What's a normal testosterone level for your age?
Testosterone levels decline with age, but what’s normal for a man in his 20s, 40s, or 60s?
A normal testosterone level for men is often reported as around 12–30 nmol/L (346–864 ng/dL), depending on the guideline and lab. But testosterone levels decline with age, so why haven’t we moved to age-specific ranges?
Researchers are still working out what constitutes a healthy testosterone level at different ages and, more importantly, what those levels mean for our health. It’s a personal thing. For example, two men with a level of 10 nmol/L can experience very different symptoms. We’re realising that symptoms are just as important as the result itself.
So, what’s a healthy testosterone for your age? We look at how levels change throughout life, and what the latest research tells us about normal and optimal levels.
In this article, we cover:
- Testosterone levels throughout your lifetime
- Why do testosterone levels decline with age?
- What’s a normal testosterone for your age?
- What’s an optimal testosterone level for a man?
- Do I need TRT?
- How to check your testosterone levels
- How can I minimise the rate of decline?
Testosterone levels throughout your lifetime
Even well before you’re born, your testicles start producing small amounts of testosterone [1]. Levels increase throughout childhood and, perhaps unsurprisingly, peak during adolescence. By your early 20s, your testosterone levels are the highest they’ll ever be naturally.
From here, levels fall only slowly for most men, but perhaps differently from what you might expect.
Some sources, like the NHS, state that testosterone levels decline by 1% every year from your 30s [2]. However, many studies show the decline may be even smaller than this. A 2023 analysis of more than 25,000 men found little change in testosterone levels between ages 17 and 70 [3]. After 70, average testosterone levels declined by roughly 0.1 nmol/L per year.
An older study from 2015 mapped over 10,000 blood samples into a graph. They found a similar trend: testosterone levels decline only very gradually with a more marked decline after 80 years of age [4].
Why do testosterone levels decline with age?
To understand why testosterone declines in later life, it’s useful to know how it’s controlled.
Two areas of the brain are involved called the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The hypothalamus releases a hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This stimulates the pituitary gland to make luteinising hormone (LH), which prompts the Leydig cells in your testicles to make testosterone.
As you age, changes occur at several points in this process. Leydig cells often become less responsive to LH, and signalling between the hypothalamus and pituitary can also change.
Other factors can affect testosterone levels, including:
- Excess body fat: Obesity is associated with lower testosterone, partly through changes in hormonal regulation and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG).
- Health conditions: Type 2 diabetes, some chronic illnesses, and certain hormonal disorders can affect testosterone production.
- Medications: Long-term opioid use and glucocorticoids, among others, can suppress testosterone.
- Lifestyle and general health: Poor sleep, excessive alcohol intake, and significant physical or psychological stress can affect testosterone levels.
These factors help explain why men of the same age can have very different results.
Find out more about the causes of low testosterone.
What’s a normal testosterone level for my age?
The British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) generally defines a normal total testosterone level as above 12 nmol/L (or a free testosterone level above 0.225 nmol/L) [5]. This is regardless of age.
A level below 8 nmol/L is defined as low, whereas a level 8–12 nmol/L is generally seen as a borderline result. Testosterone deficiency is only diagnosed with two low testosterone results plus characteristic symptoms.
However, there are different ways of defining normal, based on average results of healthy populations to when symptoms are more likely to appear.
Laboratory ranges: normal testosterone levels by age in men and women
Many labs calculate testosterone reference ranges using the middle 95% of results from a healthy reference population. However, these ranges don’t always reflect the levels at which men experience symptoms of testosterone deficiency. The following table provides a guide, but ranges vary considerably between labs.
| Age | Men (nmol/L) | Women (nmol/L) |
|---|---|---|
| 2–10 years | <0.24–0.35 | <0.24–0.41 |
| 11–15 years | <0.24–26.25 | <0.24–0.96 |
| 16–17 years | 7.92–27.0 | 0.41–1.50 |
| 18–49 years | 8.7–29.0 | 0.29–1.67 |
| 50+ years | 6.7–25.7 | 0.1–1.42 |
Reference ranges compiled from multiple laboratory sources [6–8].
Age-specific testosterone levels for men
The table above groups men aged 18–49 together. However, research suggests that typical testosterone levels differ within this broad age bracket.
A 2022 study of 1,486 men aged 20–44 measured testosterone levels in smaller, five-year age groups [9]. The researchers took the middle third (instead of the middle 95%) of testosterone measurements for each age group to create references ranges.
| Age | Total testosterone (nmol/L) | Total testosterone (ng/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20–24 | 14.2–19.3 | 409–558 |
| 25–29 | 14.3–19.9 | 413–575 |
| 30–34 | 12.4–17.3 | 359–498 |
| 35–39 | 12.2–16.5 | 352–478 |
| 40–44 | 12.1–16.4 | 350–473 |
Because this data takes the middle third as normal, it’s possible that these ‘normal’ ranges are too narrow. As more data becomes available, it’s possible that the reference ranges for testosterone will improve to include age-specific values.
What’s more important is the overall trend of your testosterone level and whether you have symptoms. If you have no symptoms but are at the lower end of the reference range, this may well be normal for you.
What’s an optimal testosterone level for a man?
There’s no single perfect testosterone level, but symptoms are less likely above about 13 nmol/L.
Researchers can show where symptoms start to become more common, but not which level is best for every man’s health, energy, sex life, or lifespan. Symptoms tend to creep in gradually as levels fall, but the effect levels off at higher concentrations, so more isn’t necessarily better [10].
Symptoms become more likely when testosterone drops below [10]:
- 8 nmol/L – reduced sexual thoughts
- 8.5 nmol/L – erectile dysfunction
- 11 nmol/L – fewer morning erections
- 13 nmol/L – decreased vigour
A large 2024 review also linked very low testosterone (below 7.4 nmol/L) to a higher risk of death [11]. A further review in 2025, involving over 350,000 participants, also found that men with higher testosterone generally had a lower mortality risk [12]. However, neither review established an upper testosterone level at which this risk increases.
For men on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), the British Society of Sexual Medicine (BSSM) suggests aiming for a target of 15–30 nmol/L [13]. But they acknowledge there isn’t enough evidence to define an ‘optimal’ level.
What is clear is that pushing testosterone levels beyond the normal range with anabolic steroids doesn’t benefit your health and can be dangerous [14].
Do I need TRT?
A lower testosterone level alone isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm.
A 60-year-old man with testosterone levels of 10 nmol/L but no symptoms would unlikely benefit from treatment, even though his levels are below the normal range. And sometimes, switching to a healthier lifestyle is enough to improve testosterone levels naturally.
In the UK, the Society for Endocrinology and Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine recommend the following thresholds [15]:
| Total testosterone | What does it mean? |
|---|---|
| Below 8 nmol/L | Testosterone deficiency is likely if you have relevant symptoms and the result is confirmed with a second blood test. |
| 8–12 nmol/L | Borderline result. If you have symptoms, further investigation is worthwhile, including SHBG and calculated free testosterone. Some men may benefit from a trial of TRT following clinical assessment. |
| Above 12 nmol/L | Testosterone deficiency is unlikely. If you have persistent symptoms, other causes should be considered. |
If you think you may benefit from TRT, you can take a free 2-minute assessment with Leger, specialists in testosterone treatment.
How can I check my testosterone level?
You can check your testosterone level at home with a Testosterone Blood Test. Or, to also find out your free testosterone levels, a Free and Total Testosterone Blood Test.
Make sure you take your sample in the morning (ideally 7–10 am) when levels are highest.
How can I minimise the rate of declining testosterone?
A small, gradual fall in testosterone with age is expected, and if you feel well there’s no need to panic. But average levels change little until the 70s, so a large or rapid drop is worth investigating.
Weight gain, poor sleep, alcohol, medications, and long-term health conditions are common contributors, and some can be addressed.
To find out more, read our guide on ways to boost testosterone naturally.
Testosterone levels and age: the bottom line
Testosterone levels may decline over your lifetime, but there’s considerable variation between men. Age-specific research can help explain what’s typical and reference ranges give a useful starting point, but they should be taken in context.
Ultimately, if you have symptoms of testosterone deficiency, it’s worth checking your levels and discussing it with a clinician or testosterone specialist.
References
- Nassar GN, Leslie SW. Physiology, Testosterone. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026. Available: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526128/
- The “male menopause.” In: nhs.uk [Internet]. 3 Oct 2018 [cited 29 Oct 2026]. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/male-menopause/
- Marriott RJ, Murray K, Adams RJ, Antonio L, Ballantyne CM, Bauer DC, et al. Factors associated with circulating sex hormones in men: Individual Participant Data meta-analyses. Ann Intern Med. 2023;176: 1221–1234. doi:10.7326/M23-0342
- Handelsman DJ, Yeap BB, Flicker L, Martin S, Wittert GA, Ly LP. Age-specific population centiles for androgen status in men. Eur J Endocrinol. 2015;173: 809–817. doi:10.1530/EJE-15-0380
- Hackett G, Kirby M, Rees RW, Jones TH, Muneer A, Livingston M, et al. The British Society for Sexual Medicine Guidelines on Male Adult Testosterone Deficiency, with Statements for Practice. World J Mens Health. 2023;41: 508–537. doi:10.5534/wjmh.221027
- North Bristol NHS Trust. Age-related reference ranges: Biochemistry. North Bristol NHS Trust, Department of Clinical Biochemistry; Report No.: BS/CB/DCB/GEN/7. Available: https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/document/Age%20Related%20Reference%20Ranges.pdf
- County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. Testosterone. County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Pathology - Biochemistry; 2021 Feb. Report No.: QP/PA/CB/HB/TEST. Available: https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/application/files/1117/6426/8622/Testosterone_v4.pdf
- Roche Diagnostics GmbH. Elecsys Testosterone II. Mannheim, Germany: Roche Diagnostics GmbH; 2025 Jan. Report No.: 08946353500 V2.0. Available: https://elabdoc-prod.roche.com/eLD/api/downloads/8a44bb64-f477-ee11-2291-005056a71a5d?countryIsoCode=XG
- Zhu A, Andino J, Daignault-Newton S, Chopra Z, Sarma A, Dupree JM. What Is a Normal Testosterone Level for Young Men? Rethinking the 300 ng/dL Cutoff for Testosterone Deficiency in Men 20-44 Years Old. J Urol. 2022;208: 1295–1302. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002928
- Wu FCW, Tajar A, Beynon JM, Pye SR, Silman AJ, Finn JD, et al. Identification of Late-Onset Hypogonadism in Middle-Aged and Elderly Men. N Engl J Med. 2010;363: 123–135. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0911101
- Yeap BB, Marriott RJ, Dwivedi G, Adams RJ, Antonio L, Ballantyne CM, et al. Associations of Testosterone and Related Hormones With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Men : Individual Participant Data Meta-analyses. Ann Intern Med. 2024;177: 768–781. doi:10.7326/M23-2781
- Raeisi-Dehkordi H, Amiri M, Beigrezaei S, Quezada-Pinedo HG, Khatami F, Alijla F, et al. Endogenous Sex Steroid Hormones, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2025;110: e3131–e3149. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaf262
- British Society for Sexual Medicine. A practical guide on the assessment and management of testosterone deficiency in adult men. 2017. Available: https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BSSM-Practical-Guide-High-Res-single-pp-view-final.pdf
- Albano GD, Amico F, Cocimano G, Liberto A, Maglietta F, Esposito M, et al. Adverse Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: A Literature Review. Healthcare. 2021;9: 97. doi:10.3390/healthcare9010097
- Standardising the biochemical confirmation of adult male hypogonadism: A joint position statement by the Society for Endocrinology and Association of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine - Jayasena - 2024 - Clinical Endocrinology - Wiley Online Library. [cited 5 Nov 2026]. Available: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cen.14929