VO2 Max Rockport Walk Calculator

Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham. Rockport 1-mile walk regression. Last verified 19 June 2026.

The Rockport Walk Test estimates cardiorespiratory fitness from a brisk 1-mile (1.609 km) walk. After walking the mile as fast as you sustainably can, you record the time and your heart rate at the finish. A published regression equation then estimates your VO2 max from your weight, age, sex, walk time and ending heart rate. Enter your values below to estimate your VO2 max in millilitres of oxygen per kilogram per minute.

Body weight (pounds)

Age (years)

Sex

Walk time (minutes)

Heart rate at finish (bpm)

Estimated VO2 max (ml/kg/min)

0.00

Rockport VO2 max formula

VO2max = 132.853 - 0.0769 * weight(lb) - 0.3877 * age + 6.315 * sex - 3.2649 * time - 0.1565 * HR
sex = 1 for male, 0 for female; time in minutes; HR in beats per minute

This is the Kline et al. (1987) Rockport regression equation. It estimates VO2 max from a single submaximal 1-mile walk, making it accessible without laboratory testing.

Worked example

A 35-year-old male weighing 160 lb walks the mile in 13.5 minutes with a finishing heart rate of 140. VO2max = 132.853 - 0.0769*160 - 0.3877*35 + 6.315*1 - 3.2649*13.5 - 0.1565*140 = 132.853 - 12.304 - 13.5695 + 6.315 - 44.076 - 21.91 = 47.31 ml/kg/min.

Frequently asked questions

How do I perform the Rockport Walk Test?

Walk 1 mile (1.609 km) as briskly as you can sustain on a flat course, ideally a track. Record the total time and measure your heart rate immediately at the finish. Enter both, with your weight, age and sex, to estimate VO2 max.

Who is the Rockport test best for?

It is well suited to less-fit, older or deconditioned people for whom a maximal running test is unsuitable, because it uses a submaximal brisk walk rather than an all-out run.

How accurate is the estimate?

The Rockport equation is a validated estimate, not a direct measurement. Actual VO2 max can differ, especially if you do not walk at a steady brisk effort or mis-measure your heart rate. Treat it as an approximation.

Sources

U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed): Kline et al. 1987, estimation of VO2max from a one-mile track walk.

Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 19 June 2026. See our methodology.