you two must be on the same page in regard to what you are looking for from the start and preferably before you have been out on a first date.

Without establishing this first, you could spend months wasting a lot of time going out on dates with someone who is only looking for short-term companionship.