Vertical Jump Height Norms by Age, Sex & Sport

Vertical jump height normative data allows athletes, coaches, and trainers to contextualize jump performance — determining whether a score is below average, average, or elite for a given age group, sex, or sport. This article compiles the most widely cited and methodologically sound normative datasets for countermovement jump (CMJ) and standing vertical jump, organized by age, sex, and sport.

All normative data below reflects countermovement jump with arm swing (the most common test variant) unless otherwise noted. Equipment used in the referenced studies includes force plates, timing mats, and validated IMU sensors. Related: Countermovement Jump Test: Complete Protocol & Norms

Male Adults (18–35 years)

Female Adults (18–35 years)

See also: How to Increase Your Jump Height: Science-Based Training Plan

Youth Athletes (Males)

• 10–12 years: Average 25–35 cm; Good: 35–42 cm
• 13–14 years: Average 32–42 cm; Good: 42–52 cm
• 15–16 years: Average 38–50 cm; Good: 50–60 cm
• 17–18 years: Average 44–55 cm; Good: 55–65 cm

Youth Athletes (Females)

• 10–12 years: Average 20–28 cm; Good: 28–35 cm
• 13–14 years: Average 25–33 cm; Good: 33–40 cm
• 15–16 years: Average 28–36 cm; Good: 36–44 cm
• 17–18 years: Average 30–38 cm; Good: 38–47 cm

Masters Athletes (35+ years)

Vertical jump height declines approximately 1–2 cm per decade after age 30 in recreationally active adults. Well-trained masters athletes who maintain plyometric training can slow this decline significantly. Learn more: Vertical Jump Training for Basketball: Dunk Higher in 12 Weeks

• Male, 35–44 years: Average 38–48 cm; Good: 48–58 cm
• Male, 45–54 years: Average 32–42 cm; Good: 42–52 cm
• Female, 35–44 years: Average 26–34 cm; Good: 34–42 cm
• Female, 45–54 years: Average 22–30 cm; Good: 30–38 cm

Basketball

• NBA players: Average CMJ ~72–82 cm (no approach jump)
• NCAA Division I male: 58–72 cm
• NCAA Division I female: 44–56 cm
• Recreational basketball players: 42–58 cm (male), 30–44 cm (female)

Volleyball

• Elite female volleyball players: 48–62 cm
• College female volleyball: 42–55 cm
• Elite male volleyball (professional): 68–82 cm

Soccer

• Male professional: 52–68 cm
• Female professional: 38–52 cm
• Youth soccer (U17 male): 42–56 cm

American Football (NFL Combine)

• All positions average (running jump): 85–102 cm
• Skill positions (WR, CB, S): 90–108 cm
• Linemen: 75–92 cm

Track & Field

• Elite sprinters (100–200m, male): 65–80 cm CMJ
• Elite jumpers (long jump, triple jump): 70–90 cm CMJ
• Middle distance runners: 45–60 cm

Rugby

• Professional male backs: 55–70 cm
• Professional male forwards: 48–62 cm

Ensure Protocol Consistency

Normative data is only valid if measured with the same protocol. The most important factors: (1) CMJ with or without arm swing — most published norms use free arm swing; (2) surface and footwear — springy surfaces inflate scores; (3) measurement device — different devices have different systematic biases. When in doubt, use arm swing and a validated device.

Use the Right Reference Group

Compare yourself to the most specific applicable norm: same sex, same age group, same sport, same competition level. Comparing a 45-year-old recreational athlete to NBA norms is meaningless. Use the general population table as a baseline and sport-specific data when available.

Interpret Trends Over Absolute Values

Your own trend is more informative than any normative comparison. An athlete who has improved from 38 cm to 48 cm in 12 weeks is experiencing excellent development, regardless of where they stand percentile-wise. Use norms for context, not as the primary metric of success.

Methodological Heterogeneity

Different studies use different devices (force plates, timing mats, Vertec, IMU sensors), different protocols (arm swing vs. restricted, different warm-up), and different populations (recreational, collegiate, elite, national). This creates real variation in normative values across published sources — a "good" score in one reference may be "average" in another.

Population Drift Over Time

Athletic populations become more explosive over decades as training methods improve and selection for athletic traits intensifies at elite levels. Norms published in the 1990s for elite athletes are significantly lower than current standards in the same sports. Use recent literature (post-2010 preferred) for current elite comparisons.

Position and Role Specificity

Sport-level norms often aggregate across positions. A basketball point guard and a center have very different jump height profiles — the guard may average 72 cm while the center averages 62 cm. Position-specific data is available in the research literature for major sports and provides more meaningful comparisons. For more on this topic, see Velocity-Based Training for Jump Performance: Meta-Analysis Review.