How Long to Pump: Minutes per Session and per Day

When you start pumping, it’s hard to know when to stop. Is 10 minutes enough? Should you keep going until nothing comes out? And how much of your day will it actually take?

The short answer is that your milk flow is a better guide than the clock. Here’s how long to pump per session, how single and double pumping compare and what to expect at each stage.

How long to pump per session

Most pumping sessions take about 15 to 20 minutes with a double electric pump. Cleveland Clinic says a session can continue as long as you’re comfortable and milk is flowing, which is typically about 10 to 15 minutes per breast.

A simple rule that works for most people:

1. Pump until your milk stops flowing or slows to an occasional drip.
2. Keep pumping for about 2 more minutes. Children’s Wisconsin, for example, advises pumping for 2 minutes past the last drop.
3. Stop when your breasts feel soft and comfortable.

Those extra couple of minutes can trigger another let-down and signal your body to keep making milk. La Leche League International (LLLI) also suggests extending each session by a couple of minutes as one way to boost supply.

Signs you can stop

• Milk has stopped spraying or dripping for about 2 minutes
• Your breasts feel noticeably softer and lighter
• Another let-down hasn’t started

If milk starts flowing again, keep going until it slows down once more.

Single vs double pumping: how long each takes

Double pumping, which means pumping both breasts at the same time, cuts your session time roughly in half. LLLI says it may take about 15 minutes to pump both breasts together, compared with 30 minutes or more when pumping each breast separately. Double pumping also gives strong stimulation, which helps maintain your supply.

Method	Typical time per session
Double electric pump	About 15–20 minutes total
Single electric pump	About 10–15 minutes per breast, so 20–30 minutes or more
Manual pump or hand expression	Often longer; switch sides when flow slows

These are typical ranges, not rules. Some people empty in 10 minutes; others need closer to 30.

How long to pump at each stage

The first days: colostrum

Colostrum comes in small amounts, so you may get only a few drops at first. That’s normal. In its pumping guidelines for parents of hospitalized babies, Children’s Wisconsin recommends pumping about every 3 hours, or 8 times in 24 hours, and hand expressing extra colostrum after pumping during the first 3 to 4 days. Learn more in our guide to when breast milk comes in.

Once your milk comes in

Once your supply increases, sessions often get longer because there’s more milk to remove. Pump until the flow stops plus about 2 minutes. LLLI recommends 8 to 10 sessions a day, every 2 to 3 hours, to establish your supply if you’re exclusively pumping, unless your provider advises otherwise.

Established supply

Some people find their sessions get a little shorter once pumping becomes routine and let-down comes more easily. Once your supply is steady, LLLI says exclusive pumpers can consider gradually cutting back to 5 to 7 sessions a day, or whatever their provider recommends. Our pumping schedule guide has sample schedules by age.

Pumping at work

Cleveland Clinic suggests planning 30 to 40 minutes for each workday pumping session: about 20 minutes of pumping plus 10 to 20 minutes to set up and clean up. Pumping roughly every 3 hours is a common goal, but if you pump less per session than your baby eats, pumping more often may help.

How long exclusive pumping takes per day

Exclusive pumping is a real time commitment, especially at the start. Here’s a rough guide we calculated from 15- to 20-minute double-pumping sessions (sessions × minutes):

Sessions per day	Approximate pumping time per day
8–10 (early weeks)	120–200 minutes (2 hours to 3 hours 20 minutes)
6–7	90–140 minutes (1½ hours to 2 hours 20 minutes)
5	75–100 minutes (1¼ hours to 1 hour 40 minutes)

Add time for setting up, washing parts and storing milk. To see how much milk your baby needs per day at their age, try our breast milk intake calculator.

Tips to make pumping sessions more efficient

• Check your flange fit. Cleveland Clinic notes that pumping pain can be a sign that your flanges don’t fit properly. Our flange size calculator can help you find the right size.
• Use let-down mode first. Most electric pumps start with fast, light suction to trigger let-down, then switch to slower, deeper expression suction.
• Try hand expression first. LLLI mentions that some parents get better results by hand expressing for 1 to 2 minutes before using the pump.
• Massage while you pump. Gentle breast massage or compression during a session can help milk flow.
• Get comfortable. Relax, look at a photo or video of your baby and keep a drink nearby.
• Don’t turn the suction up to hurt. The strongest setting isn’t always the best. Use the highest setting that still feels comfortable.

If you’re trying to increase supply, pumping more often usually helps more than pumping longer. Power pumping is one way to add extra stimulation for a short time.

When to get help

Talk to a lactation consultant (IBCLC) or your doctor if:

• Pumping is painful, or your nipples are cracked, blistered or bleeding
• Your output drops suddenly or keeps falling
• Your breasts still feel full and lumpy after a full session
• You get a painful, red area on your breast or a fever
• Sessions regularly take much longer than 30 minutes without much milk

You’ll find more guides on equipment, schedules and storage in our pumping section.