PLOS · General medicine

PLOS Medicine: acceptance rate, review time, and how to prepare

PLOS lists PLOS Medicine's 2025 acceptance rate as 4%, with a median of 67 days to a first decision and 236 days to publication, and 186 articles published. The journal's own information page separately says approximately 10% of initial submissions ultimately progress to published articles. Every figure below is quoted from PLOS's metrics page and the journal's information and submission pages, captured 2026-11-14.

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Sources: 3 journal and publisher pages · Scimago 2024
4%
Acceptance rate, 2025
average percentage
67 d
Time to first decision, 2025
median
236 d
Time to publication, 2025
median
186
Articles published, 2025
Acceptance rate

What is PLOS Medicine’s acceptance rate?

Two of PLOS's pages state a figure, and they are worded differently. The metrics page gives an acceptance rate of 4% for 2025, described as an average percentage. The journal's information page says approximately 10% of initial submissions ultimately progress to published articles, and dates its two-stage breakdown to early 2017. Both are shown as printed; neither page explains the difference.

What is reportedFigurePeriodSource
Acceptance rate4%2025PLOS: Publication metrics (all metrics for 2025)
Initial submissions that ultimately progress to published articlesApproximately 10%As stated on the journal information page; no year givenPLOS Medicine: Journal Information
Initial submissions invited to full submissionAbout 20%As of early 2017PLOS Medicine: Journal Information
Full submissions published as research articlesApproximately 50%As of early 2017PLOS Medicine: Journal Information
Articles published1862025PLOS: Publication metrics (all metrics for 2025)
Timelines

How long does PLOS Medicine take to reach a decision?

As published by the journal or its publisher. Nothing here is estimated.

For 2025 PLOS reports medians of 67 days to a first decision and 236 days to publication. PLOS Medicine uses an initial-submission step: if the editors decide the work is suitable for peer review, authors are asked for a full submission. Its information page prints no half-yearly timings table.

What is reportedFigurePeriodSource
Time to first decision, median67 days2025PLOS: Publication metrics (all metrics for 2025)
Time to publication, median236 days2025PLOS: Publication metrics (all metrics for 2025)
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Rejection

What gets papers rejected at PLOS Medicine?

PLOS Medicine's pages publish rates and timelines; they do not itemize reasons for rejection. This is the general evidence, cited.
statistics #1

In a content analysis of 151 medical-education manuscripts, the top reasons for rejection were inappropriate or incomplete statistics, overinterpretation of results, and inappropriate or suboptimal instrumentation. [12][14]

44–76%

Lack of new or useful knowledge was the most common reason for rejection at AJR, accounting for 44–76% of rejections in every country. [3]

2.58 of 9

BMJ reviewers found an average of 2.58 of nine major errors deliberately inserted into a test paper; training raised this only to about 3. [18]

Before you submit

What PLOS Medicine requires.

From the journal's author pages, captured 2026-11-14. Instructions change; verify on the journal's page before submitting.
Research article requirements
  • Any length: no restrictions on word count, number of figures, or amount of supporting information
  • Abstract in three sections (Background, Methods and Findings, Conclusions); 300 words preferred, 500 words maximum
  • Full title up to 200 characters; short title up to 70 characters
  • References in Vancouver style, as outlined by the ICMJE
  • Initial submission first; a full submission is requested if the editors commit to peer review
  • Clinical trials registered in a registry approved by the WHO or ICMJE; the journal is unlikely to publish trials that were not prospectively registered
Reporting guidelines the journal names
  • EQUATOR: authors must check the EQUATOR Network site for the reporting guidelines that apply to the study design
  • CONSORT for randomized controlled trials: checklist as supporting information, flow diagram as Fig 1, and the trial protocol; the submission is not considered without them
  • TREND for non-randomized trials
  • PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: completed checklist and flow diagram; abstracts follow PRISMA for Abstracts
  • ARRIVE for animal research
Cover letter: Uploaded as a separate file; it should say why the manuscript suits PLOS Medicine and how the study will improve patient care or public health.

Does PLOS Medicine have a word limit?

PLOS Medicine sets no word limit on the manuscript. These are the limits its submission guidelines do print. Captured 2026-11-14.
ElementLimit
ManuscriptAny length; no restrictions on word count, number of figures, or amount of supporting information
Abstract300 words preferred; 500 words maximum; three sections
Full title200 characters
Short title70 characters
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Sources

Where every number on this page comes from.

  1. PLOS: Publication metrics (all metrics for 2025). plos.org/metrics/ (captured 2026-11-14).
  2. PLOS Medicine: Journal Information. journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/s/journal-information (captured 2026-11-14).
  3. PLOS Medicine: Submission Guidelines. journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/s/submission-guidelines (captured 2026-11-14).
  4. Scimago Journal Rank, 2024 edition: SJR 4.279, Q1, H-index 289, ISSN 15491277, 15491676.

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