Rowing Level is a data-driven indoor rowing standards platform created by Michael Clark in 2021. Our 2026 standards analyse 1,508,558 rows submitted by 411,401 users from 2021 to 2026 to compare your rowing performance with other rowers, accounting for gender, distance and age.
Rowing Level covers 11 standard distances across indoor rowing sprints, the 2k test and endurance rows, including 100m, 500m, 1k, 2k, 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon. We also publish standards for the distance covered in one to 90 minutes.
We build our current standards from carefully filtered calculator results submitted by rowers. We check for implausible times, duplicates, automated entries and unusual submission patterns before fitting the models. This allows us to publish community-based standards from short sprints to long endurance events. Where a distance does not have its own model, we estimate its standards from related events.
The Rowing Level Calculator takes in your distance and time and compares your performance with rowers of the same gender and age. It can then tell you your percentile and level from Beginner to Elite plus extra stats like equivalent times for other distances, your 500m split, power, calories per hour and estimated VO2 max. Then our Rowing Times allow you to browse and analyse male and female standards across ages and distances.
Rowing Level has used age adjusted percentile ratings since its launch in 2021. The framework comes from Strength Level, which introduced data-backed percentile standards in 2015 using levels from Beginner to Elite. Using a percentile scale makes performance comparable across distances while accounting for gender and age. Beginner means faster than 5% of rowers, Novice 20%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 80%, and Elite 95%.
Learn more about using Rowing Level in our FAQ, or read more about Strength Level.
Strength Level defined five ability thresholds at the 5th, 20th, 50th, 80th and 95th percentiles. Rowing Level later reused that exact Beginner-to-Elite framework, letting rowers interpret an erg result with the same scale already used for strength and running. See the Strength Level standards timeline.
Work on the Rowing Level prototype began in October. Analysis of historical indoor-rowing performances produced separate distributions for male and female rowers across age groups and standard distances. On , those distributions powered the first age-aware Rowing Level percentiles.
Strength Level introduced Rowing Level publicly on . Bodyweight adjustment factors followed later that month, including separate estimates for a Concept2 erg and an on-water eight. Compare the current calculator with the earliest useful public archive.
Rowing Level added dedicated standards for the distance covered in one to 90 minutes. These pages made common tests such as 20, 30 and 60 minutes comparable by age, gender and ability alongside the original fixed-distance standards.
In September, we developed our first rowing standards based on performances submitted by Rowing Level users. We modelled individual distances, including a dedicated 100m model built from users' sprint times. This gave rowers community benchmarks for short bursts, the familiar 2k test and longer endurance rows.
We explored different ways to connect rowing performances before choosing an approach built around the speeds users achieved at each distance. We adapted the models to capture the range from beginners to the fastest rowers, then used linked results to bring the distances onto a common scale around the 2k test. A rower could now compare their performances across events using standards developed from the community's own results.
We extended the approach with 10k results and male half marathon and marathon performances, and developed a separate endurance model for female rowers. The new standards brought sprint and distance rowing together, helping rowers assess a personal best, compare a longer effort and choose their next target.
Rowing Level is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Concept2.
Michael Clark is Rowing Level's founder and lead developer. He launched Strength Level in 2007. He holds a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge and previously worked as a Technical Lead at Redgate Software. Read more about Michael Clark's work, or get in touch to report a problem or suggest an improvement through our feedback form, email support@strengthlevel.com, or Facebook page.
Strength Level Limited (company number 14076102) was incorporated in England and Wales on 28 April 2022. It operates Rowing Level and the wider Strength Level family of fitness standards websites.
Rowing Level continues to improve through feedback from rowers, coaches and researchers.