Average Testosterone Levels by Age Men & Women Chart

Medically reviewed by William "Billy" Kimbrell, APRN · Last reviewed September 2026

Testosterone changes across your life, and "normal" is a wide range, not a single target. Below are the typical levels by age for men and women, what counts as low, and the part most charts leave out: a number on a lab report only means something when it is read next to your symptoms and the way the test was done.

Why total testosterone is only part of the picture

Before the charts, the most important idea on this page: a total testosterone number alone can be misleading. Most testosterone in your blood is bound to proteins, chiefly SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), and only the small unbound portion, free testosterone, is actually available to your tissues. When SHBG is high, a man can have a "normal" total testosterone but genuinely low free testosterone, and feel it.

That is why EliteRx does not stop at a single total number. We evaluate total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, your symptoms, and your overall health together. The number on its own is just a starting point; what matters is how much testosterone is actually available to you and how you feel. This is the difference between a quick lab reading and a real evaluation, and it is worth keeping in mind as you read the charts below.

Typical testosterone levels in men (ages 20 to 44)

Testosterone in men peaks in the late teens and twenties, then declines slowly over the decades that follow. The table below shows commonly published ranges by age, alongside free testosterone, which is the smaller, unbound portion that is active in the body.

Middle-tertile total testosterone in non-obese U.S. men, ages 20 to 44

Age	Typical total testosterone (ng/dL)
20 to 24	409 to 558
25 to 29	413 to 575
30 to 34	359 to 498
35 to 39	352 to 478
40 to 44	350 to 473

These are not standard laboratory reference ranges. They are the "middle tertile" of total testosterone observed in non-obese U.S. men ages 20 to 44 in a 2022 study (Patel et al., Journal of Urology), using the AUA's definition of a normal level. Because the study only covered ages 20 to 44, these values do not describe older men, and they are not the interval your lab prints on your result. They are useful for context, not for self-diagnosis.

Those age-specific numbers are different from the single adult reference interval most labs use to flag a result. For example, Labcorp currently uses 264 to 916 ng/dL for adult men over 18, and Mayo Clinic Laboratories uses 240 to 950 ng/dL for men 19 and older. So a value can look "low for your age" against the first table yet still fall inside your lab's overall reference range, which is exactly why the number is read in context rather than on its own.

A quick note on units, because it trips people up: US labs usually report total testosterone in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). If you ever see a chart in ng/mL, divide by 100 (so 600 ng/dL is the same as 6 ng/mL).

Age-specific values vs. your lab's reference range

An age-specific population value and a laboratory reference interval are two different things, and confusing them is where a lot of testosterone anxiety comes from:

• Age-specific studies describe how testosterone tends to change across a population, so they show what is typical for, say, men in their thirties.
• A lab's reference interval is the single band your specific assay uses to flag a result as low, normal, or high.
• Different laboratories and testing methods use different intervals, which is why two labs can label the same number differently.
• Neither one, on its own, diagnoses low testosterone.

Testosterone levels in women by age

Women make and need testosterone too, in much smaller amounts than men. It contributes to sexual function, muscle and bone health, and other aspects of women's health. Testosterone generally declines gradually across a woman's reproductive years, but natural menopause does not cause the sudden drop seen with estradiol. A more abrupt decline can happen when the ovaries are surgically removed.

One important caveat: there is no established testosterone level that, by itself, diagnoses testosterone deficiency or sexual dysfunction in women. Any evaluation has to weigh symptoms and the whole clinical picture, not a single number.

Total testosterone in women by life stage

Life stage	Total testosterone (ng/dL)
Adult, premenopausal (about 19 to 49)	10 to 55
Postmenopausal	7 to 40

Reference ranges from Labcorp and Mayo Clinic Laboratories. Some labs cite a slightly wider adult range of about 8 to 60 ng/dL. Ranges vary by laboratory and menopausal status.

Because women's numbers are so low, the differences between labs and assays matter more, and small changes can be clinically meaningful. If you are evaluating symptoms like low libido, fatigue, or mood changes, the reading is only useful alongside the rest of your health picture, not on its own.

What counts as a "normal" testosterone level?

"Normal" is defined by your lab's reference range, and reference ranges are built from a general population of people, which means some healthy people fall outside them and some people with symptoms fall inside them. A result slightly outside the range does not automatically mean something is wrong, and a result inside the range does not automatically mean everything is fine.

For men, a total testosterone below about 300 ng/dL is a commonly used clinical threshold, and the American Urological Association uses it to support a diagnosis of low testosterone. But it is a cutoff used alongside the rest of the picture, not the point at which symptoms suddenly begin, and it is not a diagnosis on its own. The AUA also calls for symptoms or signs plus two separate early-morning total testosterone measurements before diagnosing low testosterone, and free testosterone and SHBG are considered especially when the total is borderline or SHBG may be altered. This is the same principle behind all lab work: the number is one input, reviewed in context, which is exactly how our providers approach lab testing.

Why your number can be misleading

A single testosterone reading can be pulled up or down by things that have nothing to do with a long-term problem. Before reading too much into one value, it helps to know what moves it:

• Time of day. Testosterone is highest in the morning, which is why diagnostic testing is generally performed early in the morning. An afternoon draw can read lower simply because of timing.
• One reading is not the whole picture. An unexpectedly low result is usually confirmed with a second early-morning test before any conclusions are drawn.
• Total vs. free, and how free is measured. Total testosterone measures all of it; free testosterone measures the active, unbound portion. Free testosterone is best calculated from total testosterone, SHBG, and albumin, or measured by equilibrium dialysis when needed, rather than by a routine direct (analog) assay, which can be inaccurate. SHBG can shift how total and free relate, which is why EliteRx measures it.
• Health and lifestyle. Acute illness, poor sleep, significant stress, and obesity can all affect a reading and its interpretation.

When is testosterone considered low?

A number alone does not diagnose low testosterone. Clinically, low testosterone is generally considered when a genuinely low blood level, confirmed on repeat morning testing, lines up with symptoms such as persistent fatigue, low libido, mood changes, or loss of strength. The number and the symptoms are read together, not one instead of the other. For the symptom side of that picture, see signs of low testosterone in men.

That is the whole reason to see a provider rather than self-diagnose from a chart. If low testosterone is affecting how you feel, the next step is an evaluation that looks at your full picture, which is what testosterone therapy and hormone care at EliteRx is built around. Low testosterone can also overlap with other concerns, including men's sexual health, so an honest evaluation considers the whole person.

How to get your testosterone tested

Testing usually starts with an early-morning total testosterone blood test. If the result is unexpectedly low, it is generally confirmed with another morning measurement. Depending on the result and factors that affect SHBG, your provider may then also evaluate free testosterone or additional labs to better understand the cause. Your provider reviews the numbers with you in the context of your symptoms and health history rather than handing you a value with no explanation. For a full walkthrough, see how to test your testosterone. At EliteRx, lab orders are placed for you and the results are reviewed with you directly. You can learn more on our lab testing page.

Frequently asked questions

Is 600 ng/dL a good testosterone level?

A total testosterone around 600 ng/dL falls comfortably within common adult male laboratory reference intervals. Whether it is right for you depends on your age, symptoms, the time of day the blood was drawn, and your lab's reference range. The number is read alongside how you feel, not on its own.

Is 700 ng/dL testosterone good?

A total testosterone around 700 ng/dL falls comfortably within common adult male laboratory reference intervals. As with any single value, it is read together with your symptoms, your age, and the testing conditions rather than judged in isolation.

Is 900 ng/dL testosterone high?

A total testosterone near 900 ng/dL sits toward the upper end of many adult male reference ranges and can still be within the normal interval depending on the lab and assay. A result above your lab's stated range is worth discussing with a provider, but a high-normal number is not automatically a problem.

What testosterone level is considered high?

There is no single universal cutoff for high testosterone. A result above the upper limit of your lab's reference range is considered elevated and should be evaluated, especially if it is unexpected or comes with symptoms. The specific number that counts as high depends on the lab, the assay, sex, and age.

At what age is testosterone highest in men?

In men, testosterone typically peaks in the late teens and twenties, then declines gradually, often estimated at roughly one percent per year beginning in the thirties, though the rate varies considerably between individuals.

How can you tell if a man has healthy testosterone levels?

Healthy testosterone is judged by a blood test read against your lab's reference range, together with your symptoms, medical history, and the circumstances of the draw. A morning test is preferred, and an unexpectedly low result is usually confirmed with a second morning measurement.

Can you build muscle with a testosterone level around 600?

Yes. A level around 600 ng/dL is within the normal range for adult men, and muscle growth depends heavily on training, nutrition, sleep, and genetics, not testosterone alone.

Can I start testosterone therapy if my level is 600?

A level around 600 ng/dL generally would not meet common biochemical criteria for testosterone deficiency, which are typically anchored near 300 ng/dL on confirmed morning testing. Testosterone therapy is not prescribed on a number alone. A provider evaluates your symptoms, repeat and additional labs, and other possible causes such as sleep, thyroid, and medications before deciding whether treatment is appropriate.