Vertical Jump Calculator
Enter your vertical jump to see how it compares to average, above-average, very good, and excellent norms by sex and level — with separate context for standing vs. approach (max) vertical.
How you compare
Standing-vertical basis vs. adult norm zones
Standing vertical vs. approach vertical
A standing vertical is jumped from a dead stop — no steps, no run-up — and is the version most gyms, combines, and training programs use as the baseline test because it isolates leg power without a running head start. An approach or "max" vertical allows a step-in or running approach before takeoff, which lets an athlete convert forward momentum into extra height. Because of that extra momentum, approach verticals typically measure noticeably higher than the same athlete's standing vertical — which is why comparing a headline "40-inch vertical" against standing-vertical norms without checking which test was used can be misleading.
How it’s calculated & sources
The number you enter is treated as a standing vertical unless you select "Approach / max," and all benchmark bands below are built on a standing-vertical basis (source: Topend Sports vertical-jump norms). If you select "Approach / max," the calculator instead shows an estimated standing-vertical equivalent (your entry minus a 5–7 inch context range) so the same bands still apply, and displays the approach-specific context separately so nothing is conflated.
Adult norms (Topend Sports vertical-jump norms, standing vertical): Men — average 16–20 in, above average 20–24 in, very good 24–28 in, excellent 28+ in. Women — average 12–16 in, above average 16–20 in, very good 20–24 in, excellent 24+ in.
Level context (Topend Sports test results by sport / OVR Performance benchmarks): high school varsity athletes commonly jump 20–26 in standing; college athletes commonly jump 24–30 in standing.
Pro context (NBA Draft Combine data, NBA.com): the average standing vertical at the NBA Draft Combine is roughly 28 in; the average approach (running) max vertical is roughly 34–36 in. Across 25 years of Combine testing, only about 7.2% of athletes have recorded a 40-inch or higher max vertical, and the Combine record max vertical is 48 in, set by Keon Johnson in 2021.
Results update as you type and are general estimates for context, not a personalized athletic assessment. The 5–7 inch approach-vs-standing gap is a typical range from NBA Combine data, not a fixed conversion for every athlete — jump technique and sport background affect the gap.
Worked example
A male athlete records a 24.0-inch standing vertical. That falls in the "very good" adult band (24–28 in) and is comfortably inside the typical 20–26 in high school varsity range too. Using the approach-vertical context range of roughly 5–7 inches (midpoint 6), the same athlete's running approach jump would be estimated around 30 inches — still shy of the NBA Combine's roughly 28-in standing / 34–36-in approach averages, but a strong number for most amateur levels.
Common mistakes
- Comparing an approach (running) vertical directly against standing-vertical norms without adjusting — the approach number will look artificially elite.
- Taking measurements with a running step-in while trying to test a "standing" vertical, which inflates the result versus true standing-vertical norms.
- Assuming NBA Combine averages apply to non-pro athletes — Combine testers are a tiny, highly selected pool of the most athletic prospects in the world.
- Not accounting for sex differences in the underlying norm tables when comparing two different athletes' results.
Where it is used
- Basketball, volleyball, and general athletic-testing programs benchmarking explosive leg power.
- Combine-style tryouts and strength-and-conditioning progress tracking over a season.
- General fitness context for anyone curious how their jump compares to published norms.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a standing and an approach (max) vertical?
A standing vertical is measured from a dead stop with no steps, while an approach or max vertical allows a running start and step-in before takeoff. The run-up lets an athlete generate more upward momentum, so approach verticals typically measure roughly 5 to 7 inches higher than the same athlete's standing vertical, per NBA Draft Combine data comparing both tests on the same athletes.
Is a 30-inch vertical jump good?
For a standing vertical, 30 inches is well above the general adult "excellent" threshold (28+ inches for men, 24+ for women per Topend Sports norms) and is above the reported NBA Draft Combine standing-vertical average of roughly 28 inches. For an approach/max vertical, 30 inches is closer to a solid college-to-pro-adjacent level rather than an elite NBA-caliber number, since max verticals run several inches higher than standing ones.
How do I measure my vertical jump at home?
The classic method is the wall-and-chalk (or standing-reach) test: chalk your fingertips, reach straight up flat-footed against a wall and mark that height, then jump straight up from a standstill and mark your highest touch. The vertical jump is the distance between the two marks. Keep the takeoff a true standing jump (no steps) if you want a number comparable to standing-vertical norms.
What are the NBA Draft Combine vertical jump numbers?
Per NBA.com Combine data, the average standing vertical at the NBA Draft Combine is roughly 28 inches, while the average approach (running) max vertical is roughly 34 to 36 inches. Hitting a 40-inch max vertical is rare even among elite prospects — only about 7.2% of Combine athletes have done it across 25 years of testing — and the Combine record max vertical is 48 inches, set by Keon Johnson in 2021.
Do vertical jump norms differ by sex?
Yes. Using Topend Sports standing-vertical norms, an average vertical for men is roughly 16 to 20 inches versus roughly 12 to 16 inches for women, with the "excellent" threshold set at 28+ inches for men and 24+ inches for women. The gap reflects average differences in muscle mass and power output between sexes at a population level and doesn't say anything about any individual athlete.