Free Football Speed Tool

40-Yard DashCalculator

Benchmarks reviewed by Brian A., Director of PerformanceUpdated

Enter your 40 time and position to see your percentile against high school players and NFL combine prospects, your hand-time conversion, mph and Speed Score.

Your 40-Yard Dash

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Your 40 vs. NFL Combine Averages by Position
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Compare your 40 to the pros

How This 40-Yard Dash Calculator Works

Enter your time, pick your position and choose who to compare against. The calculator converts hand times to an electronic equivalent, then estimates your percentile using the average and elite (top 10%) times for your position at that level. It also shows your average speed in mph, which NFL positions your time would match, and your Speed Score if you add bodyweight.

Benchmarks come from the same data used in our average 40-yard dash times by age, position and level guide. Percentiles are estimates, not official rankings.

Hand-Timed vs. Electronic 40 Times

Hand-timed 40s usually come out 0.2 to 0.3 seconds faster than electronic times, because the timer reacts to the start late and stops the watch early. NFL combine times are fully electronic, so this calculator adds 0.24 seconds to hand times before comparing. A hand-timed 4.45 is really closer to a 4.69 on a laser.

NFL Combine 40 Times by Position

PositionAverageFast (Top 25%)Elite (Top 10%)
Cornerback4.47s4.38s4.30s
Wide Receiver4.48s4.38s4.30s
Running Back4.49s4.40s4.33s
Safety4.53s4.44s4.37s
Linebacker4.68s4.56s4.46s
Tight End4.70s4.58s4.50s
Quarterback4.71s4.58s4.48s
Defensive End4.74s4.60s4.50s
Defensive Tackle4.99s4.80s4.65s
Offensive Guard / Tackle5.10s4.95s4.80s
Center5.15s5.00s4.85s

High School Varsity 40 Times by Position

PositionAverageGood (Scholarship Radar)Elite
Wide Receiver / CB4.70–4.85s4.55–4.65sUnder 4.50s
Running Back4.75–4.90s4.60–4.70sUnder 4.55s
Safety / Linebacker4.80–5.00s4.65–4.75sUnder 4.60s
Quarterback4.85–5.05s4.70–4.80sUnder 4.65s
Tight End4.85–5.05s4.70–4.82sUnder 4.68s
Defensive End4.85–5.10s4.72–4.85sUnder 4.70s
Defensive Tackle5.10–5.40s5.00–5.10sUnder 4.95s
Offensive Lineman5.20–5.60s5.05–5.20sUnder 5.00s

What Is Speed Score?

Speed Score adjusts a 40 time for bodyweight, so a 230-pound back running 4.50 gets more credit than a 190-pound back running the same time. The formula is (weight × 200) ÷ (40 time⁴). A score around 100 is typical for an NFL running back prospect, and 110 or higher is excellent. It's most useful for running backs, tight ends and edge rushers, where size and speed both matter.

How to Lower Your 40 Time

Most of a 40 is won in the first 10 yards. Focus on start mechanics (stance, first two steps, shin angles), acceleration work like sled pushes and resisted sprints, and lower-body strength through squats, trap bar deadlifts and hip thrusts. Our complete guide to running a faster 40 lays out the full program. A focused 8–12 week block typically takes 0.1 to 0.3 seconds off.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good 40-yard dash time?
It depends on position and level. At the NFL combine, the average is about 4.47 to 4.53 seconds for cornerbacks, receivers, running backs and safeties, about 4.7 for linebackers, tight ends and quarterbacks, and 5.0 to 5.15 for linemen. For high school varsity skill players, 4.70 to 4.85 is average and under 4.50 is elite.
How do you convert a hand-timed 40 to electronic?
Add about 0.24 seconds. Hand-timed 40s are typically 0.2 to 0.3 seconds faster than electronic times because of human reaction time at the start and finish. A hand-timed 4.50 is roughly a 4.74 electronic.
How do you convert a 40-yard dash time to mph?
Divide 40 yards (36.58 meters) by your time to get meters per second, then multiply by 2.237. A 4.50 second 40 averages about 18.2 mph. Top speed during the run is higher than the average because the first 10 yards are spent accelerating.
What is Speed Score in football?
Speed Score combines 40 time and bodyweight using the formula (weight × 200) ÷ (40 time to the fourth power). It rewards bigger players who run fast. A score near 100 is typical for an NFL running back prospect and 110 or higher is excellent.
What is the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine?
The official combine record is 4.21 seconds, run by Xavier Worthy in 2024, which broke John Ross's 4.22 from 2017. Times under 4.30 are rare even among NFL cornerbacks and receivers.