Grip strength for a 72-year-old man
For men aged 70–74 (the reference group that includes age 72), the median grip strength is 37.7 kg. Reaching 46.3 kg puts you at the 80th percentile, and 50.6 kg at the 90th.
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Grip strength ratings for men 70–74
| Rating | Grip strength | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | above 50.6 kg | above 90th |
| Very good | 46.3–50.6 kg | 80th–90th |
| Good | 40.3–46.3 kg | 60th–80th |
| Average | 35.1–40.3 kg | 40th–60th |
| Fair | 29.3–35.1 kg | 20th–40th |
| Needs work | below 29.3 kg | below 20th |
How 72 compares with other ages
At the same age, the median for women is 23.6kg. Ten years later (age 82), the median for men drops to 32.3kg. In the age group just before yours (65–69) it's 40.1kg. You're compared with the 70–74 group until your 75th birthday, when you move into a group with lower averages, so the same score will rank higher.
Full table: men 40+
| Men · age | 5th | 10th | 20th | 30th | 40th | 50th | 60th | 70th | 80th | 90th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–44 | 32.3 | 36.0 | 40.4 | 43.6 | 46.3 | 48.8 | 51.2 | 53.9 | 57.1 | 61.5 | 65.1 |
| 45–49 | 30.6 | 34.4 | 39.0 | 42.3 | 45.1 | 47.6 | 50.2 | 52.9 | 56.2 | 60.7 | 64.4 |
| 50–54 | 28.9 | 32.8 | 37.4 | 40.7 | 43.5 | 46.2 | 48.8 | 51.6 | 54.8 | 59.4 | 63.1 |
| 55–59 | 27.2 | 31.0 | 35.6 | 38.9 | 41.7 | 44.4 | 47.0 | 49.8 | 53.1 | 57.7 | 61.4 |
| 60–64 | 25.5 | 29.1 | 33.6 | 36.9 | 39.7 | 42.4 | 45.0 | 47.8 | 51.1 | 55.6 | 59.3 |
| 65–69 | 23.7 | 27.2 | 31.5 | 34.7 | 37.5 | 40.1 | 42.8 | 45.6 | 48.8 | 53.2 | 56.8 |
| 70–74 | 21.9 | 25.2 | 29.3 | 32.4 | 35.1 | 37.7 | 40.3 | 43.1 | 46.3 | 50.6 | 54.1 |
| 75–79 | 20.0 | 23.1 | 27.0 | 29.9 | 32.5 | 35.1 | 37.6 | 40.3 | 43.5 | 47.7 | 51.1 |
| 80–84 | 18.0 | 20.8 | 24.5 | 27.3 | 29.8 | 32.3 | 34.8 | 37.5 | 40.5 | 44.7 | 48.0 |
| 85–89 | 15.9 | 18.5 | 21.9 | 24.6 | 27.0 | 29.4 | 31.8 | 34.4 | 37.4 | 41.5 | 44.6 |
| 90–94 | 13.7 | 16.1 | 19.2 | 21.7 | 24.0 | 26.3 | 28.7 | 31.2 | 34.2 | 38.1 | 41.2 |
Values in kg at each published percentile. “—” = not published by the source (we don’t estimate it).
How to test grip strength
Seated, elbow bent at 90°, squeeze as hard as you can for 3 seconds. Do 3 tries per hand and enter your single best (kg or lb).
FAQ
What is a good grip strength for a 72-year-old man?
Using Tomkinson et al., 2025 (2.4M adults, 69 countries), men aged 70–74 have a median of 37.7 kg. 46.3 kg or more is at or above the 80th percentile for your age and sex.
How does grip strength change after 72?
In the next reference group (75–79), the median for men is 35.1 kg, compared with 37.7 kg at 70–74. Holding your number steady as you age moves you up the percentiles.
Is this a medical test?
No. This is a population comparison for education and motivation, not a diagnosis. Consult your doctor before starting exercise or doing maximal-effort tests.
Related
- Grip strength norms for men 70–79
- Grip strength for a 72-year-old woman
- VO2 max for a 72-year-old man
- 30-second chair stand for a 72-year-old man
- Grip strength at 70
- Grip strength at 71
- Grip strength at 73
- Grip strength at 74
Not a diagnosis. Strong After 40 compares your numbers to published population norms for education and motivation only. It is not medical advice. Consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program or doing maximal-effort tests, especially if you have heart, joint, or other health conditions. Full disclaimer
- Tomkinson GR, Lang JJ, Rubín L, et al. International norms for adult handgrip strength: A systematic review of data on 2.4 million adults aged 20 to 100+ years from 69 countries and regions. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2025;14:101014. Table 2 (absolute handgrip strength, kg). doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101014. Sample: 2,405,863 adults aged 20–100+ from 100 studies, tested 2000 onward.