For an intermediate rower, the average time to row 500m is 01:35.4 for men and 01:52.0 for women. Beginner rowers take 01:57.4 for men and 02:17.0 for women.
A good 500m time is 01:35.4 for men and 01:52.0 for women. This is the average 500m time across all ages. Compare your 500m time by age and ability below.
For an intermediate rower, the average time to row 500m is 01:35.4 for men and 01:52.0 for women. Beginner rowers take 01:57.4 for men and 02:17.0 for women.
| Rowing Level | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 01:57.4 | 02:17.0 |
| Novice | 01:45.0 | 02:03.2 |
| Intermediate | 01:35.4 | 01:52.0 |
| Advanced | 01:28.0 | 01:43.2 |
| Elite | 01:22.4 | 01:36.3 |
| WR | 01:09.8 | 01:24.5 |
Time: Finish time for the full distance (seconds below a minute, otherwise mm:ss or hh:mm:ss).
| Rowing Level | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 01:57.4 | 02:17.0 |
| Novice | 01:45.0 | 02:03.2 |
| Intermediate | 01:35.4 | 01:52.0 |
| Advanced | 01:28.0 | 01:43.2 |
| Elite | 01:22.4 | 01:36.3 |
| WR | 01:09.8 | 01:24.5 |
500m: Average time per 500 metres, shown in minutes and seconds (mm:ss.s).
| Rowing Level | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 216 | 136 |
| Novice | 303 | 187 |
| Intermediate | 403 | 249 |
| Advanced | 513 | 318 |
| Elite | 626 | 392 |
| WR | 1029 | 580 |
Watts: Average power output.
| Rowing Level | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1043 | 675 |
| Novice | 1340 | 851 |
| Intermediate | 1685 | 1063 |
| Advanced | 2063 | 1302 |
| Elite | 2450 | 1556 |
| WR | 3837 | 2201 |
Cal/hr: Average calorie burn per hour.
A good 500m time is 01:35.4 for men. This is the average time across all ages. The fastest 500m time is 01:09.8 for men.
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 02:50.0 | 02:32.0 | 02:18.1 | 02:07.4 | 01:59.3 | 01:29.5 |
| 15 | 02:08.2 | 01:54.6 | 01:44.1 | 01:36.1 | 01:29.9 | 01:15.1 |
| 20 | 01:57.5 | 01:45.0 | 01:35.4 | 01:28.1 | 01:22.4 | 01:10.3 |
| 25 | 01:57.4 | 01:45.0 | 01:35.4 | 01:28.0 | 01:22.4 | 01:10.3 |
| 30 | 01:57.4 | 01:45.0 | 01:35.4 | 01:28.0 | 01:22.4 | 01:09.8 |
| 35 | 01:57.4 | 01:45.0 | 01:35.4 | 01:28.0 | 01:22.4 | 01:09.8 |
| 40 | 01:57.6 | 01:45.1 | 01:35.5 | 01:28.1 | 01:22.5 | 01:12.6 |
| 45 | 01:58.7 | 01:46.1 | 01:36.5 | 01:29.0 | 01:23.3 | 01:12.6 |
| 50 | 02:01.1 | 01:48.3 | 01:38.4 | 01:30.8 | 01:25.0 | 01:13.7 |
| 55 | 02:04.9 | 01:51.6 | 01:41.4 | 01:33.6 | 01:27.6 | 01:15.6 |
| 60 | 02:10.1 | 01:56.3 | 01:45.7 | 01:37.5 | 01:31.3 | 01:19.0 |
| 65 | 02:15.9 | 02:01.5 | 01:50.4 | 01:41.9 | 01:35.4 | 01:21.8 |
| 70 | 02:22.4 | 02:07.2 | 01:55.6 | 01:46.7 | 01:39.9 | 01:26.8 |
| 75 | 02:29.4 | 02:13.5 | 02:01.4 | 01:52.0 | 01:44.8 | 01:28.8 |
| 80 | 02:37.2 | 02:20.5 | 02:07.7 | 01:57.8 | 01:50.3 | 01:36.5 |
| 85 | 02:48.7 | 02:30.8 | 02:17.1 | 02:06.5 | 01:58.4 | 01:40.3 |
| 90 | 03:15.1 | 02:54.4 | 02:38.5 | 02:26.3 | 02:16.9 | 01:56.0 |
Time: Finish time for the full distance (seconds below a minute, otherwise mm:ss or hh:mm:ss).
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 02:50.0 | 02:32.0 | 02:18.1 | 02:07.4 | 01:59.3 | 01:29.5 |
| 15 | 02:08.2 | 01:54.6 | 01:44.1 | 01:36.1 | 01:29.9 | 01:15.1 |
| 20 | 01:57.5 | 01:45.0 | 01:35.4 | 01:28.1 | 01:22.4 | 01:10.3 |
| 25 | 01:57.4 | 01:45.0 | 01:35.4 | 01:28.0 | 01:22.4 | 01:10.3 |
| 30 | 01:57.4 | 01:45.0 | 01:35.4 | 01:28.0 | 01:22.4 | 01:09.8 |
| 35 | 01:57.4 | 01:45.0 | 01:35.4 | 01:28.0 | 01:22.4 | 01:09.8 |
| 40 | 01:57.6 | 01:45.1 | 01:35.5 | 01:28.1 | 01:22.5 | 01:12.6 |
| 45 | 01:58.7 | 01:46.1 | 01:36.5 | 01:29.0 | 01:23.3 | 01:12.6 |
| 50 | 02:01.1 | 01:48.3 | 01:38.4 | 01:30.8 | 01:25.0 | 01:13.7 |
| 55 | 02:04.9 | 01:51.6 | 01:41.4 | 01:33.6 | 01:27.6 | 01:15.6 |
| 60 | 02:10.1 | 01:56.3 | 01:45.7 | 01:37.5 | 01:31.3 | 01:19.0 |
| 65 | 02:15.9 | 02:01.5 | 01:50.4 | 01:41.9 | 01:35.4 | 01:21.8 |
| 70 | 02:22.4 | 02:07.2 | 01:55.6 | 01:46.7 | 01:39.9 | 01:26.8 |
| 75 | 02:29.4 | 02:13.5 | 02:01.4 | 01:52.0 | 01:44.8 | 01:28.8 |
| 80 | 02:37.2 | 02:20.5 | 02:07.7 | 01:57.8 | 01:50.3 | 01:36.5 |
| 85 | 02:48.7 | 02:30.8 | 02:17.1 | 02:06.5 | 01:58.4 | 01:40.3 |
| 90 | 03:15.1 | 02:54.4 | 02:38.5 | 02:26.3 | 02:16.9 | 01:56.0 |
500m: Average time per 500 metres, shown in minutes and seconds (mm:ss.s).
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 71 | 100 | 133 | 169 | 206 | 488 |
| 15 | 166 | 233 | 310 | 394 | 481 | 826 |
| 20 | 216 | 302 | 403 | 512 | 625 | 1007 |
| 25 | 216 | 303 | 403 | 513 | 626 | 1007 |
| 30 | 216 | 303 | 403 | 513 | 626 | 1029 |
| 35 | 216 | 303 | 403 | 513 | 626 | 1029 |
| 40 | 215 | 302 | 402 | 511 | 623 | 915 |
| 45 | 209 | 293 | 390 | 496 | 605 | 915 |
| 50 | 197 | 276 | 367 | 468 | 570 | 874 |
| 55 | 180 | 252 | 335 | 427 | 520 | 810 |
| 60 | 159 | 223 | 297 | 378 | 461 | 710 |
| 65 | 139 | 195 | 260 | 331 | 404 | 639 |
| 70 | 121 | 170 | 226 | 288 | 351 | 535 |
| 75 | 105 | 147 | 196 | 249 | 304 | 500 |
| 80 | 90 | 126 | 168 | 214 | 261 | 389 |
| 85 | 73 | 102 | 136 | 173 | 211 | 347 |
| 90 | 47 | 66 | 88 | 112 | 136 | 224 |
Watts: Average power output.
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 545 | 643 | 757 | 881 | 1009 | 1978 |
| 15 | 871 | 1100 | 1366 | 1656 | 1954 | 3140 |
| 20 | 1041 | 1338 | 1683 | 2060 | 2447 | 3762 |
| 25 | 1043 | 1340 | 1685 | 2063 | 2450 | 3762 |
| 30 | 1043 | 1340 | 1685 | 2063 | 2450 | 3837 |
| 35 | 1043 | 1340 | 1685 | 2063 | 2450 | 3837 |
| 40 | 1040 | 1336 | 1680 | 2056 | 2442 | 3443 |
| 45 | 1018 | 1306 | 1640 | 2005 | 2380 | 3443 |
| 50 | 977 | 1248 | 1563 | 1907 | 2260 | 3305 |
| 55 | 918 | 1165 | 1453 | 1766 | 2089 | 3084 |
| 60 | 847 | 1065 | 1320 | 1598 | 1883 | 2740 |
| 65 | 779 | 971 | 1194 | 1437 | 1687 | 2498 |
| 70 | 717 | 884 | 1078 | 1290 | 1507 | 2139 |
| 75 | 661 | 805 | 973 | 1156 | 1344 | 2018 |
| 80 | 610 | 734 | 878 | 1035 | 1197 | 1638 |
| 85 | 550 | 651 | 767 | 894 | 1025 | 1492 |
| 90 | 462 | 527 | 602 | 684 | 769 | 1071 |
Cal/hr: Average calorie burn per hour.
A good 500m time is 01:52.0 for women. This is the average time across all ages. The fastest 500m time is 01:24.5 for women.
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 02:50.3 | 02:33.1 | 02:19.2 | 02:08.2 | 01:59.6 | 01:38.5 |
| 15 | 02:26.1 | 02:11.4 | 01:59.5 | 01:50.1 | 01:42.7 | 01:29.6 |
| 20 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.5 |
| 25 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.5 |
| 30 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.7 |
| 35 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.7 |
| 40 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.5 |
| 45 | 02:19.0 | 02:04.9 | 01:53.6 | 01:44.7 | 01:37.6 | 01:24.5 |
| 50 | 02:24.4 | 02:09.8 | 01:58.1 | 01:48.8 | 01:41.5 | 01:32.8 |
| 55 | 02:30.4 | 02:15.2 | 02:02.9 | 01:53.2 | 01:45.7 | 01:34.1 |
| 60 | 02:36.8 | 02:21.0 | 02:08.2 | 01:58.1 | 01:50.2 | 01:36.7 |
| 65 | 02:43.8 | 02:27.3 | 02:13.9 | 02:03.4 | 01:55.1 | 01:43.6 |
| 70 | 02:51.5 | 02:34.2 | 02:20.2 | 02:09.1 | 02:00.5 | 01:46.1 |
| 75 | 02:59.9 | 02:41.7 | 02:27.1 | 02:15.5 | 02:06.4 | 01:54.9 |
| 80 | 03:11.5 | 02:52.2 | 02:36.6 | 02:24.2 | 02:14.6 | 02:02.7 |
| 85 | 03:28.8 | 03:07.7 | 02:50.7 | 02:37.2 | 02:26.7 | 02:21.1 |
| 90 | 03:54.6 | 03:30.9 | 03:11.9 | 02:56.7 | 02:44.9 | 02:28.8 |
Time: Finish time for the full distance (seconds below a minute, otherwise mm:ss or hh:mm:ss).
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 02:50.3 | 02:33.1 | 02:19.2 | 02:08.2 | 01:59.6 | 01:38.5 |
| 15 | 02:26.1 | 02:11.4 | 01:59.5 | 01:50.1 | 01:42.7 | 01:29.6 |
| 20 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.5 |
| 25 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.5 |
| 30 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.7 |
| 35 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.7 |
| 40 | 02:17.0 | 02:03.2 | 01:52.0 | 01:43.2 | 01:36.3 | 01:24.5 |
| 45 | 02:19.0 | 02:04.9 | 01:53.6 | 01:44.7 | 01:37.6 | 01:24.5 |
| 50 | 02:24.4 | 02:09.8 | 01:58.1 | 01:48.8 | 01:41.5 | 01:32.8 |
| 55 | 02:30.4 | 02:15.2 | 02:02.9 | 01:53.2 | 01:45.7 | 01:34.1 |
| 60 | 02:36.8 | 02:21.0 | 02:08.2 | 01:58.1 | 01:50.2 | 01:36.7 |
| 65 | 02:43.8 | 02:27.3 | 02:13.9 | 02:03.4 | 01:55.1 | 01:43.6 |
| 70 | 02:51.5 | 02:34.2 | 02:20.2 | 02:09.1 | 02:00.5 | 01:46.1 |
| 75 | 02:59.9 | 02:41.7 | 02:27.1 | 02:15.5 | 02:06.4 | 01:54.9 |
| 80 | 03:11.5 | 02:52.2 | 02:36.6 | 02:24.2 | 02:14.6 | 02:02.7 |
| 85 | 03:28.8 | 03:07.7 | 02:50.7 | 02:37.2 | 02:26.7 | 02:21.1 |
| 90 | 03:54.6 | 03:30.9 | 03:11.9 | 02:56.7 | 02:44.9 | 02:28.8 |
500m: Average time per 500 metres, shown in minutes and seconds (mm:ss.s).
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 71 | 98 | 130 | 166 | 204 | 366 |
| 15 | 112 | 154 | 205 | 262 | 323 | 487 |
| 20 | 136 | 187 | 249 | 318 | 392 | 580 |
| 25 | 136 | 187 | 249 | 318 | 392 | 580 |
| 30 | 136 | 187 | 249 | 318 | 392 | 576 |
| 35 | 136 | 187 | 249 | 318 | 392 | 576 |
| 40 | 136 | 187 | 249 | 318 | 392 | 580 |
| 45 | 130 | 179 | 239 | 305 | 376 | 580 |
| 50 | 116 | 160 | 212 | 272 | 335 | 438 |
| 55 | 103 | 142 | 188 | 241 | 297 | 420 |
| 60 | 91 | 125 | 166 | 213 | 262 | 387 |
| 65 | 80 | 110 | 146 | 186 | 230 | 315 |
| 70 | 69 | 96 | 127 | 162 | 200 | 293 |
| 75 | 60 | 83 | 110 | 141 | 173 | 231 |
| 80 | 50 | 69 | 91 | 117 | 144 | 189 |
| 85 | 38 | 53 | 70 | 90 | 111 | 125 |
| 90 | 27 | 37 | 50 | 63 | 78 | 106 |
Watts: Average power output.
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite | WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 452 | 543 | 654 | 778 | 910 | 1466 |
| 15 | 593 | 738 | 913 | 1110 | 1319 | 1880 |
| 20 | 675 | 851 | 1063 | 1302 | 1556 | 2201 |
| 25 | 675 | 851 | 1063 | 1302 | 1556 | 2201 |
| 30 | 675 | 851 | 1063 | 1302 | 1556 | 2187 |
| 35 | 675 | 851 | 1063 | 1302 | 1556 | 2187 |
| 40 | 675 | 851 | 1063 | 1302 | 1556 | 2201 |
| 45 | 656 | 825 | 1028 | 1257 | 1500 | 2201 |
| 50 | 607 | 757 | 938 | 1142 | 1359 | 1713 |
| 55 | 562 | 695 | 855 | 1036 | 1228 | 1651 |
| 60 | 520 | 637 | 779 | 938 | 1107 | 1538 |
| 65 | 481 | 584 | 708 | 848 | 997 | 1290 |
| 70 | 446 | 536 | 644 | 766 | 896 | 1215 |
| 75 | 414 | 492 | 586 | 691 | 803 | 1001 |
| 80 | 379 | 444 | 521 | 609 | 701 | 859 |
| 85 | 340 | 390 | 450 | 517 | 589 | 636 |
| 90 | 301 | 336 | 378 | 426 | 476 | 573 |
Cal/hr: Average calorie burn per hour.
| Beginner | Faster than 5% of rowers. |
|---|---|
| Novice | Faster than 20% of rowers. |
| Intermediate | Faster than 50% of rowers. |
| Advanced | Faster than 80% of rowers. |
| Elite | Faster than 95% of rowers. |
Strength Level introduced these exact Beginner-to-Elite percentile boundaries in 2015. See how the standards evolved.
Rowing Level analysed 26,235 qualifying results from 107,336 community results submitted by 50,522 Rowing Level users from 2021 to 2026 to produce our 500m row time standards. We will continue to update them as more community data becomes available. See our standards timeline.
| Community results | 107,336 |
|---|---|
| Community users | 50,522 |
| Qualifying results | 26,235 |
| Male results | 18,982 |
| Female results | 7,253 |
| Data start | |
| Data cutoff | |
| Model generated |
Qualifying results are retained after checks for implausible data, duplicates, and unusual or automated submission patterns. Learn more about qualifying results.
The old average finish time for 500m was 01:40.5 across all ages and genders, 01:33.2 for men (now 2.3% slower) and 01:58.0 for women (now 5.3% faster).
| Level | Previous | Current | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 01:50.4 | 01:57.4 | +6.4% |
| Novice | 01:41.6 | 01:45.0 | +3.3% |
| Intermediate | 01:33.2 | 01:35.4 | +2.4% |
| Advanced | 01:25.4 | 01:28.0 | +3.0% |
| Elite | 01:18.7 | 01:22.4 | +4.8% |
| Level | Previous | Current | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 02:24.8 | 02:17.0 | -5.3% |
| Novice | 02:11.0 | 02:03.2 | -6.0% |
| Intermediate | 01:58.0 | 01:52.0 | -5.1% |
| Advanced | 01:46.3 | 01:43.2 | -2.9% |
| Elite | 01:36.2 | 01:36.3 | 0.0% |
We created these previous standards on and last updated them (see archive.org).
| Record | Age Category | Name | Time | Date | Age | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | 12 and Under | Michael G | 01:29.5 | 7 Dec 2022 | 12 | C2 |
| WR | 15-16 | Isaiah Harrison | 01:15.1 | 16 Apr 2020 | 16 | C2 |
| WR | 19-29 | Spyridon Kalentzis | 01:10.3 | 14 Jun 2024 | 27 | C2 |
| WR | 30-39 | Phil Clapp | 01:09.8 | 26 Mar 2024 | 34 | C2 |
| WR | 40-49 | Anders Edquist | 01:12.6 | 7 Mar 2026 | 46 | C2 |
| WR | 50-54 | Paul Jeffrey | 01:13.7 | 31 Oct 2017 | 54 | C2 |
| WR | 55-59 | Paul Jeffrey | 01:15.6 | 28 Oct 2018 | 55 | C2 |
| WR | 60-64 | Colin Cook | 01:19.0 | 9 Feb 2024 | 60 | C2 |
| WR | 65-69 | Jeff Kyser | 01:21.8 | 22 Aug 2026 | 65 | C2 |
| WR | 70-74 | Jeremy Martin | 01:26.8 | 6 Nov 2022 | 71 | C2 |
| WR | 75-79 | Jeremy Martin | 01:28.8 | 9 Dec 2025 | 75 | C2 |
| WR | 80-84 | Jan Otto Kristiansen | 01:36.5 | 31 May 2021 | 80 | C2 |
| WR | 85-89 | Jan Otto Kristiansen | 01:40.3 | 4 Jul 2025 | 85 | C2 |
| WR | 90-94 | Bob McBride | 01:56.0 | 8 Oct 2025 | 90 | C2 |
| Record | Age Category | Name | Time | Date | Age | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | 12 and Under | Katherine Feret | 01:38.5 | 30 Apr 2023 | 12 | C2 |
| WR | 15-16 | Annelise Hahl | 01:29.6 | 25 Feb 2023 | 16 | C2 |
| WR | 19-29 | Olena Buryak | 01:24.5 | 27 Jul 2017 | 29 | C2 |
| WR | 30-39 | Stefanie Preiksa | 01:24.7 | 19 Jul 2025 | 37 | C2 |
| WR | 40-49 | Ana Caldas | 01:24.5 | 23 Feb 2021 | 43 | C2 |
| WR | 50-54 | Benita Clausen | 01:32.8 | 25 Feb 2022 | 50 | C2 |
| WR | 55-59 | Anne Bourlioux | 01:34.1 | 18 Apr 2016 | 55 | C2 |
| WR | 60-64 | Beth Burchill Fingland | 01:36.7 | 19 Apr 2026 | 60 | C2 |
| WR | 65-69 | Sharon Anne Jones | 01:43.6 | 23 Oct 2025 | 65 | C2 |
| WR | 70-74 | Ann Wopat | 01:46.1 | 26 Apr 2023 | 70 | C2 |
| WR | 75-79 | Roberta Gordon | 01:54.9 | 7 Jun 2026 | 78 | C2 |
| WR | 80-84 | Anne Cresswell | 02:02.7 | 28 Oct 2018 | 80 | C2 |
| WR | 85-89 | Tibby Kemp | 02:21.1 | 30 Sep 2018 | 86 | C2 |
| WR | 90-94 | Alida Kingswood | 02:28.8 | 10 Aug 2023 | 91 | C2 |
The Rowing Level Calculator can show your exact level of rowing performance at any age.