Fitness tests
Beep Test Calculator
Updated 10 Nov 2026 · Source: Léger and Gadoury (1989) ↗
Enter the last level you reached on the 20 meter shuttle run test, often called the beep test, and how many shuttles you finished in that level. The calculator converts it to a running speed and an estimated VO2 max.
Worked example
- Level 8 runs at 8.5 + 0.5 × (8 − 1) = 12.0 km/h
- 4 of about 10 shuttles in the level adds 0.20 km/h: 12.20 km/h
- Leger and Gadoury (1989): 6.0 × 12.20 − 27.4 = 45.8
20 m shuttle run: level, speed and VO2 estimate
| Level | km/h | mph | VO2 max |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.5 | 5.3 | 23.6 |
| 2 | 9.0 | 5.6 | 26.6 |
| 3 | 9.5 | 5.9 | 29.6 |
| 4 | 10.0 | 6.2 | 32.6 |
| 5 | 10.5 | 6.5 | 35.6 |
| 6 | 11.0 | 6.8 | 38.6 |
| 7 | 11.5 | 7.1 | 41.6 |
| 8 | 12.0 | 7.5 | 44.6 |
| 9 | 12.5 | 7.8 | 47.6 |
| 10 | 13.0 | 8.1 | 50.6 |
| 11 | 13.5 | 8.4 | 53.6 |
| 12 | 14.0 | 8.7 | 56.6 |
| 13 | 14.5 | 9.0 | 59.6 |
| 14 | 15.0 | 9.3 | 62.6 |
| 15 | 15.5 | 9.6 | 65.6 |
| 16 | 16.0 | 9.9 | 68.6 |
How the test works
You run back and forth between two lines 20 m apart, reaching each line by the time the next beep sounds. Each level lasts about a minute. Level 1 runs at 8.5 km/h (about 5.3 mph), and the speed goes up by 0.5 km/h every level, so the beeps come closer together.
The test ends when you can no longer reach the line with the beep. Your score is the last level and shuttle you completed.
From level to VO2 max
For adults, Léger and Gadoury (1989) published a simple equation from tests of 77 adults aged 19 to 47: VO2 max = 6.0 x final speed in km/h - 27.4. The calculator first finds the speed of your last level, then adds part of the next 0.5 km/h step for the shuttles you finished.
With the default level 8 and 4 shuttles, the speed works out to 12.2 km/h and the estimate to about 45.8 ml/kg/min. Finishing level 8 with no extra shuttles gives 44.6, as shown in the table.
Getting a fair score
If you have a heart condition, or you get chest pain, dizziness or unusual breathlessness during exercise, talk to a doctor before a test that runs to exhaustion.
- Use a flat surface with good grip, such as a gym floor, and measure the 20 m exactly.
- Turn on one foot at the line instead of running wide, which wastes distance.
- Hold back in the early levels. They feel slow, but going out hard costs you later.
- Warm up first and run the test when you are rested, at about the same time of day each time.
Versions and their limits
Several versions of the shuttle run exist, with different starting speeds and different numbers of shuttles per level. A score from one version does not convert neatly to another. This tool follows the original 20 m test with one-minute levels starting at 8.5 km/h.
The turns, the floor and your skill at pacing all affect the result. Treat the estimate as an average from a formula, not medical advice, and compare it mainly with your own earlier scores.
Putting the number in context
To see how your estimate compares by age and sex, look it up on the VO2 max chart. If you prefer a test you can do alone on a track, the VO2 max calculator works from a 12-minute or 1.5-mile run. To translate km/h speeds into mph and pace, the km to mile pace converter helps.
Related pages
Questions
What is a good beep test score for an adult?
There is no single cutoff. Convert your level to VO2 max here, then compare it with the percentiles for your age and sex on the chart page.
How many shuttles are in each level?
It depends on the speed. Each level lasts about a minute, so faster levels hold more 20 m shuttles. At level 8 (12.0 km/h) it is about 10.
Why does my score differ from another calculator?
Other tools may use a different version of the test or a different equation. This one uses the published adult equation from 1989.
How we calculate: every formula, with its author and year, is on our method page; data sources and their licenses are on sources.
gymnical.com gives estimates from published formulas and public data. It is not medical advice and not a training prescription. Last reviewed November 2026.