Half-your-age-plus-seven rule An often-asserted rule of thumb to determine whether an age difference is socially acceptable holds that a person should never date someone whose age is less than half their own plus seven years.

What is the rule of seven in relationships?

According to the rule, the age of the younger partner (regardless of gender) should be no less than seven more than half the older partners age. Martin, then, shouldnt date anyone younger than 26 and a half; Lawrence shouldnt go above 34. The rule is widely cited, but its origins are hard to pin down.

What is too big of an age gap for a relationship?

A relationship age gap bigger than 10 years often comes with its own set of issues. “While there are always exceptions to rules, a good rule to remember is that dating someone more than 10 years older will present challenges now or later that add to the preexisting challenges any relationship has,” he says.