How Many Push-Ups You Should Be Able to Do at Every Age

Think you’re in decent shape? Here’s a quick, no-equipment-needed way to find out: drop and give yourself 20—or maybe a few more, depending on your age.

The Mayo Clinic recently shared push-up benchmarks as a simple way to gauge your fitness level. While overall health depends on a combination of things—like diet, cardio, and lifestyle habits—your ability to knock out a solid round of push-ups can still be a reliable sign of good physical condition.

Here’s how many push-ups you should be able to do without stopping if you’re in “good” shape:

• 25 years old:
  • Women: 20
  • Men: 28
• 35 years old:
  • Women: 19
  • Men: 21
• 45 years old:
  • Women: 14
  • Men: 16
• 55 years old:
  • Women: 10
  • Men: 12
• 65 years old:
  • Women: 10
  • Men: 10

If those numbers feel high, don’t panic—it’s a benchmark, not a judgment.

And if you’re breezing past them? Congrats, your upper body strength is ahead of the curve.

Push-ups are a classic fitness test for a reason. They measure strength, endurance, and core stability, all without requiring a gym. So the next time you’re wondering how your fitness stacks up, hit the floor and find out—no dumbbells, memberships, or machines required.

And if you’re nowhere near these numbers yet? That’s okay too. Every rep counts, and everyone starts somewhere.