Push-Up Test: Standards by Age & Sex
How many push-ups should you be able to do? These are the right-angle (cadence) push-up norms from the Presidential Fitness Test's 1985 survey — the 50th percentile is the median for that age and sex, and the 85th percentile is a top-tier score.
Push-Up Test norms by age
Right-angle push-ups are done in cadence (one every three seconds) with no time limit, lowering until the upper arms are parallel to the floor. Count continues until you break form.
| Age | Boys 85th | Boys 50th | Girls 85th | Girls 50th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| 7 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 8 |
| 8 | 17 | 9 | 17 | 9 |
| 9 | 18 | 12 | 18 | 12 |
| 10 | 22 | 14 | 20 | 13 |
| 11 | 27 | 15 | 19 | 11 |
| 12 | 31 | 18 | 20 | 10 |
| 13 | 39 | 24 | 21 | 11 |
| 14 | 40 | 24 | 20 | 10 |
| 15 | 42 | 30 | 20 | 15 |
| 16 | 44 | 30 | 24 | 12 |
| 17 | 53 | 37 | 25 | 16 |
Verified source: Presidential Physical Fitness Test standards — President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports, 1985 National School Population Fitness Survey (85th percentile validated 1998; 50th validated 1994). Reproduced verbatim and checked cell-by-cell. Recovered from the President's Challenge archive and verified cell-by-cell against the authoritative GPO publication (p. 8). Partial Curl-Up norms: Canada Fitness Award Program; ¼/½-mile: AAU. Official source · Sources & methodology
Frequently asked questions
How many push-ups is good for my age?
On the Presidential Fitness Test scale, the 50th percentile is an average score for your age and sex and the 85th percentile is a strong one. For example, a 12-year-old boy averaged about 18 push-ups, while 31 reached the 85th percentile.
What is a good number of push-ups by age for adults?
The Presidential Fitness Test norms cover ages 6–17. They're a useful youth benchmark, but adult fitness norms differ — use them as a reference point rather than an adult standard.
Other events: Pull-Up Test · Curl-Up (Sit-Up) Test · Sit & Reach Test · One-Mile Run · Shuttle Run Test · Flexed-Arm Hang Test