Average Vertical Jump by Sport
Vertical jump varies sharply by sport and position. Untrained adult men average about 16–20 inches, while trained sport athletes climb well into the 20s and 30s. Typical trained-athlete ranges run basketball 22–28 in, volleyball 19–26 in, track and field 20–28 in, football wide receivers 28–34 in, and soccer 16–21 in. Elite performers clear 28+ inches.
Typical vertical jump by sport
Most trained athletes land somewhere between the high teens and the mid-30s, depending on what their sport demands. The table below shows the typical ranges you can expect for athletes who train regularly, not weekend players and not world-record holders.
| Sport | Typical range (in) | Approx. cm |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | 22–28 | 56–71 |
| Volleyball | 19–26 | 48–66 |
| Track and field | 20–28 | 51–71 |
| Football (wide receiver) | 28–34 | 71–86 |
| Soccer | 16–21 | 41–53 |
| General fitness | 16–20 | 41–51 |
The numbers above describe typical trained athletes. The best players in each sport sit far above these ranges. A starting NBA guard or a Division I volleyball hitter can clear 30+ inches, and the top combine performers in football have measured higher still. Treat the table as a benchmark to aim at, not a ceiling.
How to use these numbers: standing vs approach jump
Before you compare yourself to anything, know which jump you are measuring. A standing vertical (no steps) and an approach jump (a running or stepping start) are different tests, and the gap between them can be several inches.
A standing vertical jump starts from a still position with both feet planted. You dip and explode straight up. This is the number most strength coaches track because it isolates raw power without the help of momentum.
An approach jump (volleyball players call it a spike jump, basketball players just call it a running vertical) adds steps before takeoff. That horizontal speed converts into extra height, so an approach jump is usually 2–6 inches higher than the same athlete's standing number. When a stat sheet says a volleyball hitter "jumps 30 inches," that is almost always the approach jump. When a combine lists a vertical, that is the standing jump. Compare like with like or the numbers will mislead you.
Basketball benchmarks: high school to NBA
Basketball verticals climb steeply with level. Trained players typically fall in the 22–28 inch range, but the gap between a high school bench player and an NBA wing is large.
- High school: Many varsity players sit in the low-to-mid 20s. A 24–26 inch standing vertical is solid at this level.
- College: Division I athletes commonly reach the high 20s to low 30s, especially guards and wings.
- NBA: Standing (no-step) verticals for NBA players average about 28–29 inches, commonly ranging from the mid-20s to low 30s. Max (running) verticals average about 33–34 inches, with the most explosive players clearing 40.
Dunking is the goal most players care about. The rim sits at 120 inches, and you want to reach roughly 126 inches to clear it cleanly. Your needed vertical is 126 minus your standing reach. So if you reach 96 inches flat-footed, you need a 30 inch vertical to dunk. Tall players with long arms need far less. See what vertical you need to dunk for the full math.
Volleyball: hitters vs setters, spike vs standing
Volleyball verticals depend heavily on position, and the spike (approach) jump matters more than the standing jump. Typical trained players fall in the 19–26 inch range on a standing test, but their attack jumps run higher.
Outside hitters and middle blockers live above the net, so they train explosively and post the highest jumps on most rosters. Their spike jump (a three-step approach into a swing) is the number that decides whether they can hit over a block. Setters and liberos jump less in matches and usually carry lower verticals, which is fine because their jobs reward ball control and positioning over raw height. If you play a hitting position, measure your approach jump; if you play defense or setter, your standing number is a more honest baseline.
Football and the NFL combine
Football verticals split sharply by position. Skill players (wide receivers, defensive backs) post the highest numbers, while linemen sit much lower because their bodies are built for mass and strength, not vertical lift.
Wide receivers and cornerbacks are the jumpers of football. A trained wide receiver typically lands in the 28–34 inch range, and cornerbacks are similar because both positions fight for the ball in the air. At the combine, receivers and corners average roughly 34–36 inches, and the best leapers each year push past 40 inches. Linemen, by contrast, typically measure 26–29 inches at the combine for offensive and interior defensive linemen, with defensive ends higher in the low 30s. That is not a weakness; a 320-pound tackle is built to move people, not to touch the rim. When you see a "combine average," remember it blends every position, so it hides this huge spread. Compare yourself to your own position group, never to the overall average.
Soccer, track, and other sports
Soccer and most field sports reward endurance and agility more than maximal vertical, so their typical numbers sit lower. Track-and-field jumpers are the exception and rank among the highest leapers of any sport.
Soccer players typically fall in the 16–21 inch range. They jump for headers and contested balls, but most of their training builds stamina and repeated short sprints rather than a single maximal leap, so their verticals look modest next to basketball or volleyball players. Track and field is the other end of the spectrum. High jumpers, long jumpers, and sprinters train explosive single-effort power directly, and trained athletes commonly reach 20–28 inches, with elite jumpers far above that. Sports like baseball, tennis, and hockey rarely test vertical formally, so reliable averages are sparse; if you play one of those, the general-fitness band of 16–20 inches is a fair starting reference until you measure yourself.
Why some sports jump higher
Sports that demand a single explosive leap produce the highest verticals, while endurance-heavy sports produce lower ones. Three factors explain most of the gap.
- Force-velocity demand: Basketball, volleyball, and the jumping events ask athletes to produce maximum force in a fraction of a second. That demand selects for and trains explosive leg power. Soccer and distance running reward repeatable effort over hours, which is a different physical quality.
- Training focus: A volleyball player does box jumps and approach work weekly. A midfielder runs intervals. You get better at what you practice, and vertical is highly trainable.
- Body type: Sports self-select for builds that fit them. Springy, longer-limbed athletes drift toward jumping sports; that selection inflates the averages you see for those sports.
Is my vertical good for my sport?
A "good" vertical is the one that meets your sport and level, not a universal number. Compare yourself to your position group and your competition tier, then judge from there.
Start by measuring the right jump (standing for general benchmarking, approach if your sport uses one). Then find your sport and level in the ranges above. If you land inside the typical band, you are competitive for a trained athlete. If you are below it, that is normal for beginners and very trainable: most beginners add 2–4 inches in a year of focused work (young or very untrained athletes sometimes more), intermediate athletes fight for 1–3 inches, and advanced athletes for fractions of an inch. If you are above the band, you have a real athletic advantage worth building your game around. For a general age-based comparison outside of any sport, see average vertical jump by age, and to see where the very top athletes land, check the vertical jump leaders.