Push-Ups
Push-ups measure upper body muscular endurance. Males perform standard push-ups (from toes); females perform modified push-ups (from knees). Both are tested continuously to failure with no time limit. Data are from the CSEP-PATH norms (Payne et al. 2000), the most widely used push-up reference standard, adopted by the ACSM and republished in major fitness textbooks. Read more on Wikipedia
How to Perform This Test
- Equipment
-
- Exercise mat (optional)
- Steps
-
- Males: start in standard position, hands shoulder-width apart, body straight from head to toes, toes on the floor.
- Females: start in modified position, hands shoulder-width apart, body straight from knees to head, knees on the floor.
- Lower the body until the chin touches the mat, keeping the back straight throughout.
- Push back up to full arm extension.
- Repeat continuously to failure with no rest or time limit.
- Scoring
Count the total number of completed repetitions. A rep is only counted if the chin touches the mat and the arms fully extend at the top.
- Notes
Female scores use the modified (knee) position per the CSEP-PATH protocol and cannot be directly compared to male scores.
Data source: Payne et al. (CSEP-PATH) About this study
Push-Ups Norms by Age and Sex (reps)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 20-29 | Male | 8 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 40 |
| Female | 4 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 35 | |
| 30-39 | Male | 5 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 35 |
| Female | 3 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 31 | |
| 40-49 | Male | 4 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 30 |
| Female | 2 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 29 | |
| 50-59 | Male | 3 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 26 |
| Female | 0 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 27 | |
| 60-69 | Male | 2 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 22 |
| Female | 0 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 20 | |
What to expect by age group
Among adults in their 30s, the middle 50% complete 17 to 22 reps for men and 13 to 20 reps for women (women use the modified knee position per CSEP-PATH protocol). Push-up capacity falls substantially with each decade in both sexes, and male and female scores use different protocols so they are not directly comparable. Scores below 17 reps (men) or 13 reps (women) are typically below average for this age group; scores above 22 reps (men) or 20 reps (women) are above average.
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 22 to 29 | 15 to 21 |
| 30-39 | 17 to 22 | 13 to 20 |
| 40-49 | 13 to 17 | 11 to 15 |
| 50-59 | 10 to 13 | 7 to 11 |
| 60-69 | 8 to 11 | 5 to 12 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the push-up test performed?
The full step-by-step protocol is detailed in the 'How to Perform This Test' section above.
Why are modified push-ups used for women?
The CSEP-PATH protocol uses modified (knee) push-ups for women, following the convention established by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. The same standard is used by the ACSM. This reflects average upper body strength differences and allows meaningful comparison within the female population. Female scores should not be directly compared to male scores.
How were the percentiles estimated?
The original CSEP-PATH data provides 5-category ratings (Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Needs Improvement) rather than raw percentile distributions. The percentiles shown here (p5, p25, p50, p75, p95) are estimated from those category boundaries. They are close approximations but may not perfectly match the underlying distribution.
Why are there no norms for ages 70 and above?
No peer-reviewed push-up norms exist for adults aged 70+. The CSEP-PATH protocol covers ages 20-69 only. For older adults, functional fitness assessments such as the Senior Fitness Test (which uses arm curls) are more commonly used to evaluate upper body strength.