The number of licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop varies widely depending on the method and individual factors, but several studies provide estimates:

• A University of Michigan study found it takes about 412 licks on average to reach the center

• Undergraduate students at Swarthmore College reported a median of 146 licks, ranging from 70 to 222

• A detailed research effort concluded an average of approximately 419 licks, accounting for different licking techniques and candy thickness

• A group from Purdue University using a licking machine averaged 364 licks, while human participants averaged 252 licks

• Bellarmine University found an average of 175 licks over about 14 minutes

• Mathematicians at New York University used a fluid dissolution model and estimated about 1,000 licks to dissolve one centimeter of the candy shell, roughly half the length of a Tootsie Pop, leading to an estimate around 1,000 licks to reach the center

In summary, the number of licks ranges broadly from about 144 to 1,000, with many reliable studies clustering around 300 to 420 licks for an average-sized Tootsie Pop. The variation depends on licking style, candy size, and individual saliva flow