Passer Rating Calculator

The NFL passer rating condenses a quarterback's passing line into a single number on a scale that tops out at a mysterious-looking 158.3. It rewards four things: completing passes, throwing for yards, throwing touchdowns, and avoiding interceptions. Each of those four rates is capped so that no single category can dominate, then the four are averaged and scaled. This calculator runs the full official formula for you.

The Four-Component Formula

Each component is computed from a per-attempt rate, then clamped to lie between 0 and 2.375 (values below 0 become 0, values above 2.375 become 2.375).

Because each capped term maxes at 2.375, the maximum sum is 9.5; divided by 6 and multiplied by 100 that gives the famous perfect rating of 158.3.

Worked Example

A quarterback goes 25-of-38 for 310 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT:

• a = (25/38 − 0.30) × 5 = (0.658 − 0.30) × 5 = 1.789
• b = (310/38 − 3) × 0.25 = (8.158 − 3) × 0.25 = 1.289
• c = (3/38) × 20 = 1.579
• d = 2.375 − (1/38) × 25 = 2.375 − 0.658 = 1.717
• Rating = ((1.789 + 1.289 + 1.579 + 1.717) / 6) × 100 = 106.1

Passer Rating Benchmarks

Why the Caps Exist

The 0-to-2.375 clamp on each component is what keeps the rating balanced. Without it, a quarterback who threw one 99-yard touchdown on his only attempt would post an absurd number. The caps mean that once a passer is excellent in a category, piling on more does not keep inflating the score — a quarterback has to be well-rounded across completion rate, yardage, touchdowns, and ball security to approach the 158.3 ceiling.

A Note on the NCAA and QBR

College football uses a different, uncapped passer-efficiency formula that runs on a wider scale, so an NFL rating and an NCAA rating are not interchangeable. ESPN's Total QBR takes a different approach entirely, factoring in rushing, sacks, and game situation. This calculator implements the standard NFL formula only.

What the Formula Ignores

Passer rating measures only what happens on pass attempts. It does not account for sacks, fumbles, rushing yards, or the down-and-distance context of each throw. A mobile quarterback who avoids sacks and gains yards on the ground brings value the rating never sees, which is one reason modern analysis pairs it with EPA-based metrics and Total QBR.

Note: This tool is for educational purposes. It applies the NFL passer rating formula; sacks and rushing are not part of this metric.