How long does digestion take?

The amount of time that digestion takes varies from person to person, but on average it takes around 33 to 50 hours. It takes 6 to 8 hours for food to pass through the stomach.

After entering the stomach and small intestine, the food enters the large intestine where it absorbs water and begins eliminating waste. Food stays in the large intestine the longest amount of time. It can take up to 40 hours for the food to pass through the intestine. In children, it takes around 33 hours for the entire digestion process to take place according to the Mayo Clinic.