Home > Fitness Testing > Tests > Aerobic Endurance > Maximum Oxygen Consumption > norms
VO2max is a measure of a person's aerobic fitness (see more on Measuring VO2max). The table below categorizes VO2max scores for adult men and womenof various ages.
These are relative VO2max scores, in the unitsof mls of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml.kg-1.min-1).
Maximal oxygen uptake norms for men (ml/kg/min)
| Age (years) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rating | 18-25 | 26-35 | 36-45 | 46-55 | 56-65 | 65+ |
| excellent | > 60 | > 56 | > 51 | > 45 | > 41 | > 37 |
| good | 52-60 | 49-56 | 43-51 | 39-45 | 36-41 | 33-37 |
| above average | 47-51 | 43-48 | 39-42 | 36-38 | 32-35 | 29-32 |
| average | 42-46 | 40-42 | 35-38 | 32-35 | 30-31 | 26-28 |
| below average | 37-41 | 35-39 | 31-34 | 29-31 | 26-29 | 22-25 |
| poor | 30-36 | 30-34 | 26-30 | 25-28 | 22-25 | 20-21 |
| very poor | < 30 | < 30 | < 26 | < 25 | < 22 | < 20 |
Maximal oxygen uptake norms for women (ml/kg/min)
| Age (years) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rating | 18-25 | 26-35 | 36-45 | 46-55 | 56-65 | 65+ |
| excellent | > 56 | > 52 | > 45 | > 40 | > 37 | > 32 |
| good | 47-56 | 45-52 | 38-45 | 34-40 | 32-37 | 28-32 |
| above average | 42-46 | 39-44 | 34-37 | 31-33 | 28-31 | 25-27 |
| average | 38-41 | 35-38 | 31-33 | 28-30 | 25-27 | 22-24 |
| below average | 33-37 | 31-34 | 27-30 | 25-27 | 22-24 | 19-21 |
| poor | 28-32 | 26-30 | 22-26 | 20-24 | 18-21 | 17-18 |
| very poor | < 28 | < 26 | < 22 | < 20 | < 18 | < 17 |
source: these norms have been derived from several and now unknown sources.
Related Pages
- Measuring VO2max
- VO2max test scores from different sports.
- VO2max test world records
- Formula for estimating VO2
- Calculating VO2max from stepping exercise. Also calculating VO2max from beep test scores.
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Old Comments
Commenting is closed on this page, though you can read some previous comments below which may answer some of your questions.
- I have Vo2max of 57, but can't run 10k below 42 minutes or a marathon below 3,50. That sux after hard years of training. Spartacus111 (2020)
- Age can be a factor, perhaps you need to look at lactate threshold, and train in that Lactate threshold zone to improve speed. Also, while VO2 is one element of your running as well as things like LT, check you running gait, can you increase your stride by improving hamstring flexibility without disrupting your cadence? check your weight, loose a few kg's (fatty pudgy bits and not vital muscle) and that will be less that you carry over the distance and that will improve your running economy. Also....train for the speed! build it in dont rush...you have time. Arshad Ebrahim Hoosen
- i know for ex i ran a sub 155 half mar but only a 447 mar so these don't always work 4 every race. Joe Cima Spartacus111 (2020)
- JFRA24 Spartacus111 (2020)
What is your age? What do you think is holding you back?
- JFRA24 Spartacus111 (2020)
- Sheri (2020)
My V02Max is 39-40 and I'm a 54 yr old woman. What should it be? Is my numbers good?- VIII | Zanafer MsTakin (2020)
Elite senior level I'd say
- VIII | Zanafer MsTakin (2020)
- Paul Cummins (2020)
I've been looking all over the internet for examples of what running times athletes have achieved and their respective Vo2 Max (lab tested). Just interested to see what kind of "ceilings" people have encountered so I have a bit of a guage. - Dean Power (2020)
I'm 33 and vo2 max last tested early this year was 65 - Paul Cummins Dean Power (2020)
What are your running personal bests (background, too, if you think it's important to mention). I ask because I'm not far off the same as you. - Naveen Kumar N (2020)
My VO2 max is 47.38 and my age is 45
How good is it - Tony James (2020)
My sports watch says I have a VO2max of 54 and I am 57 years old. When I was younger I was told I had a similar level of fitness to a professional footballer but I am not as fit now as I was then. - Ben (2020)
i have a max of around 67, but im 14. i would like to know the average for someone in my age group. thx - Michael Taylor ben (2020)
Hey Ben, a VO2max of 67 would indicate superior aerobic capacity. A value at the 50th percentile for a male at 14 years old is around 42.5. - Spikedirt (2020)
apple watch/apple health app combo incicate a VO2 max in the mid forties. Anyone have an idea of how accurate that apple combo is? - Zou Kevin spikedirt (2020)
That's not accurate at all. You have to go to a lab to get tested or buy the VO2 Tester from simply wearable which is 6,500 Cad - James Lucas spikedirt (2020)
I had an exercise assessment conducted (treadmill) at a cardiologists office and recorded a score of 55. My Apple Watch recorded 48. For my age (46) I'll take either of those numbers... - Varad Apte (2018)
what is procedure to specify norms for specific sports? - Vishnu Udhan (2018)
Can anyone would please help me to have rating or grading of VO2 max. please quote the reference as well. - Nancy Saral (2018)
is these value is the reference value - çiğdem (2016)
What are the values of Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 Max) for boys aged 8-10 years old? - Christian Miles çiğdem (2016)
This study looks at 8yo football players physiological responses, average VO2max is at 56. Bunc, V., & Psotta, R. (2001). Physiological profile of very young soccer players. Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 41(3), 337. - Maria Martin Faires, RD (2016)
These norms are found in American Council Exercise Personal Trainer Manual 2nd Edition pages 176 and 177. The source cited says "adapted from Golding, et al (1986). The Y's Way to Physical Exercise. (3rd edition) - Reide (2015)
Schwartz W, Reibold RC. Aviat Space Environ Med 1990; 61; 3–11? - The Meatless Marathoner (2015)
What scale are these norms based on? Is it Cooper, Daniels, or...? - Ed oddson The Meatless Marathoner (2017)
i WOULD GUESS COOPER USED SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR HIS RUN TESTING, as he gave a score of excellent to all who did 1.75 miles per 12 minutes. which is almost exactly 52 VOM. Also the heart rate formula doesn't work for me, for one, unless I am a lot fitter than probable. - Arth1 (2018)
These numbers seem awfully low. I am not particularly fit, I think. I'm in my mid-50s and have a VO2 max of 46 according to a treadmill test (where I didn't even get much above walking speed), which this calls "excellent". I beg to differ. - Santiago Vázquez arth1 (2018)
You should take the values from a sport watch with heart rate belt. - Mirabella arth1 (2019)
These are VO2max tested in a proper lab and measure your Oxygen and Co2 via a mask
Treadmill tests at the gym place too much emphasis on your BMI and can be very inaccurate.
