How many push-ups is average?
See push-up standards by age and sex — try the percentile calculator on this page, then save your history with a free account.
By Aziz Mezlini, PhD · Founder & Scientist, Carthalis · Updated 2026-05-25
Wellness education, not diagnosis · Not for emergencies
What this benchmark actually measures
Push-up standards refer to how many consecutive push-ups you can perform with proper form compared with age- and sex-matched peers on general-population charts — educational fitness context, not a medical assessment.
Unlike elite-athlete tables that can feel out of reach, Carthalis calibrates push-up benchmarks for everyday people. Whether you are asking how many push ups is average, exploring average push ups by age and sex, or wondering what is a good number of pushups for your demographic, these standards help you see where you rank and set realistic next steps.
Upper-body fitness
Push-ups are a practical indicator of upper-body strength and endurance you can test anywhere.
No equipment needed
Bodyweight standards make push-up benchmarks accessible for everyday lifters, not just gym regulars.
Progress tracking
Retest every few weeks to see whether your percentile moves as your reps improve.
Estimate your percentile
Try the push-up percentile calculator on this page — enter your sex and consecutive rep count to see how many push-ups is average for your demographic and where you rank on push-up standards.
Find your push-up percentile
Enter your sex and consecutive push-up count (strict full-range form). We rank you against published endurance anchors and the Carthalis fitness engine.
Your inputs
Your result
Fill in your inputs to see your personalised result here. The calculator runs entirely on this page — no signup required to try.
Wellness education, not medical or sports-medicine advice. Use strict push-up form (rigid plank, chest to fist height). Knee push-ups are a valid regression but score on a different chart.
Save your percentile, track push-up progress over time, and unlock the rest of the Fitness workspace with a free account.
Save your result with a free accountAlso compare bench, squat, and deadlift percentiles
Find your strength percentile
Pick a lift, enter your 1-rep max and bodyweight. We rank you against StrengthLevel population anchors and, if you want, lift that to the general population using CDC NHIS 2020 training rates.
Your inputs
Your result
Fill in your inputs to see your personalised result here. The calculator runs entirely on this page — no signup required to try.
Wellness education, not medical or sports-medicine advice. Use safe form and a spotter for heavy 1RM testing.
Create a free account to save your percentile history, track 1RM trends, and unlock your full Fitness workspace.
Save your result with a free accountCreate a free account to save your percentile history, track lifts over time, and unlock your full Fitness workspace.
Wellness education, not diagnosis.
Average push-ups by age and sex
Push-up standards vary by age and sex. The bands below are quick reference ranges for consecutive push-ups with proper form — use the on-page calculator for your exact push up percentile.
Men
Consecutive push-ups with proper form
- Beginner
- 5–10
- Intermediate
- 15–25
- Advanced
- 30–40
- Elite
- 50+
Women
Consecutive push-ups with proper form
- Beginner
- 3–8
- Intermediate
- 10–20
- Advanced
- 25–35
- Elite
- 40+
Example: A 25-year-old man who can do 25 strict push-ups might rank around the 70th percentile for his age group, while a woman of the same age doing 15 push-ups could rank near the 75th percentile. Age and sex change the comparison — that is why average pushups by age tables matter more than a single number.
How the methodology works
The Carthalis push-up percentile calculator matches your rep count to the STRENGTH_PERCENTILES reference table through the backend percentile_engine. The goal is general-population context for everyday people — not elite-athlete-only charts and not clinical assessment.
Match your profile
Enter age and sex so push-up standards compare you to peers in the same demographic band.
Count strict reps
Use consecutive push-ups with full range of motion and a rigid plank — the same form population charts assume.
Look up your rank
Your rep count is matched against the STRENGTH_PERCENTILES reference table via the backend percentile_engine.
Save and track over time
Create a free account to save percentile history, track reps, and unlock your full Fitness workspace and Twin strength scores.
Percentile bands follow the same educational framing as other strength guides: beginner (roughly 0–25th percentile), intermediate (25–75th), advanced (75–90th), and elite (90–99th) relative to your demographic — wellness education only.
Where to go next (save + track)
Many people retest push-up count every two to four weeks to track progress. Consistent form — full range of motion and a rigid plank — matters more than maxing out every week.
Create a free account to save your push-up percentile history, log reps over time, and unlock your full Fitness workspace.
Explore Digital Twin strength scores for a fuller picture of upper-body and overall fitness trends after signup.
Wellness education, not diagnosis
Wellness education, not diagnosis.
Not for emergencies — call your local emergency line.
Carthalis is not a medical device.
Push-up comparisons are general guidance — consult a coach for individualized programming.
Read our full trust commitment on Trust & Safety.
Common questions
Save your push-up percentile history
Create a free account to save your percentile history, track lifts over time, and unlock your full Fitness workspace.