Vertical Jump Calculator

Your vertical jump is one of the purest tests of lower-body explosive power, which is why it features in the NFL Scouting Combine, basketball workouts, and volleyball recruiting. This calculator estimates your vertical two ways — from the time you spend in the air (hang time) or from the difference between your jump reach and your standing reach — and can also estimate the peak power your legs generate using the Sayers equation.

Method 1: Hang Time (Air Time)

When you leave the ground, you are a projectile under gravity. The time in the air determines how high you went, by the kinematic relationship:

where g = 9.81 m/s² and t is total hang time in seconds. A 0.65-second hang time gives 9.81 × 0.65² / 8 = 0.518 m ≈ 20.4 inches.

Method 2: Reach Difference

The gym-standard method simply subtracts your standing reach (fingertips flat against a wall, feet planted) from your jump reach (highest point you touch at the peak of a jump):

This is the figure the Combine reports and is generally the most accurate measurement when done carefully.

Estimating Power: The Sayers Equation

Jump height plus body mass lets us estimate peak anaerobic power. The widely used Sayers equation is:

Vertical Jump Benchmarks (Adult Male)

Benchmarks are lower for the general population and vary by age and sex; female athlete standards run several inches below the male figures above.

Which Method Should You Use?

If you can measure against a wall or a Vertec device, the reach-difference method is the most accurate and is what scouts report. The hang-time method is convenient when all you have is a video or a jump mat, but it is sensitive to small timing errors — a tenth of a second off translates into a few inches of difference — so treat it as a good estimate rather than an official measurement.

How to Train It

Vertical jump improves with a mix of maximal strength work (squats, deadlifts), explosive movements (Olympic lift variations, jump squats), and plyometrics (depth jumps, box jumps). Because the jump is governed by both force and the speed at which you can apply it, programs that develop rate of force development tend to add inches faster than pure strength work alone.

Note: This calculator is for educational and training use only. Hang-time estimates are sensitive to timing accuracy. Warm up thoroughly and jump on a safe surface.