We report a series of measurements performed to characterize the atom-to-ion transformation time in singly charged electron cyclotron resonance ion sources (ECRISs). Three ECRISs were used with He, Ne, Ar and Kr noble gases. The transformation time as a function of the support gas flow, the ionization efficiency, and source volume is presented and compared to a calculation made with a simple dynamic model. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.