Beep Test Calculator: Stage to VO2 Max

Beep test (20 m shuttle run) calculator

Short answer

In Léger's 20 m shuttle run, the pace starts at 8.5 km/h and rises 0.5 km/h every minute. The last stage you reach sets your speed, and Léger's equation turns it into VO2 max: an adult who reaches stage 10 (13.0 km/h) scores about 50.6 mL/kg/min. For ages 8 to 17, the equation also uses age.

Last reviewed 28 October 20262 published sourcesNot medical advice

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Léger 20 m shuttle run: stage, speed and estimated VO2 max
Stage	Speed (km/h)	Adult VO2 max	Age 12 VO2 max
Stage 3	9.5	29.6	40.3
Stage 5	10.5	35.6	45.4
Stage 7	11.5	41.6	50.5
Stage 9	12.5	47.6	55.6
Stage 11	13.5	53.6	60.6
Stage 13	14.5	59.6	65.7
Stage 15	15.5	65.6	70.8

Stage

Speed (km/h)

Adult VO2 max

Age 12 VO2 max

Stage 3

9.5

29.6

40.3

Stage 5

10.5

35.6

45.4

Stage 7

11.5

41.6

50.5

Stage 9

12.5

47.6

55.6

Stage 11

13.5

53.6

60.6

Stage 13

14.5

59.6

65.7

Stage 15

15.5

65.6

70.8

Léger's protocol and equation

Runners shuttle between lines 20 m apart in time with sound signals. The speed starts at 8.5 km/h and rises by 0.5 km/h each minute; the last stage announced gives the speed used in the equation (Léger et al., 1988).

VO2 max = 31.025 + 3.238 × speed − 3.248 × age + 0.1536 × age × speed. It was built in 188 children aged 8–19 (r = 0.71), and for adults the same equation works with age held at 18 (r = 0.90 in 77 men and women aged 18–50) (Léger et al., 1988).

Léger and Gadoury's adult validation gives that adult version as VO2 max = −27.4 + 6.0 × speed (Léger & Gadoury, 1989).

Putting the number in context

See where your estimate sits for your age and sex with VO2 max by age, or try other field tests in the VO2 max calculator.

Common questions

How is VO2 max calculated from the beep test?

Léger et al. (1988) use VO2 max = 31.025 + 3.238 × speed − 3.248 × age + 0.1536 × age × speed, where speed (km/h) is that of the last stage announced: 8 + 0.5 × stage. Adults use age 18, which reduces to roughly −27.4 + 6.0 × speed.

Is this the same as the UK bleep test?

Not exactly. Some versions, such as the UK multistage fitness test, use different stage speeds and shuttle counts. This calculator follows Léger's 1988 protocol: 1-minute stages starting at 8.5 km/h. If your version's stage speeds differ, the result will be off.

How accurate is it?

In Léger's studies, the predicted VO2 max correlated with measured values at r = 0.71 in children and r = 0.90 in adults, so it is a reasonable field estimate but not a lab test.

Sources

Figures on this page were checked against these publications on 28 October 2026.

Léger LA, Mercier D, Gadoury C, Lambert J. The multistage 20 metre shuttle run test for aerobic fitness. Journal of Sports Sciences. 1988;6(2):93–101. doi.org/10.1080/02640418808729800

Léger L, Gadoury C. Validity of the 20 m shuttle run test with 1 min stages to predict VO2max in adults. Canadian Journal of Sport Sciences. 1989;14(1):21–26. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2924218/

Beep test (20 m shuttle run) calculator