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What is it?

The vertical jump test is a common fitness test of leg power. The test is usually performed against a wall or similar device to measure the height jumped, but can also be tested using a timing mat. These results are assumed to be using the counter-movement technique, in which the arms are used to help propel the body upwards, though in many cases it may not be the case. For more information, see vertical jump techniques.

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Top Scores

The world record vertical jump has been reported as up to 61" (155 cm) by Kadour Ziani (other reports for top leaps for Kadour range from 56"/142cm upwards). He is the highest Vertical Leaper from Slamnation, and stands 5'10 tall. His other claim to fame is that he is the only person ever to do a double windmill slam dunk. His reported best vertical jump is more than twice the average NBA vertical leap of 28" (71 cm). For more information about the world record scores, see our list of the World's Best vertical jump scores.

Basketball

• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2012 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 38 inches (96.5 cm) by Justin Anderson (see more 2015 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2012 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 36.5 inches (92.7 cm) by Markel Brown (see more 2014 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2012 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 35.5 inches (90.2 cm) by Cody Zeller (see more 2013 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2012 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 38 inches (96.5 cm) by Harrison Barnes (see more 2012 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2011 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 36.5 inches (92.7 cm) by Iman Shumpert (see more 2011 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical (no step) result from the 2010 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 32 inches (81.3 cm) by Wesley Johnson (see more 2010 NBA combine results).
• Scots College student Brock Dries has just been selected for the New South Wales team in the National Championships, and was tested two feet vertical jump test, where he recorded a 75cm (29.5 inches) vertical leap (retrieved from The Scots College website, Feb 2011).
• Darrell Griffith of the Utah Jazz in the 80’s had record standing vertical leap of 48 inch. I think that David Thompson of the Denver Nuggest in the 80’s had vertical leap between 44 – 48 inch.(ref: unconfirmed details from a visitor to this site)
• Darryl McDonald of the Melbourne Tigers NBL team has a 74 cm vertical jump off three steps. This is the best of Tiger guards (taken from the Age online, 12 Jan 08).
• An article about big jumpers includes David "Skywalker" Thompson. They say that various reports put his vertical jump at 44 to 48 inches (foxsports.com, Oct 2007).
• The top 5 vertical jump (no step) results from the 2006 NBA draft camp were 37.5 inches Dwayne Mitchell, 35.0 Ronnie Brewer, 35.0 Curtis Withers, 35.0 Will Blalock, and 34.5 David Noel. (see more NBA draft results).
• The average NBA vertical leap is 28" (71 cm).
• Below is a list of some of the reported top scores by a variety of NBA players. These results have not been confirmed, and are probably a mix of running leaps and some from standing starts. Some of these scores were originally listed on Vertcoach.com.

NFL

• Josh Imatorbhebhe leapt 46.5 inches at the 2021 college pro day combine. This would have been a NFL combine record if one was officially held (testing was done at college pro days due to the pandemic).
• The average vertical jump of 497 players who tested at 2021 College Pro testing days was 33.1 inches / 84 cm (range 21.0 - 46.5 inches)
• The best vertical jump score at the 2016 NFL combine was 41.5 inches (105.4 cm), achieved by both Daniel Lasco and Jalen Ramsey.
• Christine Michael, a running back from Texas A&M had the highest vertical jump at the 2013 NFL combine, jumping 43 inches (109 cm).
• V. Green from Nevada had the best result at the 2011 NFL Combine, with a 42.5 inch (108 cm) vertical jump.
• New York Jets rookie Darrelle Revis has a 38-inch vertical jump this year (NY Times, Oct 2007).
• Randy Moss has a vertical leap score of 51" (130 cm), while 265 lbs Jevon Kearse has a best jump of 40" (102 cm).
• The best vertical jump at the NFL Combine is 46" by Gerald Sensabaugh (FS), from North Carolina in 2005 (more NFL combine results).

Volleyball

• The father of Tuioti-Mariner of the Hawaii Warriors (NFL) competed in volleyball at the South Pacific Games, and had a 45-inch vertical jump (from the Honolulu Advertiser, March 2008).
• Leonel Marshall reportedly has a 50" (127 cm) vertical leap from standing. He is the star of Men's Cuban National Volleyball team. Search for him on YouTube and you will see some sensational jumping action of him.

Ice Hockey

• In 2015, the NHL Combine started using a force plate to measure vertical jumping ability. The score were lower than in previous years. The best score was 28.74 inches (73 cm) by Austin Wagner.
• The best score at the 2012 NHL scouting combine for the vertical jump test was 32.5 inches (82.6 cm) by Chris Calnan of Nobles (HIGH-MA). The average score from the combine was 24.7 inches (62.7 cm) (see the top 2012 NHL combine results)
• The best score at the 2011 NHL scouting combine for standing vertical jump (no pause) was 30.5 inches (77.5 cm) by Maximilien Le Sieur of the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) (see 2011 NHL combine results)
• The average vertical jump recorded at the NHL entry draft scouting combine over the last few years has been 26.1 inches / 66.3 cm (2009), and 24.7 inches / 62.7 cm (2011). (see NHL combine results summary)

Rugby

• USA Rugby Sevens Coach Al Caravelli defined his ideal Rugby 7s player - among other physical attributes, he should be able to vertical jump 35 inches / 89 cm (retrieved from boxscorenews.com, Feb 2011).
• Average of Newcastle Knights squad (n=66) was 68 cm (range 47 - 79 cm) (personal communication, Lee Clark). There are more fitness test results from the Newcastle Knights).
• The Springboks in 2007 expected scores for the vertical jump ranged from at least 68 cm for the outside backs down to 55 cm for the props (more on Springboks norms).

Aussie Rules Football

• A new combine record for the standing vertical jump was set at the 2016 AFL Draft Combine, then matched in 2017. Jordan Gallucci (2016) and Aiden Bonar (2017) leapt 89cm (35 inches). The previous best was by US athlete Marvin Baynham in 2014. See more AFL combine results.
• US athlete Marvin Baynham set a new combine record for the standing vertical jump at the 2014 AFL Draft Combine. The 22-year-old from Florida jumped 88cm (34.5 inches) to break the previous best set by Sydney Swans' player Dean Towers (85cm) in 2012. See more 2014 results.
• The best result in the vertical jump test at the 2013 AFL Combine was 79 cm by Kade Kolodjashnij. See more 2013 results.
• A new record was set for the vertical jump test at the 2012 AFL Draft Combine of 85 cm (33.5 inches) by Dean Towers, beating the long-standing high mark of 83 cm set by former Hawk Trent Croad in 1997. See more 2012 results.
• The best result in the vertical jump test at the 2011 Draft Combine was 78 cm by Elliot Yeo. See more 2011 results.
• The AFL held a testing combine in Tonga in December 2010, testing 55 local youngsters which some impressive results. In the Vertical Jump component, Fijian Wilson Kacivi top scored with 75 cm. (from AFL.com, Dec 2010)
• An article in the Perth Sunday Times listed the fitness requirements for a range of sports. It stated that West Coast Eagles players need to jump more than 60 cm in the vertical jump (from The Sunday Times, Jan 10, 2010).
• Brett Deledio, AFL footballer from Richmond, scored 76 cm on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).
• The vertical jump test is performed at the Draft Camp each year. Some of the best results are: Trent Croad 83 cm in 1997 and David Gourdis 81 cm in 2007, See more draft camp results.

Athletics

• US Decathlete Bryan Clay reached 43.5 inches for a no-step vertical jump during a SPARQ testing exercise. He also achieved 42.3 for the one-step vertical jump and 11 feet 1 inch for the max VJ test (testing conducted at Azusa Pacific University, March 25th 2005, published in SPARQ Magazine, Summer 2008).
• Sean Wroe, Australian Olympic 400m sprinter, scored 85 cm (33.5 inches) on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Football (Soccer)

• The highest leap at the 2017 MLS Combine was 36.5 inches (92.7cm) by defender Chris Odoi-Atsem from Maryland.

Cricket

• Pakistani cricketer Misbahul Haq holds the team record for vertical jump of 70 cm (from the Match Point blog on the Express Tribune online, March 2011)

Jockey / Horse Racing

• Michael Rodd, Melbourne Cup winning jockey, scored 55 cm on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Triathlon

• Erin Densham, Olympic Triathlete, scored 35 cm on her vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Weight lifting

• Some impressive vertical jump results are presented for a couple of quite heavy champion weight lifters. Nicu Vlad of Romania (bodyweight 100 kg / 220 lbs), World Record holder and two-time Olympic Weight lifting medalist in 1990, recorded a 42" vertical jump. American Wesley Barnett, 3-time Olympian and Silver Medalist at the 1997 World Championships (he is 6'1" tall and weighs 105 kg / 231 lbs), has recorded vertical jumps of over 39". (data from an article "Pulling To Jump Higher" by Chad Ikei).

Rowing

• Drew Ginn, Australian Olympic rower, scored 53 cm on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Cycling

• Peta Mullens, Australian cyclist, scored 47 cm on her vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Other Results

Some of these scores were sourced from Vertcoach.com. There are numerous and varying reports of high leaps for Kadour Ziani online.

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Related Pages

• Procedure for Vertical Jump Testing and using the Timing Mat method
• Vertical jump devices in the fitness testing store
• About vertical jump techniques
• converting results to power units and converting results from cm to inches
• Top vertical jump scores
• Vertical Jump Norms
• More Scores? I scan the internet for the latest athlete results. If you know of something I have missed, I would love to hear from you.

Old Comments

Commenting is closed on this page, though you can read some previous comments below which may answer some of your questions.

• Nbaer (2013)
  the nba vertical jumps are off by a lot very inaccurate
• Guest (2014)
  David Thompson was about 6-4.....and he could TOUCH the top of the backboard....that is 13' high......do the math.....that makes his vertical leap in excess of 48".......
• Lockie Guest (2014)
  You need to think about his arm reach as well
• Pparicle Lockie (2015)
  Absolutely you must include them
• AfroCuba Guest (2014)
  You can count your outstretched arm as an indicator of how HIGH you can jump, genius. That's how high you can REACH when you jump. His 6'4" Frame probable have arms that are at least 3 feet long. You don't include that In the height he JUMPS; that's the height he REACHES WHEN JUMPING
• Tim Cordier AfroCuba(2018)
  standing reach is an extreme factor when calculating a max vertical. If he had short arms he couldn't reach that high. That simple...
• Will Guest (2014)
  Depends on his wingspan...
• Merkin Muffly (2013)
  lol, MJ did not have a 48 inch vertical, that is ridiculous
• Sammy Andrew T (2015)
  yea a running 48 yes but not standing
• Skwirrl Andrew T (2014)
  His no step was only 35 inches.
• Merkin Muffly Andrew T (2016)
  No, because if he ever had a 48 vertical leap, his head would have been above the basket, MJ's head, never, ever went above the basket in any video highlight.
• Sage (2013)
  MJ's is 48" but wilt chamberlains 55" olympic recorded
• Mentallect (2014)
  Kobe Bryant was 17 when his vertical was measured, and very skinny. I place an * there.
• GEE (2013)
  im 14 and a high jumper. i managed to get a 78cm (30.7inches) vertical leap which was the best at my school, beating the record by 2cm. i high jump almost 2m.
• Random Dude GEE (2014)
  You don't know how to measure. 1 meter is 100 centimeters long. So your jump wasn't even 1 meter. Michael Jordan's wasn't even 1.5 meters long.
• Will Random Dude (2014)
  High jump isn't the same as a vertical jump..
• Bangbro (2014)
  Where is lebron on this list
  Prolly #1 cause he can jump higher than mj
• Gabriel Peraza (2020)
  yall aint know wilt had a 50 inch vert though
• Dlb Andy (2020)
  Mj didn't have 48, he had 46 and y'all forgetting about wilt chamberlain who had 48
• Basketball king (2016)
  so inaccurate! Everything here is wrong ESPECIALLY that someone has jumped 61 inches! I'm pretty sure no one has ever gotten over 50 inches. bad article
• Fullmoon (2015)
  David Thompson was called "Sky Walker" long before there was a star wars. Never seen anyone close.
• Ryan daniel (2015)
  MJ is a very nice man and athlete
• Jumper (2015)
  I'm about 6"3 and train for basketball regularly but dunk for fun my highest jump was a out 39 inches my head is just under the rim, need like 2 inches to get hit the rim I've done very little training for my jump probably why I got a standing vert of 3
  29 inches I ca t even dunk standing think I could get to 50 inches like jus fly
• Barry (2015)
  Wilt Chamberlain claimed that his vertical leap was 51"
• Cam (2015)
  I am 5'10" and 18 year old white kid and have a 37 inch stationary vert and a 41 inch running vert. I can throw down a mean one handed dunk from distance. I am untrained, relying on nothing but genetics for my leaping abilities. But now I am looking for some advice on what program or routine I should look into to bring my vert to the next level. My goal is to have a 50 inch vert. I know this sounds too good to be true, but I think if I put myself through the right training and stick to it I have the potential. Any suggestings?
• Tom Cam (2015)
  I hope this is a troll or its another Waffle vertical jump post. I'm not denying you might have some great skills but no one on this planet has a 30 inch+ vertical inch jump with out some form of training on this planet. Let alone standing 37 and running 41. I hope others read this so they stop over estimating their jumps. Just put in to context those stats would put you in the top 20 nfl draft every year and those guys are juicing, squatting 2-3x bodyweight and practice a lot of jumping.
• So you telling me that an 18 untrained white boy ( doesnt help ) is hitting those stats would make you the worlds best jumper so are you going to be breaking world records with a few years training .... Didn't think so.
• But some advice to improve your current vertical leap what ever it is.
• Squat: get your.strength up to at least 2x BW
• Dynamic weights: power cleans, hang cleans
• Plyometrics: all forms of jumping and sprinting.
• Then after you have eeked out some gains look for a vert program. No need waste your money when you will gain a lot from this if you aint doing it already
• Dallin Radke Tom (2017)
  so true i have am 13 and have worked really hard and only have a 24'' vertical. he might have a 41'' vertical but he would have to do strength and plyometrics training everyday
• Sammy Tom (2015)
  4 reel 18 guy if u have a 37 standing vert withg no training u should be going pro some where getting 6 figures buddy
• Mentallect (2014)
  MJ's vertical was not 48 inches. That means that MJ at 6'5" tall could consistently place his head 4 inches (6'5" plus 48" (4 feet) = 10'5") above the rim. The only valid vertical tests are the picture tests which measure the distance from the bottom of your feet off the ground with your legs straight. Most verticals listed at 43 inches or higher are soon revised to about 33 inches or less.
• Afrocuba (2014)
  I watched some videos on vertical jumping. This seems skewed on most sites.
• Are you counting the bending of the legs when jumping ? For instance, I play volleyball; went we jump, our legs are usually straight. Some BB dunk videos I have seen w HIGH jumpers all have there legs bent.
• My couch is about 3 feet high. To have your feet clear the height of a couch from a non-running start is pretty near impossible for most. Now, if you bend your knees when jumping, you can clear the 3 foot couch, but you haven't really jumped 3 feet... You just contracted your body so the lowest part is a bit higher... You haven't actually JUMPED higher.
• Blob Afrocuba (2014)
  Thats not how vertical jump is measured, its by where your hand touches not you feet
• Blob Afrocuba (2014)
  Vertical jump isnt measured like that, first you reach up whilst standing and then and mark how high you can touch and split the difference bending your legs makes no difference