Strength reference table
Grip strength norms table
Right-hand grip strength norms by age and sex, with the Massy-Westropp mean and one standard deviation in kilograms and pounds.
Men
| Age | Below average −1 SD (kg) | Below average −1 SD (lb) | Average mean (kg) | Average mean (lb) | Above average +1 SD (kg) | Above average +1 SD (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 37.5 | 82.7 | 47 | 103.6 | 56.5 | 124.6 |
| 30–39 | 37.3 | 82.2 | 47 | 103.6 | 56.7 | 125 |
| 40–49 | 37.5 | 82.7 | 47 | 103.6 | 56.5 | 124.6 |
| 50–59 | 36.6 | 80.7 | 45 | 99.2 | 53.4 | 117.7 |
| 60–69 | 31.7 | 69.9 | 40 | 88.2 | 48.3 | 106.5 |
| 70–99 | 25.2 | 55.6 | 33 | 72.8 | 40.8 | 89.9 |
Women
| Age | Below average −1 SD (kg) | Below average −1 SD (lb) | Average mean (kg) | Average mean (lb) | Above average +1 SD (kg) | Above average +1 SD (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 23 | 50.7 | 30 | 66.1 | 37 | 81.6 |
| 30–39 | 24.6 | 54.2 | 31 | 68.3 | 37.4 | 82.5 |
| 40–49 | 23.3 | 51.4 | 29 | 63.9 | 34.7 | 76.5 |
| 50–59 | 21.7 | 47.8 | 28 | 61.7 | 34.3 | 75.6 |
| 60–69 | 18.7 | 41.2 | 24 | 52.9 | 29.3 | 64.6 |
| 70–99 | 14.2 | 31.3 | 20 | 44.1 | 25.8 | 56.9 |
How to read grip strength norms
Choose your sex and age band, then compare a right-hand dynamometer reading with the mean. One SD below and above the mean are useful reference points, not diagnostic cutoffs.
The coach can add carries and holds without crowding out the pulling work already in your grid.
Which hand do these grip strength norms use?
They use the right-hand values reported by Massy-Westropp and colleagues, regardless of which hand a participant considered dominant.
Is average grip strength an athletic standard?
No. The mean describes the general adult population in that age-and-sex band. Trained lifters commonly sit above it.