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You can easily test your upper body strength yourself at home using this simple test. The push-up exercise is a common fitness exercise. How many push-ups can you do?

Technique

Use the standard "military style" push-up technique. The starting position is facing down with your weight distributed on the hands and feet, arms straight. The body is rigid and straight, and the hands are placed approximately shoulder width apart. Lower your body until your chest nears the floor at the bottom of the movement, and then return up to the starting position. This is one repetition.

Women have the additional option of using the "bent knee" technique. To do this, kneel on the floor, hands on either side of the chest and keep your back straight. Lower the chest down towards the floor, always to the same level each time, either till your elbows are at right angles or your chest touches the ground.

Do as many push-ups as possible until exhaustion. Count the total number of push-ups performed. Use the charts below to find out how you rate.

push-up exercisehome push up

How did you go?

Compare your results to the table below. Remember, these scores are based on doing the tests as described, and may not be accurate if the test is modified at all. Don't worry too much about how you rate - just try and improve your own score, and keep doing them the same way each time.

Table: push-up test norms for MEN

Age 17-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-65
Excellent > 56 > 47 > 41 > 34 > 31 > 30
Good 47-56 39-47 34-41 28-34 25-31 24-30
Above average 35-46 30-39 25-33 21-28 18-24 17-23
Average 19-34 17-29 13-24 11-20 9-17 6-16
Below average 11-18 10-16 8-12 6-10 5-8 3-5
Poor 4-10 4-9 2-7 1-5 1-4 1-2
Very Poor < 4 < 4 < 2 0 0 0

Table: push-up test norms for WOMEN (standard technique)

Age 17-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-65
Excellent > 30 > 32 > 28 > 20 > 16 > 12
Good 22-30 24-32 21-28 15-20 13-16 10-12
Above Average 11-21 14-23 13-20 10-14 9-12 6-9
Average 7-10 9-13 7-12 5-9 4-8 3-5
Below average 4-6 5-8 3-6 2-4 2-3 2
Poor 1-3 1-4 1-2 1 1 1
Very Poor 0 0 0 0 0 0

Table: push-up test norms for WOMEN (modified - performed from the knees)

Age 17-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-65
Excellent > 35 > 36 > 37 > 31 > 25 > 23
Good 27-35 30-36 30-37 25-31 21-25 19-23
Above Average 21-27 23-29 22-30 18-24 15-20 13-18
Average 11-20 12-22 10-21 8-17 7-14 5-12
Below average 6-10 7-11 5-9 4-7 3-6 2-4
Poor 2-5 2-6 1-4 1-3 1-2 1
Very Poor 0-1 0-1 0 0 0 0

* Source: the original source for this data is unknown. The norm tables for women has been modified from the original to account for the different techniques.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many push-ups should I be able to do for my age?

Push-up expectations vary significantly by age and gender. For men aged 20-29, an "excellent" rating requires more than 47 push-ups, while "average" is 17-29 reps. For women of the same age doing standard push-ups, "excellent" is more than 32 and "average" is 9-13. Use the calculator above for your specific rating.

What is the correct form for a push-up test?

Proper military-style push-up form requires hands placed shoulder-width apart, body forming a straight line from head to heels, and lowering until your chest nearly touches the floor before pushing back up. Partial reps or sagging hips don't count as valid repetitions.

Can I rest during the push-up test?

For this home fitness test, you perform push-ups continuously until exhaustion. You may briefly pause in the up position (arms straight) but should not rest your body on the floor or break proper form. The test measures how many you can do before muscular failure.

Should women use standard or modified push-ups?

Both options are valid. Standard (full-body) push-ups provide a better measure of overall upper body strength. Modified (from knees) push-ups are appropriate for beginners or those building strength. The calculator includes separate norms for each technique to ensure fair comparison.

How often should I retest my push-up count?

Retest every 4-6 weeks to track progress. This interval allows sufficient time for training adaptations while providing regular feedback. Always use the same technique and test conditions for accurate comparison.

What muscles does the push-up test assess?

The push-up test primarily assesses the muscular endurance of your chest (pectoralis major), shoulders (anterior deltoids), and triceps. It also engages your core muscles for stabilization. This makes it an excellent indicator of overall upper body pushing fitness.

How can I improve my push-up test score?

Practice push-ups 3-4 times per week with at least one rest day between sessions. Start where you are and gradually increase repetitions. Include variations like incline push-ups (easier) or decline push-ups (harder) to build strength across different angles.

References

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. (2021). "ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription." 11th Edition. Wolters Kluwer.
  2. Baumgartner, T.A., Jackson, A.S., Mahar, M.T., & Rowe, D.A. (2015). "Measurement for Evaluation in Kinesiology." 9th Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
  3. Golding, L.A. (2000). "YMCA Fitness Testing and Assessment Manual." 4th Edition. Human Kinetics.
  4. Heyward, V.H., & Gibson, A.L. (2014). "Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription." 7th Edition. Human Kinetics.
  5. Ratamess, N.A. (2022). "ACSM's Foundations of Strength Training and Conditioning." 2nd Edition. Wolters Kluwer.
  6. Morrow, J.R., Mood, D., Disch, J., & Kang, M. (2015). "Measurement and Evaluation in Human Performance." 5th Edition. Human Kinetics.
  7. Wood, R.J. (2008). "Fitness Testing Protocols and Normative Data." Topend Sports Research.