Push-Ups (1-Min, Cooper)
Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means
The Cooper 1-minute full-body push-up test records correctly completed repetitions in 60 seconds. Both sexes use the full-body position. Female norms cover ages 20-49 only; the source publishes no older female rows and gives no reason for the omission. The male and female tables in Physical Fitness Assessments and Norms for Adults and Law Enforcement (Cooper Institute, 2013) come from different populations. Male norms are based on 2,397 members of an employee wellness program. Female norms are based on more than 1,000 female US Army soldiers tested in the 1990s. Neither table represents Cooper Clinic patients or a probability sample of US adults. The monograph is an institutional publication rather than a peer-reviewed article.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Flat floor or mat
- Stopwatch
- Administrator's fist or 3-inch sponge as a depth target
- Protocol Steps
-
- Begin in the up position with hands slightly wider than shoulder width, fingers forward, palms down, elbows extended, and a straight body line to the toes.
- Lower until the chest touches the depth target or the elbows reach 90 degrees.
- Return to full elbow extension while keeping the back straight.
- Repeat for 60 seconds; rest only in the up position.
- Keep both hands and toes in contact with the floor throughout the test.
- Scoring
Count the total number of complete push-ups performed in 60 seconds.
- Notes
The published female norms are explicitly for full-body push-ups. A modified knee push-up is a different test and must not be compared with this table. Knuckle and fingertip push-ups are not permitted in the referenced Cooper-derived administration directions.
Data source: Cooper Institute (2013 Monograph) About this study
Reference population: Mixed by table: Cooper Clinic patients (including sit-ups, bench press, and 1.5-mile run), employee wellness-program members (male push-ups), female US Army soldiers tested in the 1990s (female full-body push-ups), and unspecified Law Enforcement Studies data (vertical jump and 300m run)
Push-Ups (1-Min, Cooper) Norms Chart by Age and Sex (reps)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 20-29 | Male | 13.0 | 24.0 | 33.0 | 44.0 | 62.0 |
| Female | 6.0 | 11.0 | 18.0 | 27.0 | 42.0 | |
| 30-39 | Male | 9.0 | 19.0 | 27.0 | 36.0 | 52.0 |
| Female | 4.0 | 9.0 | 14.0 | 19.0 | 39.5 | |
| 40-49 | Male | 5.0 | 13.0 | 21.0 | 29.0 | 40.0 |
| Female | 1.0 | 7.0 | 11.0 | 15.0 | 20.0 | |
| 50-59 | Male | 3.0 | 9.5 | 15.0 | 24.0 | 39.0 |
| Female | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 60+ | Male | 2.0 | 7.0 | 15.0 | 22.0 | 28.0 |
| Female | - | - | - | - | - | |
What to expect by age group
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 24.0 to 44.0 | 11.0 to 27.0 |
| 30-39 | 19.0 to 36.0 | 9.0 to 19.0 |
| 40-49 | 13.0 to 29.0 | 7.0 to 15.0 |
| 50-59 | 9.5 to 24.0 | Not available |
| 60+ | 7.0 to 22.0 | Not available |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this differ from the standard push-up test?
The Cooper Institute version counts push-ups completed within 60 seconds, whereas many fitness standards (such as the CSEP-PATH protocol) count maximum push-ups without a time limit. Scores from the two formats are not directly comparable.
Why are these norms higher than other push-up tables I have seen?
The table is not one general-population cohort. Male norms come from 2,397 employee wellness-program members; female norms come from more than 1,000 female US Army soldiers tested in the 1990s. Population, era, and selection therefore all limit comparisons.
How reliable is the source data?
The source is an institutional monograph rather than a peer-reviewed journal article. It reports an exact male sample of 2,397 and only a lower bound of more than 1,000 women. The two sexes come from different source populations.
Why is female data only available up to age 49?
The source publishes no full-body push-up norms for women aged 50 and above and gives no reason. The female cohort was US Army soldiers rather than Cooper Clinic patients, so attributing the omission to an older clinic sample would be incorrect.
Related Metrics
Cooper Institute Fitness Norms
This test is one of about ten norm charts in the Cooper Institute's 2013 monograph. Law enforcement academies pick five to six of these tests to build their own field batteries.
- Vertical Jump (Cooper)
- Bench Press Ratio (Cooper DVR)
- Sit-Ups (1-Min, Cooper)
- 300m Run (Cooper)
- Push-Ups (1-Min, Cooper)
- 1.5-Mile Run (Cooper)