Vertical Jump Calculator

Measure jump height from reach values with MiniWebtool’s Vertical Jump Calculator. Standing and jumping reach, or a direct height input, support performance comparisons and formula-based power estimates when body weight is included.

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Help me understand MiniWebtool's Vertical Jump Calculator: https://miniwebtool.com/vertical-jump-calculator/. What can I use it for, what inputs or settings do I need, and how do I use it and understand the output? Walk me through one simple example. Use this page as your source and answer in English.

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Vertical Jump CalculatorTry it now — free ▼

Vertical jump = jump reach − standing reach = 120 − 96 = 24.0 in

Enter your standing reach and jump reach below (add body weight for power) to get your vertical jump with its rating and power estimate.

⚡ Quick Examples

Gender

Input Mode

📏 Measure your standing reach (arm up, flat-footed) and your maximum jump reach (highest point touched).

Standing Reach

Jump Reach

Measurement Unit

Body Weight Optional (for power calculation)

lbs

Weight Unit

Embed Vertical Jump Calculator Widget

Video Guide: Vertical Jump Calculator

Video guide with full transcript

About Vertical Jump Calculator

What Is a Vertical Jump Test?

The vertical jump test (also called the Sargent Jump Test) is one of the most widely used assessments of lower-body explosive power in sports science. It measures the difference between an athlete's standing reach height and the maximum height they can touch during a jump. This simple test has been a staple of athletic evaluations since the early 1920s and remains a key metric at the NFL Combine, NBA Draft Combine, and college athletic programs worldwide.

Vertical jump height is a direct indicator of your ability to produce force quickly — a quality essential in sports like basketball, volleyball, football, track and field, and martial arts. It reflects the combined power of your quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, and calves working in an explosive triple extension (ankle, knee, and hip).

At a Glance

Vertical Jump Calculator works out vertical jump height from standing reach and jump reach, or from a direct height. It rates the jump against norms for males and females and estimates peak power when body weight is given.

Vertical Jump Calculator: features at a glance
Feature	What you get	Good for
Two input modes	Enter standing reach and jump reach, or type a vertical jump height directly. Choose male or female.	Reach tests with a wall or a Vertec, or a known jump height
Units	Measure in inches or centimeters and body weight in pounds or kilograms.	Athletes using either system
Performance rating	Rates the jump from Poor to Excellent using separate male and female height tables; for males, 28 inches or more is Excellent.	Seeing where a jump falls on common standards
Percentile ranking	An animated visualization shows a percentile ranking for your jump.	Comparing yourself with other people of your sex
Peak power	Estimates peak power in watts with the Lewis, Harman and Sayers formulas when body weight is entered.	Comparing lower-body power between athletes
Sport benchmarks	Compares your jump with benchmarks for sports such as basketball, volleyball and football.	Players checking their jump against their sport
Presets	Athletic Male, Average Male and Athletic Female buttons fill the form with sample values.	Seeing example results before measuring yourself

How to Measure Your Vertical Jump

Wall-and-Chalk Method (Most Accessible)

Standing Reach: Stand flat-footed next to a wall with your dominant arm extended overhead. Mark the highest point you can touch with chalk or tape. This is your standing reach.
Jump Reach: From a standing position (no running start), jump as high as possible and touch the wall at your peak. Mark this point.
Calculate: Measure the difference between the two marks. This is your vertical jump height.

Vertec Device

A Vertec is the standard tool used at professional combines. It has adjustable plastic vanes that you swat at the peak of your jump. The device directly measures the difference between your standing reach and jump reach.

Jump Mat / Force Plate

Electronic jump mats calculate vertical jump from flight time. Force plates provide even more data, including takeoff velocity, rate of force development, and landing impact.

Power Output Formulas

This calculator estimates your peak anaerobic power using three validated formulas. Power output is a key performance indicator because it reflects how quickly you can produce force — critical for sprinting, jumping, and changing direction.

Lewis (Fox-Mathews) Formula

$$\text{Peak Power (W)} = \sqrt{4.9} \times \text{body mass (kg)} \times \sqrt{\text{jump height (m)}} \times 9.81$$

The Lewis formula provides a quick estimate of peak anaerobic power. It is widely used due to its simplicity but may slightly underestimate power compared to more modern equations.

Harman et al. Formula

Peak Power (W) = 61.9 × jump height (cm) + 36.0 × body mass (kg) + 1822

Developed by Harman et al. (1991), this regression equation was derived from force plate data and tends to provide slightly higher estimates than the Lewis formula.

Sayers et al. Formula

Peak Power (W) = 60.7 × jump height (cm) + 45.3 × body mass (kg) − 2055

The Sayers equation (1999) is the most commonly cited formula in modern sports science research and is considered the most accurate predictor of peak power from vertical jump data.

Vertical Jump Norms

Male Vertical Jump Standards

Vertical Jump Calculator: Male Vertical Jump Standards
Rating	Jump Height (inches)	Jump Height (cm)
Excellent	≥ 28	≥ 71
Very Good	24 – 27.9	61 – 70.9
Above Average	20 – 23.9	51 – 60.9
Average	16 – 19.9	41 – 50.9
Below Average	12 – 15.9	30.5 – 40.9
Poor	< 12	< 30.5

Female Vertical Jump Standards

Vertical Jump Calculator: Female Vertical Jump Standards
Rating	Jump Height (inches)	Jump Height (cm)
Excellent	≥ 24	≥ 61
Very Good	20 – 23.9	51 – 60.9
Above Average	16 – 19.9	41 – 50.9
Average	12 – 15.9	30.5 – 40.9
Below Average	8 – 11.9	20 – 30.4
Poor	< 8	< 20

How to Increase Your Vertical Jump

Improving your vertical jump requires a combination of strength training, plyometric exercises, and technique refinement. Here is a proven approach:

Build Leg Strength: Focus on squats (back squat, front squat), deadlifts, and lunges. Aim to squat at least 1.5× your bodyweight before emphasizing plyometrics.
Plyometric Training: Box jumps, depth jumps, tuck jumps, and bounding drills develop the stretch-shortening cycle that powers explosive jumps.
Olympic Lifts: Power cleans, hang cleans, and snatches develop rate of force development — how quickly you can produce maximum force.
Technique: Practice arm swing timing, hip hinge depth, and takeoff angle. Proper arm drive alone can add 1-2 inches.
Flexibility: Hip flexor and ankle mobility directly affect jump mechanics. Tight hip flexors limit hip extension power.
Recovery: Allow 48-72 hours between plyometric sessions. Quality over quantity — 3 sets of 5 depth jumps beats 10 sets of sloppy jumps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good vertical jump height?

For adult males, the average vertical jump is about 16-20 inches (40-50 cm). A jump of 24 inches or more is considered very good, and 28+ inches is excellent, on par with many college athletes. For adult females, the average is 12-16 inches, with 20+ inches being very good and 24+ inches considered excellent.

How do you measure vertical jump height?

The most common method is the reach test: Stand flat-footed next to a wall and reach up as high as you can to mark your standing reach. Then jump as high as possible and touch the wall at the peak. The difference between your jump reach and standing reach is your vertical jump height. You can also use a Vertec device or a jump mat for more precise measurements.

How can I increase my vertical jump?

To increase your vertical jump, combine strength training (squats, deadlifts, lunges) with plyometric exercises (box jumps, depth jumps, tuck jumps). Train 2-3 times per week with adequate recovery. Most athletes see 2-4 inch improvements within 8-12 weeks. Also focus on flexibility, core strength, and proper jumping technique.

What is the Lewis formula for power output?

The Lewis (Fox-Mathews) formula estimates peak anaerobic power from a vertical jump: Power (W) = sqrt(4.9) × body mass (kg) × sqrt(jump height in meters) × 9.81. It is commonly used in sports science to assess an athlete's lower-body explosive power without specialized equipment.

What vertical jump do you need for the NBA?

The average vertical jump at the NBA Draft Combine is around 28 inches for the standing vertical and 34-35 inches for the max (running) vertical. Top performers can exceed 40 inches. However, there is no official minimum requirement; basketball skills, height, and overall athleticism are equally important.

Reference this content, page, or tool as:

"Vertical Jump Calculator" at https://MiniWebtool.com/vertical-jump-calculator/ from MiniWebtool, https://MiniWebtool.com/

by miniwebtool team. Updated: 2026-03-04

Developer API available: Run this tool from your app, automation, or agent with one JSON HTTP request. View API docs

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