Jumping Power
Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means
Jumping power is the peak mechanical power produced during a countermovement jump, measured in kilowatts. A force plate captures the ground reaction forces throughout the jump and derives power from them, so the figure reflects the push-off rather than how high the jump reached. Data are from the Canadian Health Measures Survey cycle 5, a nationally representative survey covering ages 8 to 69. Power is reported in kilowatts and is not scaled to body size, so these percentiles compare absolute output. The same jump reported as height is on the vertical jump page.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Leonardo Mechanograph Ground Reaction Force Plate (or equivalent force plate with mechanography software)
- Protocol Steps
-
- Perform one or two practice jumps first, to confirm execution and balance.
- Stand upright and still on the force plate.
- On command, perform a single two-leg countermovement jump, jumping as high as possible.
- Arms may swing freely during the jump.
- Both feet must leave and land on the plate together for the trial to count.
- Complete three valid trials, up to a maximum of five attempts.
- Scoring
The force plate samples vertical ground reaction forces at 400 or 800 Hz and the mechanography software derives peak power during the jump, reported in kilowatts. The source study selects the trial in which the participant jumped highest and reports the power from that trial, so the recorded figure is not necessarily the participant's highest power across attempts.
- Notes
Jumping power is an absolute measure and is not normalised for body mass. Results are specific to force-plate mechanography and should not be compared against values from other equipment or from field-based jump tests.
Data source: Hoffmann et al. (CHMS) About this study
Reference population: Canadians aged 8 to 69, nationally representative (Canadian Health Measures Survey cycle 5, 2016-2017)
Jumping Power Norms Chart by Age and Sex (kW)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 8-9 | Male | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| Female | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | |
| 10-11 | Male | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| Female | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 | |
| 12-13 | Male | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.3 |
| Female | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.8 | |
| 14-15 | Male | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 4.1 |
| Female | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.1 | |
| 16-17 | Male | 2.3 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.8 |
| Female | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.2 | |
| 18-19 | Male | 2.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 5.3 |
| Female | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.3 | |
| 20-24 | Male | 2.8 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 5.7 |
| Female | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.2 | |
| 25-29 | Male | 2.8 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 5.6 |
| Female | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.2 | |
| 30-34 | Male | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 5.4 |
| Female | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.2 | |
| 35-39 | Male | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 5.2 |
| Female | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.2 | |
| 40-44 | Male | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Female | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.1 | |
| 45-49 | Male | 2.4 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Female | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.0 | |
| 50-54 | Male | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.5 |
| Female | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.7 | |
| 55-59 | Male | 2.1 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 4.1 |
| Female | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.5 | |
| 60-64 | Male | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.8 |
| Female | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.3 | |
| 65-69 | Male | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 |
| Female | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | |
What to expect by age group
Among adults aged 20 to 24, the middle 50% produce 3.5 to 4.7 kW for men and 1.9 to 2.7 kW for women. Male power peaks at 4.0 kW around ages 20 to 29 and falls to 2.5 kW by 65-69, a drop of about 38%. Female power reaches 2.3 kW in the late teens, holds within 0.1 kW of that level through the early 40s, then declines to 1.7 kW by 65-69.
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 8-9 | 1.1 to 1.4 | 1.1 to 1.4 |
| 10-11 | 1.4 to 1.9 | 1.4 to 1.9 |
| 12-13 | 1.9 to 2.6 | 1.6 to 2.2 |
| 14-15 | 2.5 to 3.4 | 1.9 to 2.5 |
| 16-17 | 2.9 to 3.9 | 1.9 to 2.6 |
| 18-19 | 3.2 to 4.3 | 1.9 to 2.7 |
| 20-24 | 3.5 to 4.7 | 1.9 to 2.7 |
| 25-29 | 3.5 to 4.7 | 1.9 to 2.7 |
| 30-34 | 3.4 to 4.6 | 1.9 to 2.6 |
| 35-39 | 3.3 to 4.3 | 1.9 to 2.6 |
| 40-44 | 3.2 to 4.2 | 1.9 to 2.5 |
| 45-49 | 3.0 to 4.0 | 1.9 to 2.4 |
| 50-54 | 2.8 to 3.8 | 1.8 to 2.3 |
| 55-59 | 2.7 to 3.5 | 1.6 to 2.2 |
| 60-64 | 2.4 to 3.2 | 1.6 to 1.9 |
| 65-69 | 2.2 to 2.9 | 1.4 to 1.9 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between jumping power and vertical jump height?
Both come from the same countermovement jump on the same force plate. Jump height is derived from the same ground reaction forces and reports how high the body travelled. Jumping power is calculated from the ground reaction forces produced during the push-off and reports the rate of mechanical work, in kilowatts. Neither is scaled to body size, and the two rank people differently: the male-female gap at ages 20 to 24 is about 74% on power and 55% on height. See vertical jump norms for the height version of this test.
How does jumping power compare between men and women?
At ages 20 to 24 the male median is 4.0 kW against 2.3 kW for women, a gap of about 74%. The same participants show a 55% gap on jump height. Jumping power is reported in kilowatts and the source study does not scale it to body size, so these percentiles compare absolute output rather than output per kilogram.
Why are the P25 and P75 values approximate?
Table 5 of the source study reports percentiles at P5, P10, P20, P30, P40, P50, P60, P70, P80, P90 and P95, but not P25 or P75. We estimate each as the arithmetic midpoint of the two published percentiles that bracket it: P25 from P20 and P30, and P75 from P70 and P80. These are FitnessNorms estimates, not values printed in the article.
Why is female jumping power almost flat between the late teens and the early 40s?
Female median power reaches 2.3 kW at ages 18 to 19 and stays within 0.1 kW of that figure through age 44 before declining to 1.7 kW by 65-69. Male median power peaks at the same age and then falls steadily, losing about 38% from its peak over the same span.
What is the protocol for this test?
The full step-by-step protocol is detailed in the 'How to Perform This Test (Protocol)' section above.
Can I compare a result from different equipment to these norms?
These values were produced on a Leonardo Mechanograph force plate. The study authors state these norms should be compared only with data generated on that same force plate, given known systematic biases in jumping height data against field-based protocols such as the Vertec, and they add that protocol differences matter even between studies using the same plate. Jump-and-reach field tests do not measure power at all and cannot be converted.