Estimate peak and average power from your vertical jump using the Lewis and Sayers formulas. Compare power output across body weights.
The Plyometric Power Calculator estimates your peak and average power output from a vertical jump test — one of the most common field assessments of lower-body explosive ability. Power is the product of force and velocity; a high vertical jump demonstrates the ability to generate force rapidly.
This calculator implements two validated formulas: the Lewis (Nomogram) formula for average power and the Sayers equation for peak power. Both are widely used in sports science and strength coaching to assess explosive performance without expensive lab equipment.
Vertical jump power correlates strongly with sprinting speed, change-of-direction ability, and overall athletic performance. Track your power-to-weight ratio over time to monitor training adaptations and compare against normative data for your sport. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this free online tool provides instant, reliable results without manual computation. By automating the calculation, you save time and reduce the risk of costly errors in your planning and decision-making process.
Knowing your power output helps you gauge explosive strength, track training progress, and compare yourself to sport-specific benchmarks. A vertical jump test requires minimal equipment but provides data comparable to force-plate testing when using validated estimation formulas. Having a precise figure at your fingertips empowers better planning and more confident decisions.
Lewis (Average Power): Power (W) = √(4.9) × body mass (kg) × √(jump height in m) Sayers (Peak Power): Power (W) = 60.7 × jump height (cm) + 45.3 × body mass (kg) − 2055 Harman (Peak Power): Power (W) = 61.9 × jump height (cm) + 36.0 × body mass (kg) − 1822 Power-to-Weight: W/kg = peak power / body mass
Result: Lewis Avg: 137 W, Sayers Peak: 3,247 W, W/kg: 40.6
Lewis: √(4.9) × 80 × √(0.60) = 2.214 × 80 × 0.775 = 137 W average power. Sayers: 60.7 × 60 + 45.3 × 80 − 2055 = 3642 + 3624 − 2055 = 5211 W peak power. This yields a power-to-weight of 40.6 W/kg, which is excellent for recreational athletes.
Vertical jump testing is the most widely used field test for lower-body power. Professional sports combine events (NFL, NBA) use it as a primary measure of athletic potential. The test is fast, inexpensive, and highly reliable from session to session.
Power testing guides training program design. Athletes with high maximal strength but low power may benefit from velocity-focused training (Olympic lifts, ballistic exercises). Athletes with good reactive ability but low strength should focus on heavy compound movements. Testing power at regular intervals (every 4-6 weeks) tracks the effectiveness of programming.
Recreational male athletes typically produce 35-45 W/kg peak power. Collegiate athletes range from 45-55 W/kg. Elite athletes in power sports (sprinting, jumping, throwing) may exceed 60 W/kg. Female benchmarks are approximately 20-30% lower at each level.
For males, average peak power ranges from 3,000-4,000 W for recreational athletes and 4,500-6,000+ W for elite athletes. Females typically range from 1,800-2,800 W (recreational) to 3,000-4,500 W (elite). Power-to-weight (W/kg) is a better comparison metric.
The Lewis formula estimates average power throughout the jump and tends to give lower values. The Sayers equation estimates peak power — the highest instantaneous power during takeoff. Both are validated but measure different aspects of the jump.
The Sayers equation has been validated against force-plate data with correlations of r = 0.87-0.97. It slightly overestimates peak power in some populations. The Lewis formula correlates well for average power (r = 0.90+). Both are considered acceptable for field testing.
Counter-movement jump (CMJ) is the standard for most sport-science protocols. It allows a stretch-shortening cycle and produces higher jump heights. Squat jump (no dip) isolates concentric-only power and is a separate measure of explosive strength.
Focus on a combination of heavy squats for maximal strength, Olympic lifts for rate-of-force development, and plyometrics (depth jumps, box jumps) for reactive strength. A periodized program combining these modalities over 8-12 weeks typically improves jump height by 5-15%.
Yes, heavier athletes typically produce higher absolute power but may have lower power-to-weight ratios. Both formulas include body mass as a variable. For comparing athletes of different sizes, use the W/kg metric rather than raw watts.