Average Push-Ups by Age: How Many Should You Be Able to Do?

Push-ups are a fundamental bodyweight exercise that tests upper body strength, endurance, and overall fitness. But how many push-ups should you be able to do based on your age? Fitness experts have established general benchmarks that can help assess whether you’re on track with your strength and endurance levels.

Average Push-Ups by Age

The number of push-ups a person should be able to do varies depending on factors like age, gender, and fitness level. Here’s a breakdown of the average push-ups by age group based on fitness studies:

Men’s Push-Up Standards

• Ages 20-29: 22-28 push-ups (average) | 40+ (excellent)
• Ages 30-39: 17-22 push-ups (average) | 35+ (excellent)
• Ages 40-49: 13-18 push-ups (average) | 28+ (excellent)
• Ages 50-59: 10-15 push-ups (average) | 22+ (excellent)
• Ages 60+: 7-12 push-ups (average) | 18+ (excellent)

Women’s Push-Up Standards

• Ages 20-29: 15-20 push-ups (average) | 30+ (excellent)
• Ages 30-39: 12-17 push-ups (average) | 25+ (excellent)
• Ages 40-49: 8-12 push-ups (average) | 20+ (excellent)
• Ages 50-59: 6-10 push-ups (average) | 15+ (excellent)
• Ages 60+: 3-8 push-ups (average) | 12+ (excellent)

Why Push-Ups Matter for Your Fitness

Push-ups engage multiple muscle groups, including the chest, shoulders, triceps, and core. They are a great indicator of overall fitness and can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to research, individuals who can perform a higher number of push-ups tend to have better heart health and a lower risk of certain diseases.

How to Improve Your Push-Up Count

If you want to increase your push-up numbers, consider these tips:

1. Practice Consistently – Aim to do push-ups every day or include them in your workout routine.
2. Strengthen Supporting Muscles – Work on chest, shoulders, triceps, and core muscles with weight training.
3. Perfect Your Form – Maintain a straight body, engage your core, and lower yourself until your elbows reach a 90-degree angle.
4. Use Progressions – If standard push-ups are too challenging, start with knee push-ups or incline push-ups.
5. Increase Reps Gradually – Add one or two push-ups per session to build endurance over time.

Conclusion

Understanding the average push-ups by age can help you gauge your fitness level and set goals for improvement. Whether you are meeting the benchmarks or looking to enhance your endurance, push-ups remain one of the best exercises for building upper body strength. Stay consistent, track your progress, and challenge yourself to reach new fitness milestones!