How long are you contagious with a cold?

According to Andrew Huberman, you can be contagious with a cold even before showing symptoms and typically, one to two days after being exposed to the virus, the symptoms start to appear1. You're most contagious when your symptoms are at their peak, such as when you feel the worst, experiencing coughs, sneezes, and other severe symptoms2. Approximately five to six days after hitting this worst symptom phase, you're likely exiting the contagious period1.

Additionally, Huberman discusses that the cold virus can survive on surfaces for up to 24 hours and is primarily transmitted through contact with the eyes, although it can also be spread through skin-to-skin contact and via the air2.