Pushup Test



Using the pushup test table below: See how the number of pushups you can do compares to that of other men in your age-group. Just locate the row in your age-group column corresponding to the number of repetitions you do and look across to the corresponding percentile ranking. For example, if you are 42 years old and do 34 pushups, the row in the 40-49 age-group column corresponds to a percentile ranking of 85. That means you did more repetitions than 85% of the men in your age reference-group who took the test.

NOTE: Your score is the number of pushups you can do without pausing to rest in the down position. The test should be done on a clean, level surface. At the top position of each repetition, the elbows should be just short of full extension. At the bottom position, the supper arms should be parallel to the ground.

WARNING: You should not attempt this or any other maximal unless all of the following criteria are met:

  • You are at low risk as indicated by our exercise risk questionnaire or have been cleared by a physician for strenuous exercise.

  • You have done pushups on at least 6 different occasions spaced over at least a 2-week period including two or more times when a near-maximal number was attempted.

  • You accept that during maximal physical efforts like this one you are at increased risk of life-threatening cardiac events.

  • You warm up with light calisthenics before your effort.

  • You discontinue the test if you feel any symptoms of adverse reaction, such as dizziness, light-headedness, chest pressure or pain, or musculoskeletal pain.

Percentile Table for the Pushup Test

Percentile Rank by Age-Group
and Number of Pushups

Age Group

Percentile20-2930-3940-4950-5960+
9910086645139
956252403928
905746363026
855141342824
804739302523
754436292422
704134262121
653931252020
603730241918
553529221716
503327211515
453125191412
402924181310
35272116119
30262015108
252419139.57
2022171196
1519151075
101813964
5139532

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