Average Vertical Jump by Age and Level
"Is my vertical good?" depends on your age, training, and level. Here are realistic benchmarks, plus how to measure your own number the right way.
Vertical jump benchmarks
- Recreational adult: 16–20 inches.
- Competitive high school: 22–26 inches.
- College athlete: 26–30 inches.
- Average NBA player: around 28 inches.
- Elite NBA leapers: 38–46 inches.
How vertical changes with age
Vertical climbs fastest through the teenage years, when strength, coordination, and body control develop together. A younger player's number will sit well below the adult benchmarks and that is completely normal — the trajectory matters more than the raw figure. Training accelerates the curve at any age.
How to measure your vertical
Vertical jump equals your maximum one-hand jump-touch minus your standing reach:
- Stand flat-footed against a wall, reach up, and mark your standing reach.
- From a standstill (or with an approach for max), jump and touch as high as you can.
- The difference between the two marks is your vertical.
The Vertical Jump Calculator does the math and rates you against these benchmarks, plus tells you how far you are from dunking.
Want more inches?
Vertical responds well to training at almost any age. See how to increase your vertical jump for the strength and plyometric work that adds the most height.
What is a good vertical jump?
For a recreational adult, 16 to 20 inches is average and 24-plus inches is good. Competitive high-school players often reach the low-to-mid 20s, and college athletes 26 to 30 inches.
What is the average vertical jump for a teenager?
It rises quickly through the teens as strength develops. Many untrained teens sit in the mid-teens of inches, while trained high-school athletes reach the low-to-mid 20s.
What is the average NBA vertical jump?
Around 28 inches for a standing vertical, with elite leapers reaching the high 30s to mid 40s.