How to Tell If a First Date Went Well: 22 Signs to Know the Truth

Wondering how to tell if a first date went well? Don’t over-analyze. Instead, trust your gut and look for the signs that say a second date is imminent. 

Whether you’re a seasoned dater or not, first dates are terrifying. You’re not sure what to say, you’re worried about the impression you’ll make. What if the entire thing is terrible and awkward? And then, the other side of the coin is wondering how to tell if a first date went well too.

Dating can be a minefield of awkward silences and second guesses. Learning the signs a first date went well can give yourself a heads up, and avoid panicking about nothing! 

[Read: 14 signs you’re unintentionally ruining your first date]

How was the date for you?

We will get to all the signs a first date went well in just a minute. But, before we get there, we want you to just take a second and decide if the date went well for you.

We are always so concerned if the date went well for the other person, we forget about how we feel. Are you even interested in this person? Did the date go well for you?

We so badly want approval and to not be rejected, we sometimes focus on that more than our own feelings. If you didn’t think the date went all that well, try not to fret. Do not think about it too much. Time will tell what happens next.

And, if you did think it went well, great. Again, it was probably mutual. But, let’s be sure by learning the signs a first date went well. [Read: How to recognize a bad first date – The subtle red flags most people ignore]

How to tell if a first date went well – The subtle signs to look for

We overthink first dates. So, instead of giving you a ton of little minuscule details to worry about, here are a few signs a first date went well.

If you think about these signs instead of overanalyzing each and everything they said, you will have your answer in no time at all.

Also, if you’re about to go on a first date, be clued in on how to tell if a first date went well beforehand. This stops you from analyzing everything into oblivion when you return home. Bonus, it puts you at ease during the date. [Read: The best ways to cut a bad date short and moves you shouldn’t ever use]

1. You immediately felt comfortable

Your subconscious is not stupid. Make sure you listen to it! If you felt immediate comfort and your guard dropped quickly, the chances are the date went well.

Your instincts will easily pick up on something that isn’t quite right. You’ll feel something is off.

By listening to yourself, you get a good read on how the date is going. The chances are, if the date went badly, you’ll know about it from the way it feels in your gut. But if you felt comfortable and not at all awkward, you’re likely to have been in successful first-date territory! [Read: How to listen to your gut and strengthen your inner voice]

2. You were laughing and smiling a lot, and it wasn’t forced

Nobody laughs and smiles a lot without there being a reason! If you look back on your date and remember a face ache from smiling, then the date was a true success!

You’re certainly in the realm of a great time if your date is laughing and smiling a lot too. The likelihood of date number two is high.

3. You look back on the date and immediately smile

When you think back on the date, you start smiling uncontrollably and butterflies erupt in your stomach. You had a great date and will probably be heading off on another one soon! [Read: Do you have strong feelings after a first date? How to read the signs]

4. Your date was respectful and kind at all times

A sign of a good first date isn’t always about how it felt and whether there’ll be a second one. How did your date treat you?

If they were respectful and kind, then you had a fantastic first outing. Even if it doesn’t move on towards a repeat performance, you had a great experience.

5. Conversation was flowing freely

One of the biggest signs of how to tell if a first date went well is if the conversation flowed. If you can’t remember many awkward silences, then you had a good time!

Conversation flows when you feel comfortable with someone. If you felt comfortable then you had a successful first date. [Read: What to say on a first date to keep it light, easy and flirtatious]

6. You didn’t feel the need to check your phone

Most of us grab our phones and start checking for messages and scrolling through social media when we feel awkward or bored. If you didn’t reach for your phone once, that’s a great sign.

Of course, this works both ways, so your date shouldn’t have been looking at theirs either. The fact that neither of you felt the need to check what was happening on Facebook is positive!

7. Your pre-date anxiety disappeared pretty quickly

This goes back to point number one in some ways. If you felt no worry or anxiety, then you had a great date. Equally, you shouldn’t have felt anxious after the date either, overanalyzing whether or not a date went well is a sign that it didn’t.

You should feel pretty calm and floating on air afterward and that’s one of the signs a first date went well.

8. The date lasted longer than you had planned

One of the best tips on how to tell if a first date went well is that it went on longer than you thought!

Nobody spends extra time in a dating situation that feels awkward or uncomfortable, or with a person they don’t really vibe with. If the date went on longer, it shows that your date liked spending time with you. [Read: How long should a first date last? The exact timing for a great date]

9. Your date talked about their personal life

As a general rule, we don’t talk about our personal lives, families, and friends with people we don’t really like or trust.

If your date was chatting away about their life and mentioning names of those close to them, then you can pretty much guarantee that your date went well indeed!

10. You have an “us” joke

If by the end of the date you have a joke name, e.g. after sharing something funny about your life, or you have an ‘in’ or ‘us’ joke, then you’re on great territory! This is a clear nod towards a second date on the horizon.

11. There was a mention of the future

There was a mention or two of doing things together in the future. This is a good sign about how it went. Of course, we randomly mention things like ‘oh, we should do that’ in general conversation and sometimes don’t mean it.

If it happens in conjunction with a few others points on this list, your date was a success. [Read: 18 signs your date really likes you on the very first date]

12. You both asked questions with genuine interest in the answers

During the conversation, there should be an equal number of questions asked and not just one person firing questions at the other! If you were both asking questions and were genuinely interested in the replies, then the date was a good one.

13. You’re both following each other on social media, or you still are after the date

If you weren’t following each other before, you should be now. It is a clear indicator of how to tell if a first date went well. This means you’re both interested in what the other one is up to, so look for Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat follows.

14. There was a kiss goodnight

It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t a full-on passionate kiss, any kiss is a good sign!

Of course, there might be a certain amount of shyness at play that prevented a kiss from happening. In this case, assess the way you parted ways – was there a look of longing? [Read: 15 secrets to making your first kiss together memorable]

15. You received a message quite soon after the date ended

Another way to tell if a date was a success or not is whether there was a message soon afterwards. If you returned home and then got a ‘I had a great time’ message or similar, there is a very high likelihood of date number two. [Read: How to have a great first date – 15 things that always impress]

16. You remember their initial reaction and it was positive

Whether meeting for the first time or not, when you first arrive on the date, that reaction is priceless. The look on your date’s face will say a lot. Are they terrified? Nervous? Are they excited? Barely paying attention?

When you first walk into the restaurant, open the front door, or walk up to them at the bar, that reaction will make you feel how they feel. [Read: How to tell if there’s no chemistry and if you should stop trying]

17. You felt the spark

This is not as much of a sure-thing as qualitative moments, but a spark can speak to a lot. Feeling that unspoken thing that just can’t be explained means something. But, it can be one-sided on occasion.

If you felt that feeling not just overall, but at certain moments you locked eyes and there was just something there, the first date went well. [Read: What causes sexual tension and what exactly does it feel like?]

18. They said they want to see you again

This is a pretty obvious one, but if the date ended with one of you saying you want to do this again and the other agreed, it probably went well. Why would anyone say that if they didn’t actually want to see you again?

No one wants to go on a second date with someone they had a bad date with. [Read: The texting and follow-up rules after a great first date]

19. You just felt generally at ease

We all have nerves going into a first date. It is totally natural. But, when you have a comfort with this person, you both feel it.

You will always have some butterflies around someone you like, but if you don’t feel on edge with them there is a better chance of things working out. And when you are both comfortable with each other the date tends to go better. [Read: How to calm the 7 stages of first date panic]

20. Their body language was positive

If they were slouched, looking down, and had their arms crossed all night, the date probably didn’t go too well. Body language often speaks louder than actual speech.

If they hold your hand across the table, put their arm around you, or even mirror your movement, these are all subtle signs a first date went well.

21. You felt like you could be totally yourself

When you leave a first date, you either feel excited or just blah. If you left feeling good, smiling, and dying to tell your BFF exactly how it went, it probably went well. Trust your gut.

If you felt like you could be totally yourself and you didn’t have to try and act differently to impress *never do this* and that you could simply make the same jokes you always would, that’s a great sign. It means you have a vibe! [Read: How to be yourself – 14 steps to unfake your life and love being you]

22. Time seemed to fly by

Did it seem like five minutes since you sat down and then it was time to leave? As long as it literally wasn’t just five minutes, that’s one of the best signs a first date went well.

When you have no sense of time, it means that you’re totally engrossed in the other person’s company. What could be better? [Read: How to behave on a first date – 28 tips to impress anyone in minutes]

What comes next?

How long has it been since your date? Three days used to be the norm before the follow-up a couple of decades ago, but now, immediate gratification is the thing. If your date reached out anywhere from right after the date to 24 hours after, it went well. They have probably been dying to make more plans.

They could have really great self-control or are busy if they wait longer, but usually, if someone thought the first date went well, they will make it known immediately. And if you aren’t sure, reach out on your own for the follow-up.

But, by understanding these signs a first date went well, you won’t worry and you won’t overanalyze. What will be, will be!

[Read: 22 secrets and second date rules to start building the perfect romance]

Knowing how to tell if your date went well is enough to tie you up in knots! Don’t overthink it, as this will simply cause you to panic. Stick to these signs to tell if a first date went well, and you’ll know for sure!