3 mile run times by age on the Marine Corps PFT

A man aged 51 or older gets 1 minute 30 seconds more than a man aged 17 to 20 for the 100 point run, 19:30 against 18:00. At the minimum he gets 5 minutes 20 seconds more, 33:00 against 27:40. The PFT run tables print a time for every score and never an average. The 100 point and minimum rows are the standards that answer a question about an average or good time.

Men's 3 mile times by age group

The first pair of columns is sea level. The second pair is the altitude table for testing at 4,500 feet or more above sea level. The 100 point time comes from the Max row of the table and the 40 point time from the Min row.

Marine Corps PFT 3 mile run times for men, at sea level and at altitude, by age group (MCO 6100.13A)

Age group	100 points	40 points (minimum)	100 points at altitude	40 points at altitude
17 to 20	18:00	27:40	19:30	29:10
21 to 25	18:00	27:40	19:30	29:10
26 to 30	18:00	28:00	19:30	29:30
31 to 35	18:00	28:20	19:30	29:50
36 to 40	18:00	28:40	19:30	30:10
41 to 45	18:30	29:20	20:00	30:50
46 to 50	19:00	30:00	20:30	31:30
51 and over	19:30	33:00	21:00	34:30

Women's 3 mile times by age group

Marine Corps PFT 3 mile run times for women, at sea level and at altitude, by age group (MCO 6100.13A)

Age group	100 points	40 points (minimum)	100 points at altitude	40 points at altitude
17 to 20	21:00	30:50	22:30	32:20
21 to 25	21:00	30:50	22:30	32:20
26 to 30	21:00	31:10	22:30	32:40
31 to 35	21:00	31:30	22:30	33:00
36 to 40	21:00	31:50	22:30	33:20
41 to 45	21:30	32:30	23:00	34:00
46 to 50	22:00	33:30	23:30	35:00
51 and over	22:30	36:00	24:00	37:30

Missing the minimum in any one event fails the whole PFT. The order adds that the minimum in every event does not reach the passing total of 150. A Marine on the minimum run needs more points in at least one other event.

How points fall between the rows

The rows are 10 seconds apart. Each step of 10 seconds changes the score by 0, 1 or 2 points, depending on the age group and sex. For a man aged 17 to 20, 20:00 earns 88 points and 20:10 earns 87, but 20:20 earns 86 and 20:30 earns 84. For a woman aged 17 to 20, 21:00 earns 100 points and 21:10 earns 99.

The order and the table PDFs give no rule for a time between two rows. This site gives a time the points of the highest row it reaches, so a 20:05 run earns 87.

How the run is timed and which age group applies

The course is three miles exactly, and the order does not authorize running the event on a treadmill. Times are taken with a timepiece that measures to the second. The order scores every recruit in the 17 to 20 group, whatever the recruit's age. Officer candidates, students at the Basic and Warrant Officer Courses and midshipmen use their own age group. For other Marines, the order does not say which date fixes the age group.

Altitude times

At 4,500 feet or more above sea level, units use the altitude table for the run. In both tables here, each altitude time is exactly 1 minute 30 seconds slower than the sea level time. Commanders are directed to allow a 30 day acclimatization period before a PFT at altitude. Whether the test site or the unit's station sets the elevation is not stated in the order. Marines due to report to a station at altitude in June complete their PFTs before they detach.

Rowing 5,000 meters in place of the run

Marines aged 46 and older may choose to row 5,000 meters instead of running 3 miles. Younger Marines may row when a privileged health care provider recommends it for a medical condition, or after childbirth, with the commanding officer's approval. The row has its own table, with rows 5 seconds apart.

Marine Corps PFT 5,000 meter row times for 100 and 40 points, by age group and sex (MCO 6100.13A)

Age group	Men: 100 points	Men: 40 points	Women: 100 points	Women: 40 points
46 to 50	19:35	25:35	22:35	28:35
51 and over	20:00	26:00	23:00	29:00

What makes a run good

The PFT does not grade the run alone. Each event earns up to 100 points, though push-ups stop at 70 and only pull-ups reach 100. The class comes from the total: 235 to 300 is 1st class, 200 to 234 is 2nd class and 150 to 199 is 3rd class. Since 1 January 2026, Marines in a combat arms primary specialty are scored on the male, age-normed standard and must reach 210 points in total. A woman in one of those specialties therefore reads the men's table.