Testosterone Levels by Age: Male and Female Chart
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2 Oct 2023 - Updated: 29 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This information provides medically-sourced reference data drawn from published clinical laboratory standards, offering precise testosterone measurements across three distinct categories - total, bioavailable, and free testosterone - for both sexes throughout their lifespan. The charts prove particularly valuable for patients monitoring hormone health, older adults tracking age-related changes, and individuals with disabilities who may experience hormonal imbalances due to medications, chronic conditions, or reduced physical activity. By presenting ranges in both US and international units, the data accommodates different healthcare systems while helping people understand whether their levels fall within expected parameters, facilitating more informed conversations with healthcare providers about symptoms like fatigue, mood changes, bone density concerns, or metabolic issues.
At a Glance
- 1 - Both testes and ovaries produce testosterone, and the adrenal glands add small amounts in each sex. In females, much of it converts into the hormone estradiol.
- 2 - Adult males typically range from 265 to 923 nanograms per deciliter of blood. Levels naturally peak in early adulthood and decline gradually with age.
- 3 - The charts separate infant, child, puberty, and adult stages, including premenopausal and postmenopausal ranges for women. Each figure appears in both US and international units.
- 4 - The data draws from published clinical laboratory standards cited to Chernecky and Berger's diagnostic reference text. Printable total, bioavailable, and free testosterone charts are also available for personal use.
Topic Definition
- Testosterone
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, though it's present in all humans regardless of sex. Produced mainly in the testes in men and in smaller amounts in the ovaries and adrenal glands in women, this androgen plays a crucial role in developing male reproductive tissues, promoting secondary sexual characteristics like increased muscle mass and body hair, and maintaining bone density. Beyond its physical effects, testosterone influences mood, energy levels, and libido. While levels naturally peak during adolescence and early adulthood before gradually declining with age, abnormally low or high testosterone can lead to various health issues. The hormone has become a subject of considerable medical and cultural attention, particularly regarding its use in gender-affirming care and its controversial role in athletic performance.
Overview
Testosterone, an androgen hormone, is essential for both males and females. While commonly recognized as a primary male sex hormone, females also require certain levels of testosterone. In females, a significant portion of testosterone converts into the sex hormone estradiol.
Measuring Testosterone:
- In the US, testosterone is measured in nanograms per decilitre of blood (ng/dL).
- In the UK, testosterone is mainly measured in nanomoles per litre (nmol/L) for total testosterone (all the testosterone in your blood).
- Free testosterone, the testosterone that is available for your body to use, is measured in picomoles per litre (pmol/L).
Males and Testosterone
In males, the testes produce testosterone, while the ovaries produce testosterone in females. Additionally, both sexes produce small amounts of testosterone in the adrenal glands.
Typically, adult males have a testosterone concentration between 265 and 923 nanograms per deciliter in their blood, whereas adult females have considerably lower levels. Testosterone levels can vary widely between individuals and throughout a person's life. Generally, males have substantially higher testosterone levels than females.
Testosterone serves as the primary male sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, it plays a crucial role in the development of male reproductive tissues, such as the testes and prostate. Additionally, testosterone promotes secondary sexual characteristics like increased muscle and bone mass and the growth of body hair. It is associated with increased aggression, violence, criminal behavior, sex drive, and courtship behaviors aimed at impressing partners.
Females and Testosterone
In women, testosterone levels are higher before and after intercourse compared to before and after cuddling. Administration of testosterone has a time lag effect on genital arousal in women. Furthermore, a continuous increase in vaginal sexual arousal can result in heightened genital sensations and sexual appetitive behaviors.
When females have a higher baseline level of testosterone, they experience greater increases in sexual arousal levels but smaller increases in testosterone, suggesting a ceiling effect on testosterone levels in females. Sexual thoughts can influence testosterone levels but not cortisol levels in the female body. Additionally, hormonal contraceptives may impact the variation in testosterone response to sexual thoughts.
Health and Well-being
In both sexes, testosterone contributes to overall health and well-being. It significantly affects mood, cognition, social and sexual behavior, metabolism, energy output, the cardiovascular system, and the prevention of osteoporosis. Insufficient testosterone levels in men can lead to abnormalities, including frailty, adipose fat accumulation, anxiety, depression, sexual performance issues, and bone loss.
Testosterone Chart By Age for Males and Females
The following tables outline female and male average testosterone levels by age in chart format.
Jump to:
| Stage | Age range | Male | Female | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Values | SI units | Values | SI units | ||
| Infant | Premature (26 - 28 weeks) | 59 - 125 ng/dL | 2.047 - 4.337 nmol/L | 5 - 16 ng/dL | 0.173 - 0.555 nmol/L |
| Premature (31 - 35 weeks) | 37 - 198 ng/dL | 1.284 - 6.871 nmol/L | 5 - 22 ng/dL | 0.173 - 0.763 nmol/L | |
| Newborn | 75 - 400 ng/dL | 2.602 - 13.877 nmol/L | 20 - 64 ng/dL | 0.694 - 2.220 nmol/L | |
| Child | 1 - 6 years | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| 7 - 9 years | 0 - 8 ng/dL | 0 - 0.277 nmol/L | 1 - 12 ng/dL | 0.035 - 0.416 nmol/L | |
| Just before puberty | 3 - 10 ng/dL | 0.104 - 0.347 nmol/L | <10 ng/dL | <0.347 nmol/L | |
| Puberty | 10 - 11 years | 1 - 48 ng/dL | 0.035 - 1.666 nmol/L | 2 - 35 ng/dL | 0.069 - 1.214 nmol/L |
| 12 - 13 years | 5 - 619 ng/dL | 0.173 - 21.480 nmol/L | 5 - 53 ng/dL | 0.173 - 1.839 nmol/L | |
| 14 - 15 years | 100 - 320 ng/dL | 3.47 - 11.10 nmol/L | 8 - 41 ng/dL | 0.278 - 1.423 nmol/L | |
| 16 - 17 years | 200 - 970 ng/dL | 6.94 - 33.66 nmol/L | 8 - 53 ng/dL | 0.278 - 1.839 nmol/L | |
| Adult | ≥18 years | 350 - 1080 ng/dL | 12.15 - 37.48 nmol/L | - | - |
| 20 - 39 years | 400 - 1080 ng/dL | 13.88 - 37.48 nmol/L | - | - | |
| 40 - 59 years | 350 - 890 ng/dL | 12.15 - 30.88 nmol/L | - | - | |
| ≥60 years | 350 - 720 ng/dL | 12.15 - 24.98 nmol/L | - | - | |
| Premenopausal | - | - | 10 - 54 ng/dL | 0.347 - 1.873 nmol/L | |
| Postmenopausal | - | - | 7 - 40 ng/dL | 0.243 - 1.388 nmol/L | |
| Stage | Age range | Male | Female | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Values | SI units | Values | SI units | ||
| Child | 1 - 6 years | 0.2 - 1.3 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.045 nmol/L | 0.2 - 1.3 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.045 nmol/L |
| 7 - 9 years | 0.2 - 2.3 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.079 nmol/L | 0.2 - 4.2 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.146 nmol/L | |
| Puberty | 10 - 11 years | 0.2 - 14.8 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.513 nmol/L | 0.4 - 19.3 ng/dL | 0.014 - 0.670 nmol/L |
| 12 - 13 years | 0.3 - 232.8 ng/dL | 0.010 - 8.082 nmol/L | 1.1 - 15.6 ng/dL | 0.038 - 0.541 nmol/L | |
| 14 - 15 years | 7.9 - 274.5 ng/dL | 0.274 - 9.525 nmol/L | 2.5 - 18.8 ng/dL | 0.087 - 0.652 nmol/L | |
| 16 - 17 years | 24.1 - 416.5 ng/dL | 0.836 - 14.452 nmol/L | 2.7 - 23.8 ng/dL | 0.094 - 0.826 nmol/L | |
| Adult | ≥18 years | ND | ND | - | - |
| Premenopausal | - | - | 1.9 - 22.8 ng/dL | 0.066 - 0.791 nmol/L | |
| Postmenopausal | - | - | 1.6 - 19.1 ng/dL | 0.055 - 0.662 nmol/L | |
| Stage | Age range | Male | Female | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Values | SI units | Values | SI units | ||
| Child | 1 - 6 years | 0.1 - 0.6 pg/mL | 0.3 - 2.1 pmol/L | 0.1 - 0.6 pg/mL | 0.3 - 2.1 pmol/L |
| 7 - 9 years | 0.1 - 0.8 pg/mL | 0.3 - 2.8 pmol/L | 0.1 - 1.6 pg/mL | 0.3 - 5.6 pmol/L | |
| Puberty | 10 - 11 years | 0.1 - 5.2 pg/mL | 0.3 - 18.0 pmol/L | 0.1 - 2.9 pg/mL | 0.3 - 10.1 pmol/L |
| 12 - 13 years | 0.4 - 79.6 pg/mL | 1.4 - 276.2 pmol/L | 0.6 - 5.6 pg/mL | 2.1 - 19.4 pmol/L | |
| 14 - 15 years | 2.7 - 112.3 pg/mL | 9.4 - 389.7 pmol/L | 1.0 - 6.2 pg/mL | 3.5 - 21.5 pmol/L | |
| 16 - 17 years | 31.5 - 159 pg/mL | 109.3 - 551.7 pmol/L | 1.0 - 8.3 pg/mL | 3.5 - 28.8 pmol/L | |
| Adult | ≥18 years | 44 - 244 pg/mL | 153 - 847 pmol/L | - | - |
| Premenopausal | - | - | 0.8 - 9.2 pg/mL | 2.8 - 31.9 pmol/L | |
| Postmenopausal | - | - | 0.6 - 6.7 pg/mL | 2.1 - 23.2 pmol/L | |
Legend:
ND - No Data
ng/dL - nanograms (ng) per deciliter (dL)
pg/mL - picograms per milliliter (pg/mL)
pmol/L - Picomoles per Liter
SI - International System of Units
NOTE: To convert pmol/L to ng/ML divide the pmol/L by 2.247, the resultant value will equal nanograms per milliliter.
Source: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (31 October 2012). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures - E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 1059-1062. ISBN 978-1-4557-4502-9.
Printable Testosterone Level Charts
We also have printable bioavailable, total and free testosterone level charts you can print for your own use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time of day is best to test testosterone
Testosterone is usually measured in the morning between 7 and 10 am because levels are naturally highest then and this timing gives the most consistent results for comparison against reference ranges.
Can a single blood test confirm low testosterone
No, a diagnosis of low testosterone generally requires at least two separate morning blood tests taken on different days because levels fluctuate and a single low reading may not reflect a true deficiency.
What is the difference between total and free testosterone
Total testosterone measures all the hormone in the blood, including the portion bound to proteins, while free testosterone measures only the unbound fraction that the body can actively use.
Do testosterone levels change throughout the day
Yes, testosterone follows a daily rhythm that peaks in the early morning and drops to its lowest point in the late afternoon and evening, which is why test timing matters for accuracy.
Can lifestyle factors affect testosterone levels
Yes, sleep quality, body weight, physical activity, stress, alcohol intake, and certain medications can all raise or lower testosterone, so these factors are often reviewed alongside blood test results.
What symptoms are linked to low testosterone in men
Common signs include fatigue, reduced libido, loss of muscle mass, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and lower bone density, though these symptoms can also stem from other conditions.
Why do women need testosterone
Women rely on smaller amounts of testosterone for healthy libido, bone strength, muscle maintenance, mood, and energy, and a portion of it converts into estradiol to support reproductive health.
Are testosterone reference ranges the same in every laboratory
No, reference ranges can differ between laboratories because of variations in testing methods and equipment, so results should always be interpreted against the range provided by the lab that ran the test.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: While these reference ranges offer a useful starting point for understanding testosterone levels across the human lifespan, individual variation remains considerable, and what constitutes "normal" depends heavily on personal health history, symptoms, and overall wellbeing rather than numbers alone. The data underscores an often-overlooked reality: testosterone matters for everyone - not just men - playing significant roles in bone health, muscle maintenance, cognitive function, and mood regulation regardless of sex. For those managing chronic conditions or disabilities, these baselines become even more relevant, as many medications and health challenges can shift hormone production in ways that affect quality of life, making regular monitoring and open dialogue with healthcare providers an essential part of maintaining optimal health throughout aging.
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.