V02 Max Calculator
V02 max calculator works out Estimated VO2 max and Aerobic capacity in METs from Test you performed, Sex and Age. The default figures on this page give estimated VO2 max of 50.0 mL/kg/min; change any entry and the result, the working and the sources update together.
Your figures
Updates as you typeHow this is worked out
5 steps
- Protocol: Cooper 12-minute run - distance covered in 12 minutes
- Cooper KH, A means of assessing maximal oxygen intake: correlation between field and treadmill testing, JAMA 1968;203:201-204. VO2max = (distance in metres - 504.9) / 44.73.
- VO2 max = (2741.4 m - 504.9) / 44.73 = 50 mL/kg/min
- METs = 50 / 3.5 = 14.29 MET
- Absolute VO2 = 50 mL/kg/min x 70 kg / 1000 = 3.5 L/min
Its 5 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed
Sources and references
6 sources
What the v02 max calculator calculates
Estimates maximal oxygen uptake from a named field or treadmill test - Cooper 12-minute run, 1.5-mile run, Rockport walk, Queen’s College step test, heart-rate ratio or the Bruce protocol - and converts it to METs and litres per minute.
How to use this v02 max calculator
Enter Test you performed, Sex, Age and Units. Estimated VO2 max updates as you type, and “Use a worked example” loads checked figures you can adjust. Change one figure at a time to see what drives the result.
How the result is worked out
Open “How this is worked out” beside the result for the step-by-step calculation behind Estimated VO2 max, Aerobic capacity in METs and Absolute VO2 max.
The method follows Cooper KH, A means of assessing maximal oxygen intake: correlation between field and treadmill testing, JAMA 1968;203(3):201-204, Kline GM et al., Estimation of VO2max from a one-mile track walk, gender, age, and body weight, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 1987;19(3):253-259, McArdle WD, Katch FI, Pechar GS, Jacobson L, Ruck S, Reliability and interrelationships between maximal oxygen intake, physical work capacity and step-test scores in college women, Medicine and Science in Sports 1972;4(4):182-186, Uth N, Sørensen H, Overgaard K, Pedersen PK, Estimation of VO2max from the ratio between HRmax and HRrest - the Heart Rate Ratio Method, European Journal of Applied Physiology 2004;91:111-115 and Foster C et al., Estimation of functional capacity during treadmill exercise testing, American Heart Journal 1984;107(6):1229-1234, with the women’s Bruce equation as tabulated in ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription.
Cooper 12-minute run, 2741.4 m example
With Test you performed: cooper-12min, Distance covered in 12 minutes: 2741.4, Sex: male, Age: 30, the calculator returns Estimated VO2 max: 50, Aerobic capacity in METs: 14.2857143, Absolute VO2 max: 3.5. This example is checked against an independent source in the test suite.
What you can compare
Change one input at a time to see how it affects Estimated VO2 max, Aerobic capacity in METs and Absolute VO2 max. The inputs you can vary are Test you performed, Sex, Age, Units, Weight and Extra pounds.
Understanding Estimated VO2 max, Aerobic capacity in METs and Absolute VO2 max
These are regression estimates from field tests, not a measured VO2 max: each equation carries a standard error of several mL/kg/min and was fitted on a specific population. Maximal exercise testing carries cardiovascular risk; anyone with known heart disease, chest pain on exertion, or who is new to vigorous exercise should be screened by a clinician before performing a maximal test.
Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a good VO2 max for my age?
Estimates maximal oxygen uptake from a named field or treadmill test - Cooper 12-minute run, 1.5-mile run, Rockport walk, Queen’s College step test. On this page it is computed from Test you performed, Sex and Age and shown as Estimated VO2 max, Aerobic capacity in METs and Absolute VO2 max.
How do I calculate my VO2 max?
Estimates maximal oxygen uptake from a named field or treadmill test - Cooper 12-minute run, 1.5-mile run, Rockport walk, Queen’s College step test. Open “How this is worked out” beside the result to see each step for your own figures.
Why is my VO2 max so low when I am fit?
Estimates maximal oxygen uptake from a named field or treadmill test - Cooper 12-minute run, 1.5-mile run, Rockport walk, Queen’s College step test. On the figures this page opens with — age 30 years, weight 70 and distance covered in 12 minutes 2,741.4 m — the estimated VO2 max is 50 mL/kg/min. Put your own figures in their place and the working updates beside the result.
Can I test my VO2 max at home?
It needs Test you performed, Sex, Age, Units, Weight and Extra pounds. Nothing else is required, and the figures stay in your browser.
What information do I need for the v02 max calculator?
You need Test you performed, Sex, Age, Units, Weight, Extra pounds, Distance covered in 12 minutes and 1.5-mile run time. The page opens with default figures that give estimated VO2 max of 50.0 mL/kg/min, so you can see the scale before entering your own.
What does this v02 max calculator show?
It shows Estimated VO2 max, Aerobic capacity in METs, Absolute VO2 max, Standard error of this equation, Estimate minus one standard error, Estimate plus one standard error, Body weight used and Protocol, with the working and any warnings for your entries.