VO2 Max Norms for Men by Age
This is the complete male VO2 max percentile table from The Cooper Institute, ages 20–79. All values are in ml/kg/min, measured via treadmill maximal test with open-circuit spirometry. Compare your score to the column closest to your number.
| Age | 5th | 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 29.0 | 32.1 | 40.1 | 48.0 | 55.2 | 61.8 | 66.3 |
| 30–39 | 27.2 | 30.2 | 35.9 | 42.4 | 49.2 | 56.5 | 59.8 |
| 40–49 | 24.2 | 26.8 | 31.9 | 37.8 | 45.0 | 52.1 | 55.6 |
| 50–59 | 20.9 | 22.8 | 27.1 | 32.6 | 39.7 | 45.6 | 50.7 |
| 60–69 | 17.4 | 19.8 | 23.7 | 28.2 | 34.5 | 40.3 | 43.0 |
| 70–79 | 16.3 | 17.1 | 20.4 | 24.4 | 30.4 | 36.6 | 39.7 |
Values are VO2 max in ml/kg/min. Source: The Cooper Institute (see /methodology/).
Interpretation by decade
Men in their 20s (20–29)
Average (50th) is 48.0 ml/kg/min. Good (75th) is 55.2. Excellent (90th) is 61.8. Full page for men in their 20s →
Men in their 30s (30–39)
Average (50th) is 42.4 ml/kg/min. Good (75th) is 49.2. Excellent (90th) is 56.5. Full page for men in their 30s →
Men in their 40s (40–49)
Average (50th) is 37.8 ml/kg/min. Good (75th) is 45.0. Excellent (90th) is 52.1. Full page for men in their 40s →
Men in their 50s (50–59)
Average (50th) is 32.6 ml/kg/min. Good (75th) is 39.7. Excellent (90th) is 45.6. Full page for men in their 50s →
Men in their 60s (60–69)
Average (50th) is 28.2 ml/kg/min. Good (75th) is 34.5. Excellent (90th) is 40.3. Full page for men in their 60s →
Men in their 70s (70–79)
Average (50th) is 24.4 ml/kg/min. Good (75th) is 30.4. Excellent (90th) is 36.6. Full page for men in their 70s →
Why male VO2 max is higher than female
Across every age bracket, men test 15–20% higher than women on average. The gap reflects three physiological differences: higher hemoglobin concentration (13–18% more oxygen-carrying capacity per deciliter of blood), larger heart size relative to body weight, and higher lean-mass percentage. These are not trainable differences — they are structural.
The implication for interpretation: always compare your VO2 max to same-sex norms. The tables above are for men only; the companion women's page has the parallel data.