Push-Up Test Rating Calculator
Rate your push-up test result against age- and sex-based fitness norms — from "needs improvement" to "excellent" — and see your next target.
How it works
rating = highest band whose minimum reps your count meets, by age group and sex
The push-up test measures upper-body muscular endurance — how many controlled repetitions you can complete in a single set to fatigue. Ratings come from population norm tables that vary by age and sex: standards drop with age, and women’s norms are commonly set for the modified (knee) push-up while men’s use the full push-up. The thresholds here follow widely published fitness-assessment bands, so you can see not just how many you did but how that stacks up against your peers — and exactly how many more reps reach the next rating.
Worked example
A 30-year-old man does 25 push-ups. In the 30–39 bracket the cutoffs are 30 (Excellent), 22 (Good), 17 (Average), 12 (Fair). 25 clears the Good line (22) but not Excellent (30), so the rating is “Good,” 5 reps short of Excellent.
Sources: ACSM / push-up test norms
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a proper push-up?
A full-range rep: body straight from head to heels (or knees for the modified version), lowering until the elbows reach about 90° or the chest nears the floor, then locking out. Half-reps and a sagging hip do not count and skew the rating.
Why do women’s and men’s standards differ?
The classic test protocol uses full push-ups for men and knee push-ups for women, so the rep norms are calibrated to different movements. Women who train full push-ups will exceed the modified-test norms — pick the mode that matches how you tested.
How often should I retest?
Every 6–8 weeks is plenty. Muscular endurance responds quickly at first, and testing to failure too often just adds fatigue without giving the adaptations time to show.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.