Calculate vertical jump power, body weight, or jump height from any two values in kg/lb, m/ft, and W/hp with step-by-step results.
Vertical Jump Power Formula
The vertical jump power calculator estimates lower-body explosive power from body mass and vertical jump height. It is useful for athlete testing, performance tracking, and comparing jump results collected under the same protocol.
In this equation, body mass has a direct effect on the result, while jump height affects the result through a square-root relationship. That means larger jumps increase estimated power, but not in a perfectly linear way.
| Symbol | Meaning | Typical Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Pj | Estimated vertical jump power | W |
| BW | Body mass used in the calculation | kg |
| JRS | Vertical jump height | m |
If jump height is determined from reach testing, calculate it first as:
The same formula can also be written in a shorter form:
How to Calculate Vertical Jump Power
- Measure body mass in kilograms.
- Measure vertical jump height in meters.
- Take the square root of the jump height.
- Multiply by body mass and the constants in the formula.
- Express the final result in watts.
This makes the calculator especially helpful when you want more context than jump height alone. Two athletes may jump the same height, but the heavier athlete can still produce a higher estimated power output.
Example Calculations
Example 1: An athlete with a body mass of 75 kg records a vertical jump height of 0.60 m.
Example 2: An athlete with a body mass of 82 kg records a vertical jump height of 0.55 m.
How to Interpret Vertical Jump Power
- Higher power values generally indicate greater explosive lower-body output.
- Mass influences the result, so power should not be interpreted the same way as jump height alone.
- Testing method matters; squat jumps, countermovement jumps, and jumps with arm swing should be compared separately.
- Consistency matters; use the same warm-up, surface, footwear, and measurement method when tracking progress.
- This is an estimate, which makes it practical for field testing, but it is not the same as direct force-plate measurement.
Common Input and Measurement Tips
- Enter vertical jump height, not total reach from the floor.
- Keep units consistent; centimeters should be converted to meters before using the formula.
- If you measure with standing reach and jump reach, use the same technique each time for cleaner comparisons.
- For loaded jumps, decide whether you want athlete-only mass or total system mass and keep that choice consistent across sessions.
- If multiple trials are performed, use either the best jump or the average jump based on your testing standard.
Unit Conversions
Vertical jump power is usually reported in watts, but it can also be expressed in horsepower.
Common jump-height conversions are:
