Age Grading Explained: Comparing Race Times Across Ages
Age grading lets a 50-year-old and a 25-year-old compare performances on something closer to equal terms. This calculator gives a simplified estimate of that percentage.
What is the Age Grading Calculator?
Enter your age, sex, race distance, and finish time. The tool estimates an age-graded percentage by adjusting a reference standard time with a simple age factor, and shows the equivalent open-age time. This is an estimate using a simplified age curve, not the official World Masters Athletics tables.
How to use it
- Enter your age and pick your sex and distance.
- Enter your finish time in minutes.
- Click Calculate Age Grade.
Worked example
A 45-year-old man running 5K in 25 minutes: the age factor is 1.07, the adjusted standard is about 14.45 minutes, and the age grade is about 57.8%.
What age grade is a 25-minute 5K at age 45?
About 58% on this simplified curve: the 13.5-minute reference standard is adjusted by a 1.07 age factor to 14.45 minutes, then divided by 25 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official age grade?
No. Official tables use detailed age-group standards; this is a simplified estimate for casual comparison.
What is a good age grade?
Roughly, 60% is strong for a club runner and 80% plus is national-class territory, but the labels vary by source.