At a glance
Avg Time to Convert is a funnels metric tracked from PostHog data. It measures how long, on average, a converting user takes to travel from the first funnel step to the last. PostHog calculates it from the timestamps of each user’s funnel events, so it reflects real elapsed time, not session count. A rising figure can signal added friction or longer deliberation; a falling one often means a smoother, more decisive path to purchase.
| What it counts | The average elapsed time between the first and last step of the primary funnel, for users who converted. |
| Sample type | Backend API data from PostHog funnel insights, refreshed on the standard data refresh. |
| Why it matters | Time to convert reveals hesitation and friction that a flat conversion rate hides. A lengthening journey is often the first sign a step got harder. |
| Reading the value | Compare the current period against the prior period. Rising time usually means more friction or longer consideration. |
| Currency | count |
| Time window | 30D vsP |
| Alert trigger | - |
| Sentiment key | ph_funnel_time_to_convert |
| Roles | owner, marketing |
Calculation
Calculated automatically from your PostHog data. See the At a glance summary above for what the metric tracks and the worked example below for a typical reading.Worked example
A representative reading of Avg Time to Convert for a typical merchant on PostHog. Suppose converting users typically take about 12 minutes from first pageview to purchase. After a shipping-cost change on 30 Apr 26, that average climbs to 21 minutes, with no change in overall conversion rate. The longer journey suggests buyers are now hesitating, perhaps comparing the new shipping cost, even though most still convert. Cross-reference Biggest Funnel Step Drop-off to see whether the added time clusters at one step. For deeper investigation, use Vortex Mind to trace upstream causes; for natural-language exploration, ask Ask Viq.Sibling cards merchants should reference together
| Card | Why merchants reach for it |
|---|---|
ph_funnel_conversion | Funnels sibling: the overall conversion rate. |
ph_funnel_dropoff | Funnels sibling: where users abandon most. |
ph_paths_top_route | Funnels sibling: the most common route taken. |
pos_avg_session_duration | Engagement sibling: average session length. |
ph_replays_with_rage_clicks | Session Replay sibling: frustration during the journey. |
Reconciling against the vendor’s own dashboard
Where to look in PostHog’s own dashboard: In PostHog, open your primary funnel insight and switch to the time-to-convert view. PostHog reports the average and distribution of conversion times for users who completed the funnel. The average there should align with this card. Why the Vortex IQ value may legitimately differ:| Reason | Direction | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion window. A long window admits slow converters that lift the average. | Variable | Match the conversion window. |
| Average vs median. A few very slow converters skew the mean; PostHog can show median too. | Variable | Compare like for like. |
| Funnel definition. Different first or last steps change the elapsed time measured. | Variable | Confirm the funnel steps. |