Normal Testosterone Levels by Age: Chart and What Your Number Means

Short answer: For adult men, normal testosterone levels usually fall somewhere between about 250 and 900 ng/dL, depending on the lab and the reference population. The American Urological Association (AUA) uses a total testosterone below 300 ng/dL as a reasonable cutoff for low testosterone, but only when it shows up on two early morning tests and comes with symptoms or signs. Levels tend to drift down with age, often by about 1% a year after age 30 or 40, so a number that is typical at 55 can sit lower than one that is typical at 25. Your doctor reads the result against your lab’s range, your age and your health, not against a single magic number.

Key Takeaways

• “Normal” is a range, not a target: a large harmonized study of 9,054 men set the normal range for healthy, nonobese men aged 19 to 39 at 264 to 916 ng/dL, with a median of 531 ng/dL.^[2]
• 300 ng/dL is the AUA diagnostic cutoff: below that level, on two separate early morning tests, plus symptoms or signs, is how testosterone deficiency is defined.^[1]
• Labs print different ranges: one lab example lists 249 to 836 ng/dL for men aged 17 to 50 and 193 to 740 ng/dL for men over 50.^[4]
• Age matters, but slowly: testosterone typically declines about 1% a year after age 30 or 40, and Mayo Clinic advises against treating normal aging with testosterone.^[5]
• Weight and health matter too: obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic illness and some medicines, including opioids, are linked to lower readings.^[4][6]
• One number never settles it: a single low result should be repeated before anyone draws conclusions.^[1][4]

What “Normal Testosterone Levels” Actually Means

When a lab report says your testosterone is “normal,” it means your number sits inside a reference interval. That interval is built by testing a large group of men who are considered healthy and then marking off the middle 95% of their results. In the harmonized study led by Travison and published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2017, that meant the 2.5th percentile (264 ng/dL) and the 97.5th percentile (916 ng/dL) of healthy, nonobese men aged 19 to 39.^[2]

Two consequences follow from that definition. First, about 1 healthy man in 40 will land below the lower limit simply by chance, and about 1 in 40 above the upper limit. Second, sitting at the low end of the range is not the same as being unhealthy, and sitting near the top is not automatically better. A reference range describes a population; it does not grade an individual.

Why different labs give different ranges

The same blood sample can produce slightly different numbers on different testing platforms. The Travison team found that a meaningful part of the variation between studies came from differences in assays, which is why they cross-calibrated four cohorts from the United States and Europe against a reference method at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.^[2][3] MedlinePlus states plainly that normal value ranges may vary slightly among different labs.^[4] The practical rule: compare your result with the range printed on your own report, and when you track changes over time, try to use the same lab.

Total testosterone is the starting point

Most of the numbers in this article refer to total testosterone, which is what guidelines use for the first diagnostic step. Free testosterone and SHBG are separate measurements that a doctor may add in specific situations. We explain the difference in detail in our guide to free vs total testosterone.

Testosterone Levels by Age Chart

There is no single official “testosterone by age” chart that every lab uses. What exists are reference ranges from published studies and individual labs, plus the diagnostic cutoff used by urologists. The table below brings those reference points together. Every number comes from a source listed at the end of this article.

The converted nmol/L figures use the ratio implied by the MedlinePlus ranges (roughly 28.8 ng/dL per nmol/L). If your report uses nmol/L, multiply by about 28.8 to get ng/dL, or simply use the range printed on the report.

How to read this chart

• The lower limits overlap with the 300 cutoff. Lab ranges can start below 300 ng/dL (249 or 193 in the MedlinePlus example), while the AUA cutoff is 300 ng/dL. That is why a result can be flagged as “within range” by the lab and still be worth a conversation with your doctor if you also have symptoms.
• The over 50 range is lower, not “worse.” A lower range for older men reflects what is typical at that age. It does not mean the lab has decided low numbers are fine for everyone over 50.
• The 450 to 600 band is a treatment target. The AUA describes it as the middle tertile of most lab ranges and uses it to judge therapy. It is not a goal every untreated man should chase.^[1]

How Testosterone Changes After 30, 40 and 50

Mayo Clinic describes a gradual decline of typically about 1% a year after age 30 or 40.^[5] Cleveland Clinic puts the start in the late 30s with a similar 1% yearly drop.^[6] Spread over decades, that adds up: it is one reason the MedlinePlus example range for men over 50 starts and ends lower than the range for younger men.^[4]

Age also changes how often a low result shows up. The AUA guideline cites the Hypogonadism in Males (HIM) study, which reported a 17% increase in testosterone deficiency per decade of life, and notes that published prevalence figures vary widely, from 2% to 50% depending on how deficiency is defined and who is studied.^[1]

Age is not the only driver

Many men in their 50s and 60s have levels well inside the normal range. Age interacts with other factors that can lower a reading:

• Body weight and metabolic health: Cleveland Clinic notes that low testosterone in older men is more common in those with type 2 diabetes, overweight or obesity.^[6] MedlinePlus also lists obesity among causes of lower total testosterone.^[4]
• Chronic illness and thyroid function: MedlinePlus lists chronic illness and low thyroid function as possible causes of a decreased level.^[4]
• Medicines: Cleveland Clinic lists certain medicines for prostate cancer, digestive issues or pain, as well as opioids and medicines used to treat opioid dependence.^[6]
• Short-term illness: being sick can temporarily lower testosterone, so tell your provider if you were unwell when the blood was drawn.^[6]

Daily habits such as sleep, activity and body composition are worth attention regardless of your number. Our guides to supporting testosterone naturally and better sleep routines for men cover them in depth.

What Counts as Low, and What Happens Next

The AUA guideline sets out three conditions before a clinician should diagnose testosterone deficiency:^[1]

1. A total testosterone level below 300 ng/dL.
2. Two measurements taken on separate occasions, both early in the morning.
3. Symptoms and/or signs that fit the diagnosis.

A low number without symptoms, or symptoms with a normal number, does not meet that definition on its own. MedlinePlus adds that a second sample is often needed to confirm a result that is lower than expected, and that the best time for the draw is between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.^[4] Our article on the best time to check testosterone covers preparation and timing, and our guide to the signs of low testosterone explains which symptoms doctors look for.

If your result is low

A confirmed low result is the start of a workup, not the end of one. Doctors usually look for an underlying reason, such as weight, diabetes, medicines or a pituitary problem, because the cause shapes the plan. Mayo Clinic notes that doctors will likely measure testosterone at least twice before recommending testosterone therapy, that it is unclear whether therapy helps otherwise healthy older men, and that treating normal aging with testosterone is not advisable.^[5] Mayo Clinic also lists possible risks of therapy, including stimulating benign prostate growth and growth of existing prostate cancer, and notes that some research links therapy to a higher risk of heart disease.^[5]

If your result is high

High total testosterone in men is far less common outside of treatment. MedlinePlus lists certain medicines or supplements among the causes of increased levels.^[4] If you use any hormone, prohormone or bodybuilding product, tell your doctor before the test, because it can change both the reading and how it is interpreted.

Where Supplements Fit (and Where They Do Not)

No supplement replaces a blood test, a diagnosis or a doctor’s plan. If you think your testosterone might be low, testing comes first. Supplements belong in the “general wellness” part of the picture, alongside sleep, exercise and diet, and they should be chosen with the same care you would give any product you take every week.

Ultra Bann is a natural male vitality supplement made by DL Bioproducts, taken as one capsule every 2 days. It contains seven botanicals with each amount printed on the label (no proprietary blend): Thai Butea superba, Panax ginseng, Cynomorium songaricum, black ginger, tongkat ali, epimedium and reishi, for 800 mg in total. It is not a hormone product and it is not a substitute for testing or medical care. You can review the full Ultra Bann ingredient label, and if you decide it fits your routine, the first order includes free US shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you are being evaluated or treated for a hormone issue, show the label to your doctor first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a normal testosterone level for a man in his 40s or 50s?

It depends on the lab. In the MedlinePlus example, the range for men aged 17 to 50 is 249 to 836 ng/dL and the range for men over 50 is 193 to 740 ng/dL.^[4] Always compare your result with the range printed on your own report, and remember the AUA uses 300 ng/dL as the cutoff when symptoms are present.^[1]

Is 300 ng/dL a low testosterone level?

The AUA calls a total testosterone level below 300 ng/dL a reasonable cutoff for low testosterone, and Cleveland Clinic says providers consider levels below 300 ng/dL low in adults.^[1][6] A diagnosis still requires two early morning tests and matching symptoms or signs.

What is a good testosterone level for a man?

There is no single “good” number. The harmonized median for healthy, nonobese men aged 19 to 39 was 531 ng/dL, but anything inside the reference range can be normal for a given man.^[2] The 450 to 600 ng/dL band you may see online is the AUA’s target for men already on therapy, not a goal for everyone.^[1]

How much does testosterone drop with age?

Typically about 1% a year after age 30 or 40, according to Mayo Clinic.^[5] The decline is gradual, and many older men remain well within the normal range. Weight, diabetes, chronic illness and some medicines can lower levels more than age alone.^[4][6]

Why is my testosterone “normal” on the report but my doctor wants to retest?

Lab ranges can start below the 300 ng/dL cutoff, results vary from day to day and across testing platforms, and one reading can be affected by time of day or a recent illness. Retesting in the early morning is standard practice before any decision.^[1][4][6]

References

1. American Urological Association. Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency (AUA Guideline, 2018; reviewed 2024). Mulhall JP, Trost LW, Brannigan RE, et al. J Urol 2018; 200: 423. auanet.org
2. Travison TG, Vesper HW, Orwoll E, et al. Harmonized reference ranges for circulating testosterone levels in men of four cohort studies in the United States and Europe. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2017; 102(4): 1161 to 1173. Abstract
3. Endocrine News. Study Defines Normal Ranges for Testosterone Levels. Endocrine Society. endocrinenews.endocrine.org
4. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Testosterone (blood test). U.S. National Library of Medicine, reviewed January 2026. medlineplus.gov
5. Mayo Clinic Staff. Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age. Mayo Clinic. mayoclinic.org
6. Cleveland Clinic. Low Testosterone (Low T): Hypogonadism, Symptoms and Treatment. my.clevelandclinic.org

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for information only and is not medical advice.