Average Handle Time Benchmarks by Industry: What 'Good' Actually Looks Like in 2026

## Stop Comparing Yourself to "Industry Average"

If I see one more benchmarking report that says "the average handle time across industries is 6 minutes," I'm going to lose it. That number is useless. It averages a 2-minute password reset with a 45-minute healthcare claim dispute and calls it a benchmark.

AHT only means something in context. Your industry, your channel, your ticket complexity, and your customer expectations all determine what "good" looks like.

Here are the real numbers.

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