Vertical Jump (Cooper)

The vertical jump test measures lower body explosive power by recording the maximum height reached above standing reach. Data are from Physical Fitness Assessments and Norms for Adults and Law Enforcement (Cooper Institute, Dallas TX), part of the six-test Cooper law enforcement fitness battery. Values are in inches as published in the source. Because the source population is law enforcement candidates (likely fitter than the general public), these norms may be higher than population-wide averages. Note: this source is an institutional monograph (not a peer-reviewed journal article) and sample sizes are not publicly disclosed. Female norms are only available up to age 49; the 50+ brackets were not included in the published tables.

How to Perform This Test

Equipment
  • Wall or vertical surface
  • Chalk or marker
  • Measuring tape
Steps
  1. Stand flat-footed next to a wall and reach up as high as possible with one hand; mark this standing reach height.
  2. Without a run-up, jump as high as possible and mark the highest point reached.
  3. The vertical jump score is the difference between the jump height and the standing reach.
  4. Allow 2-3 attempts and record the best result.
Scoring

Record the jump height in inches above standing reach. Higher values indicate greater explosive leg power.

Notes

No run-up or step is permitted. Arms may be used for momentum. The Cooper Institute protocol measures the difference between standing reach and peak jump height.

Data source: Cooper Institute (Law Enforcement) (2007) About this study

Vertical Jump (Cooper) Strength

Vertical Jump (Cooper) Norms by Age and Sex (inches)

Age Sex Percentile
5th 25th 50th 75th 95th
20-29 Male 13.6 18 20.5 23 26.5
Female 11.4 13 15.2 17 18.8
30-39 Male 14.5 17 19.5 21 25
Female 9.1 11 12.5 15 16.9
40-49 Male 11 14 16 18 22
Female 7 8.5 10 12.7 13.5
50-59 Male 9.3 12.2 14 16.5 21
Female - - - - -

What to expect by age group

Typical range (25th to 75th percentile) by age group (inches)
Age MalesFemales
20-29 18 to 2313 to 17
30-39 17 to 2111 to 15
40-49 14 to 188.5 to 12.7
50-59 12.2 to 16.5Not available

Detailed Breakdowns

Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.

Males
20-2930-3940-4950-59
Females
20-2930-3940-49
Age trend (percentiles)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are values in inches rather than centimetres?

The Cooper Institute publishes vertical jump norms in inches. To convert to centimetres, multiply by 2.54. For example, 20 inches equals approximately 50.8 cm.

How does this compare to the general-population vertical jump norms on this site?

The general-population vertical jump pages use CSEP-PATH norms measured in centimetres. The Cooper Institute norms cover a law enforcement population and are measured in inches, so direct comparison requires unit conversion and population context.

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 vertical jump norms for women aged 50 and above. This likely reflects insufficient sample sizes in older female law enforcement cohorts at the time of publication.

Related Metrics

Cooper Law Enforcement Fitness Battery

This metric is part of the Cooper law enforcement fitness battery, a six-test assessment used by US police departments, the FBI, and military branches.