Push-Ups (1-Min, Cooper)

The Cooper 1-minute push-up test measures upper-body muscular endurance by counting the maximum number of push-ups completed in 60 seconds. This differs from the standard push-up test in that it uses a timed 1-minute format rather than repetitions to fatigue. Female norms cover ages 20-49 only. Data are from Physical Fitness Assessments and Norms for Adults and Law Enforcement (Cooper Institute, Dallas TX, 2013); the chart is labelled as drawn from Cooper Institute data (Cooper Clinic patients, self-selected for preventive-health assessment), so norms skew higher than population-wide averages. This source is an institutional monograph (not peer-reviewed) and sample sizes are not publicly disclosed. See the Cooper Test hub for cluster-wide source caveats.

How to Perform This Test (Protocol)

Equipment

Exercise mat or flat surface
Stopwatch

Protocol Steps

Begin in a standard push-up position with hands shoulder-width apart and body in a straight line.
Lower your chest to within 3 inches of the floor.
Push back up to the starting position with arms fully extended.
Repeat as many times as possible within 60 seconds.
Do not rest in the down position; brief rest in the up position is permitted.

Scoring

Count the total number of complete push-ups performed in 60 seconds.

Notes

The Cooper Institute protocol uses standard (full) push-ups for males. Females may use the modified knee push-up position. This timed format differs from the standard push-ups-to-fatigue test.

Data source: Cooper Institute (2013 Monograph) (2013) About this study

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
20-29	Female	6.0	11.0	18.0	27.0	42.0
30-39	Male	9.0	19.0	27.0	36.0	52.0
30-39	Female	4.0	9.0	14.0	19.0	39.5
40-49	Male	5.0	13.0	21.0	29.0	40.0
40-49	Female	1.0	7.0	11.0	15.0	20.0
50-59	Male	3.0	9.5	15.0	24.0	39.0
50-59	Female	-	-	-	-	-
60+	Male	2.0	7.0	15.0	22.0	28.0
60+	Female	-	-	-	-	-

What to expect by age group

Typical range (25th to 75th percentile) by age group (reps)
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.

Males

20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+

Females

20-29 30-39 40-49

Age trend (percentiles)

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?

This chart is drawn from Cooper Clinic patients — a self-selected population that opts into preventive-health assessment and is typically more physically fit than the general adult population. These norms should be treated as performance benchmarks for health-conscious adults rather than population-representative percentiles.

How reliable is the source data?

The Cooper Institute monograph is the industry standard for law enforcement fitness assessments and is widely cited in peer-reviewed research. However, it is an institutional publication (not a peer-reviewed journal article) and sample sizes are not publicly disclosed.

Why is female data only available up to age 49?

The Cooper Institute tables do not include push-up norms for women aged 50 and above. This likely reflects insufficient sample sizes in the older female Cooper Clinic cohort at the time of publication.

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.