The push-up test: how do you compare?
Do one all-out set of push-ups, then enter the number below. You'll get a fitness rating for your age and sex based on published push-up norms — and an honest way to retest.
How the rating works
The brackets below are the widely used Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness / ACSM norms for maximum consecutive push-ups (men: full push-ups; women: knee push-ups). Find your age column; the calculator interpolates your exact standing.
Men (full push-ups)
| Rating | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 36+ | 30+ | 25+ | 21+ | 18+ |
| Good | 29–35 | 22–29 | 17–24 | 13–20 | 11–17 |
| Average | 22–28 | 17–21 | 13–16 | 10–12 | 8–10 |
| Below average | 17–21 | 12–16 | 10–12 | 7–9 | 5–7 |
| Poor | ≤16 | ≤11 | ≤9 | ≤6 | ≤4 |
Women (knee push-ups)
| Rating | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 30+ | 27+ | 24+ | 21+ | 17+ |
| Good | 21–29 | 20–26 | 15–23 | 11–20 | 12–16 |
| Average | 15–20 | 13–19 | 11–14 | 7–10 | 5–11 |
| Below average | 10–14 | 8–12 | 5–10 | 2–6 | 2–4 |
| Poor | ≤9 | ≤7 | ≤4 | ≤1 | ≤1 |
Curious what real, camera-verified sets look like? We published the aggregate numbers from 148,000 counted push-ups — the median honest set is 15 reps. See the data.
Make the retest honest
Most people miscount an all-out set — you're at rep 19 or 21, breathing hard, and half-reps start slipping in. PUSHapp's camera counter counts for you and only accepts reps with real depth, so the number you retest with means something. It's free and runs in the browser or on your phone.
Embed this calculator on your site
The calculator is free to embed — copy the snippet below. We only ask that you keep the visible credit link.
<iframe src="https://www.trypushapp.com/pushup-test-embed" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0;max-width:720px" title="Push-Up Test Calculator" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p>Calculator by <a href="https://www.trypushapp.com/pushup-test">PUSHapp — the AI push-up counter</a></p>
Frequently asked questions
How is the push-up test performed?
Do as many consecutive push-ups as you can without resting at the top or bottom. The standard protocol uses full push-ups for men and knee push-ups for women, stopping when form breaks — no pausing longer than a breath.
Where do these norms come from?
The rating brackets follow widely published fitness norms (Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness, also used by the ACSM) for maximum consecutive push-ups by age group and sex.
How many push-ups should I be able to do?
It depends on age and sex. For example, a 25-year-old man doing 25 push-ups rates 'good', while 35+ rates 'excellent'. Use the calculator above for your exact bracket.
How do I improve my score?
Train push-ups 2–4 times a week, leave a rep or two in reserve on most sets, and retest every few weeks. Counting with a camera keeps the test honest — half-reps don't count.
Can I embed this calculator on my site?
Yes, for free — copy the embed snippet on this page. We only ask that you keep the visible credit link to PUSHapp.