Vertical Jump (Cooper)
Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means
The Cooper vertical jump test records jump-and-reach height above standing reach, in inches. Female norms cover ages 20-49 only; the source publishes no values for older women and gives no reason for the omission. These results are not interchangeable with force-plate jump height. Data are from Physical Fitness Assessments and Norms for Adults and Law Enforcement (Cooper Institute, Dallas TX, 2013). The chart is labelled only as Law Enforcement Studies data; it does not identify one academy, occupation, sampling frame, or sample size. These percentiles are reference norms, not validated job-performance cutoffs. The monograph is an institutional publication rather than a peer-reviewed article.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Wall or vertical surface
- Chalk or marker
- Measuring tape
- Protocol Steps
-
- Stand flat-footed next to a wall and reach up as high as possible with one hand; mark this standing reach height.
- Without a run-up, jump as high as possible and mark the highest point reached.
- Jump from both feet in a stationary stance, using the arms for momentum, and mark the highest point reached.
- Calculate the difference between jump reach and standing reach.
- Complete three trials and record the best result.
- Scoring
Record the best of three trials to the nearest half inch above standing reach.
- Notes
The referenced field protocol uses a stationary two-foot jump with arm action. No run-up is used. Force plates can calculate height by a different method and should not be compared directly with jump-and-reach norms.
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)
Vertical Jump (Cooper) Norms Chart by Age and Sex (inches)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 20-29 | Male | 13.6 | 18.0 | 20.5 | 23.0 | 26.5 |
| Female | 11.4 | 13.0 | 15.2 | 17.0 | 18.8 | |
| 30-39 | Male | 14.5 | 17.0 | 19.5 | 21.0 | 25.0 |
| Female | 9.1 | 11.0 | 12.5 | 15.0 | 16.9 | |
| 40-49 | Male | 11.0 | 14.0 | 16.0 | 18.0 | 22.0 |
| Female | 7.0 | 8.5 | 10.0 | 12.7 | 13.5 | |
| 50-59 | Male | 9.3 | 12.2 | 14.0 | 16.5 | 21.0 |
| Female | - | - | - | - | - | |
What to expect by age group
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 18.0 to 23.0 | 13.0 to 17.0 |
| 30-39 | 17.0 to 21.0 | 11.0 to 15.0 |
| 40-49 | 14.0 to 18.0 | 8.5 to 12.7 |
| 50-59 | 12.2 to 16.5 | Not available |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
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 other vertical-jump page uses a force-plate countermovement jump in a nationally representative Canadian sample. This page uses a jump-and-reach field test from Law Enforcement Studies. Converting inches to centimetres does not remove the method or population differences.
How reliable is the source data?
The Cooper Institute monograph is an institutional publication rather than a peer-reviewed journal article. This chart does not disclose sample counts, recruitment, collection dates, or the individual law-enforcement studies pooled into the table.
Why is female data only available up to age 49?
The source publishes no female vertical-jump values for ages 50 and above and gives no reason. It would be speculation to attribute the omission to a particular sample-size or performance issue.
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.