Grip Strength Calculator

Your raw dynamometer reading is compared against age- and sex-matched norms. We look up the mean and standard deviation for your age bracket from the Mathiowetz et al. (1985) normative database — the most widely cited clinical reference, using the Jamar dynamometer at the second handle position — and compute your standard score (z-score). The z-score is converted into a percentile using the standard normal distribution.

A reading at the 50th percentile means you grip exactly like the average person of your age and sex. Below the 25th percentile, you are in the lower quarter of your peers; above the 75th, you are in the upper quarter. Norms have been cross-checked with Bohannon's 2019 systematic review of grip strength reference values.

The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) uses grip strength as the first-line screening measure for sarcopenia — age-related muscle loss. Clinical cut-points are <27 kg for men and <16 kg for women, regardless of age. A reading below these thresholds suggests reduced muscle strength and should prompt further assessment of muscle quantity and physical performance.

This calculator also flags a likely concern when your grip is less than 50% of the expected mean for your age and sex — a level at which clinical evaluation is strongly recommended. Screening is not a diagnosis; always discuss results with a qualified healthcare provider.