How to Measure Your Vertical Jump (4 Accurate Methods)

If you want to jump higher, you need to know where you are starting from. Measuring your vertical jump gives you a baseline number, lets you track progress over time, and helps you evaluate whether your training program is actually working.

The problem is that most athletes guess their vertical or measure it incorrectly. A bad measurement is worse than no measurement at all because it gives you false feedback about your training. This guide covers four accurate methods, from a simple wall test you can do at home to lab-grade tools used by professional scouts.

What Exactly Is “Vertical Jump”?

Your vertical jump is the difference between your standing reach height and the highest point you can touch while jumping. It is not how high your feet leave the ground, which is a common misconception.

For example, if your standing reach is 8 feet and you can touch 10 feet 2 inches while jumping, your vertical jump is 26 inches.

There are two main types of vertical jump tests:

Standing vertical jump (no step). You jump from a standstill with no approach steps. Both feet stay planted before takeoff. This is the standard test used at the NBA Draft Combine and NFL Combine.

Approach vertical jump (max vertical). You take one or two steps before jumping. This usually produces a higher number because the approach adds momentum. This version is more relevant for basketball players who dunk off a running start.

When tracking your progress, always use the same test type and conditions. Comparing a standing vertical from one session to an approach vertical from another session tells you nothing useful.

Method 1: The Wall and Chalk Test

This is the simplest method and requires nothing more than a wall, some chalk, and a tape measure. It is accurate enough for most training purposes.

What you need:

• A tall wall or smooth vertical surface
• Chalk or chalk dust on your fingertips
• A tape measure or measuring tape
• A step stool or ladder for measuring high marks

How to do it:

1. Stand with your dominant side against the wall, feet flat on the ground
2. Reach up as high as possible with the hand closest to the wall while keeping both feet flat
3. Mark this point on the wall with chalk (this is your standing reach)
4. Apply chalk to your fingertips
5. Stand about 6 inches from the wall
6. Jump as high as you can and touch the wall at the peak of your jump, leaving a chalk mark
7. Measure the distance between the two marks

Tips for accuracy:

• Do 3 to 5 jumps and take the best one
• Make sure you are fully warmed up before testing (10 minutes of light cardio and dynamic stretching)
• Keep your shoulder against or very close to the wall during the standing reach so you are not leaning
• Rest at least 30 seconds between jump attempts
• Have someone watch to confirm both feet leave the ground at the same time

Accuracy: Within about 1 inch of a lab measurement when done correctly.

Method 2: Vertec Device

The Vertec is the standard tool used at professional sports combines, including the NBA Draft Combine and NFL Scouting Combine. It is a metal pole with adjustable horizontal vanes (plastic tabs) that you swat at the top of your jump.

What you need:

• A Vertec device (available at most commercial gyms, training facilities, and online for purchase)

How to do it:

1. Adjust the vanes so the lowest one is at your standing reach height
2. Stand directly under the Vertec
3. Jump and swat the highest vane you can reach
4. The displaced vanes show exactly how high you reached
5. Count the number of vanes between your standing reach and the highest displaced vane

Each vane on a standard Vertec represents a half-inch increment, which makes reading your result straightforward.

Tips for accuracy:

• Rotate the vane stack so the lowest vane is at your exact standing reach before jumping
• Practice the swatting motion a few times. You need to hit the vanes with your fingertips, not your palm or the back of your hand
• Use 3 to 5 attempts and record the best one
• The Vertec should be on a flat, stable surface

Accuracy: Considered the gold standard for field testing. Within a half inch of actual jump height.

Method 3: Jump Mat or Force Plate

Jump mats and force plates calculate your vertical jump based on flight time (how long your feet are off the ground). These are common in sports science labs and some high-end training facilities.

How it works:

A jump mat is a pressure-sensitive pad that records the moment your feet leave the ground and the moment they land. Using the known relationship between flight time and jump height (based on the physics of projectile motion), the device calculates your vertical.

A force plate goes further, measuring the actual forces you produce against the ground throughout the entire jump. Force plates can tell you not just how high you jumped, but how you produced that jump: your peak force, rate of force development, and power output.

Tips for accuracy:

• Land in the same position you took off from. Tucking your legs during flight artificially increases flight time, which inflates the measurement
• Keep your hands on your hips during the test. Arm swing is sometimes restricted in lab settings to isolate leg power
• Follow the specific protocol for the device you are using

Accuracy: Jump mats are accurate within about 1 inch. Force plates are accurate within fractions of an inch and are the most precise method available.

Method 4: Smartphone Apps

Several smartphone apps use your phone’s camera and slow-motion video to estimate vertical jump height. These include My Jump 2, Vert, and similar apps.

How it works:

You (or a partner) record a video of your jump from the side. The app identifies the frame where your feet leave the ground and the frame where they land, calculates flight time from the frame rate, and estimates jump height.

Tips for accuracy:

• Use a phone with a high frame rate camera (240 fps slow motion is ideal)
• Film from the side at foot level, not from above or at an angle
• Wear shoes with a visible sole to make it easier for the app to detect takeoff and landing
• Results are less reliable than the other methods but good enough for tracking trends over time

Accuracy: Within about 1 to 2 inches. Sufficient for tracking progress but not precise enough for official testing.

How Often Should You Test?

Testing too often is a common mistake. Your vertical jump fluctuates day to day based on fatigue, sleep, hydration, and time of day. Testing weekly leads to frustration because the noise in your measurements can mask real progress.

Test every 3 to 4 weeks. This gives your body enough time to make measurable adaptations and smooths out day-to-day variability.

Always test under the same conditions:

• Same time of day
• Same warm-up routine
• Same test method
• Same footwear (or barefoot if that is your preference)
• After a rest day or light training day, not after a hard leg workout

What Is a Good Vertical Jump?

Vertical jump numbers vary widely depending on age, gender, sport, and training background. Here are some general reference points for male athletes:

• Below 16 inches: Below average
• 16 to 20 inches: Average for recreational athletes
• 20 to 24 inches: Above average, solid for high school athletes
• 24 to 28 inches: Good, competitive at the college level
• 28 to 32 inches: Very good, competitive at high-level college programs
• 32 to 36 inches: Excellent, approaching professional territory
• 36 inches and above: Elite, typical of professional and world-class athletes

For context, the average standing vertical at the NBA Draft Combine typically falls between 28 and 34 inches, with the top performers reaching 40 inches or higher.

Start Tracking Your Progress

Knowing your vertical is the first step toward improving it. Pick whichever method is most accessible to you, take a baseline measurement, and retest every few weeks as you train.

If you are looking for a proven training program to follow, our breakdown of the best vertical jump programs of 2026 compares the top options. For a science-based understanding of what makes you jump higher, read our article on the science behind vertical jump.

And if you want specific exercises to add to your training, our guide to the best plyometric exercises for vertical jump has 12 proven movements with full instructions.