NFL Passer Rating Calculator
The NFL passer rating formula was adopted by the league in 1973 and remains the official measure of quarterback passing efficiency. It combines four equally weighted components: completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown rate, and interception rate. Each component is bounded between 0 and 2.375, and the final rating is scaled so that a perfect performance yields 158.3. Enter the quarterback's game or season totals to calculate their official passer rating.
NFL passer rating formula
a = clamp(((Comp/Att) - 0.3) x 5, 0, 2.375)
b = clamp(((Yds/Att) - 3) x 0.25, 0, 2.375)
c = clamp((TD/Att) x 20, 0, 2.375)
d = clamp(2.375 - (Int/Att) x 25, 0, 2.375)
Rating = ((a + b + c + d) / 6) x 100
Maximum possible rating: 158.3. This formula was developed by Don Smith in 1971 and adopted by the NFL in 1973. It has not changed since its introduction.
Passer rating benchmarks
- 158.3: Perfect rating (theoretically possible but extremely rare in a game).
- 100 to 158: Excellent; elite quarterback territory.
- 85 to 100: Good; above average performance.
- 70 to 85: Average NFL quarterback range.
- Below 70: Below average; often leads to poor team outcomes.
NFL passer rating: frequently asked questions
What is NFL passer rating?
NFL passer rating (also called quarterback rating or QBR in casual usage) is a composite statistic measuring a quarterback's passing performance. The official formula uses four components: completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown rate, and interception rate.
What is the NFL passer rating formula?
Each of the four components (a, b, c, d) is capped between 0 and 2.375. Component a = ((Comp/Att) - 0.3) x 5. Component b = ((Yds/Att) - 3) x 0.25. Component c = (TD/Att) x 20. Component d = 2.375 - ((Int/Att) x 25). Rating = ((a + b + c + d) / 6) x 100.
What is a perfect passer rating?
A perfect passer rating is 158.3, which is achieved when all four components are at their maximum value of 2.375. In practice, a perfect rating requires a completion percentage of at least 77.5%, at least 12.5 yards per attempt, a touchdown rate above 11.875%, and zero interceptions.
What is a good NFL passer rating?
An NFL passer rating above 100 is excellent, typical of Pro Bowl or MVP contenders. A rating between 85 and 100 is above average. Around 70 to 85 is average. Below 70 is below average. The all-time career leader is Aaron Rodgers with a career rating above 103.
Is NFL passer rating the same as QBR?
No. ESPN's Total QBR (QBR) is a different proprietary metric that accounts for situational factors, defensive quality, and play type. NFL passer rating is the official league statistic and uses only completions, yards, touchdowns, interceptions, and attempts.
Official sources
- NFL Official Rules and Statistics: nfl.com/stats.
- Pro Football Reference Glossary: pro-football-reference.com/about/glossary.htm.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 June 2026. See our methodology.