Completion Percentage Calculator
Turn completions and attempts into a completion percentage, and find how many straight completions it takes to reach a target rate.
How it works
Completion % = completions ÷ attempts × 100 · Straight completions n to reach target t: n = (t·A − C) ÷ (1 − t), rounded up
Completion percentage is the share of pass attempts that are caught. Because every added completion also adds an attempt, raising a low rate takes more makes than you might expect — the target-completions figure solves for how many consecutive completions (no new misses) would lift you to a goal rate. It answers the practical question a quarterback faces late in a game: how many in a row to hit a season target.
Worked example
At 22 of 33 the rate is 66.7%. To reach 70%, n = (0.70 × 33 − 22) ÷ (1 − 0.70) = (23.1 − 22) ÷ 0.30 = 1.1 ÷ 0.30 = 3.67, rounded up to 4 straight completions.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a good completion percentage?
In modern NFL passing, roughly 65% is solid and above 70% is elite over a season. College and high-school benchmarks are lower. The right comparison is the level of play, not a single universal number.
Why does raising the rate need so many completions?
Each completion adds one to both the numerator and the denominator, so early on the denominator grows nearly as fast as the numerator. Only a run of consecutive completions with no new misses moves the percentage quickly.
Does this work for other sports?
Yes — the same math applies to any make/attempt ratio, such as field-goal or free-throw percentage, as long as you count attempts consistently.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.