Normal Testosterone Levels by Age (Australian Guide)
What a normal testosterone level looks like in nmol/L, how it shifts with age in men and women, and how to tell whether yours is where it should be.
Check your testosteroneIn Australia, testosterone is measured in nmol/L, and a typical adult male total testosterone sits roughly between 8 and 30 nmol/L. Levels peak in your twenties and decline slowly, about 1% a year from around age 30, so an older man is usually toward the lower end of the range. Below 8 nmol/L is the threshold used for subsidised treatment when symptoms are present. Ranges vary by laboratory, and free testosterone, the active fraction, often matters more than the total. The only way to know your number is a morning testosterone blood test.
- Australia measures testosterone in nmol/L (the US uses ng/dL)
- A typical adult male total testosterone is roughly 8 to 30 nmol/L
- Testosterone declines about 1% a year from age 30, so older men trend lower
- Free testosterone falls faster than total, because SHBG rises with age
- Women's levels are much lower, roughly 0.5 to 1.7 nmol/L
- Below 8 nmol/L is the PBS threshold for subsidised treatment with symptoms
- Ranges vary by lab, so your own number and symptoms matter more than the average
What is a normal testosterone level?
A normal testosterone level is a range, not a single target, and the units matter. In Australia and most of the world, testosterone is reported in nmol/L (nanomoles per litre). The United States uses ng/dL, so if you see a much bigger number online, it is likely in US units, to convert ng/dL to nmol/L, divide by about 28.8. For a typical adult man, total testosterone sits roughly between 8 and 30 nmol/L, though the exact reference range depends on the laboratory and assay.
Two things complicate the simple picture. First, testosterone changes with age. Second, total testosterone is only part of the story, because how you feel depends on your free testosterone, the small active fraction, which is influenced by a binding protein called SHBG.
Testosterone levels by age (men)
Testosterone peaks in early adulthood, then declines gradually from around age 30. The table below shows how average total testosterone tends to shift with age. Treat these as indicative only: Australian labs usually report a single adult reference range rather than age-banded cut-offs, and your result should always be read alongside your symptoms by a doctor.
| Age (men) | Indicative total testosterone (nmol/L) | What is happening |
|---|---|---|
| 18 to 29 | ~10 to 30 | Peak levels |
| 30 to 39 | ~9 to 28 | Slow decline begins, about 1% a year |
| 40 to 49 | ~8 to 27 | Free testosterone starts falling faster as SHBG rises |
| 50 to 59 | ~7 to 25 | More men notice symptoms in this decade |
| 60 to 69 | ~7 to 24 | Lower end of range more common |
| 70+ | ~6 to 23 | Continued gradual decline |
The key point: a total testosterone of 12 nmol/L might be perfectly normal for one man and leave another with clear symptoms, because the number that matters is your free testosterone and how it lines up with how you feel.
Want to know your number?
Get a testosterone testTotal vs free testosterone as you age
This is the detail most age charts miss. As men get older, SHBG, the protein that binds testosterone, tends to rise. More SHBG means more of your testosterone is locked away and unavailable, so your free testosterone can fall faster than your total. That is why a man in his fifties can have a total testosterone that looks fine on paper while his usable level, and how he feels, has dropped noticeably. It is also why a proper test measures free testosterone and SHBG, not total alone. Indicative free testosterone for adult men is roughly 255 to 725 pmol/L, again varying by assay.
Testosterone levels in women by age
Women produce testosterone too, in much smaller amounts, and it supports libido, energy and muscle. A typical female range is roughly 0.5 to 1.7 nmol/L. Interestingly, research from Monash University shows women's testosterone declines gradually with age rather than dropping sharply at menopause. A raised testosterone in women is a different signal, it is a hallmark of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and can appear with irregular cycles, acne or excess hair growth.
What counts as low, and when to test
There is no single universal cut-off, but a useful anchor is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme threshold: it subsidises testosterone treatment for men when total testosterone is below 8 nmol/L alongside symptoms and an established medical cause. That shows how conservative the clinical bar is. More practically, the time to test is when you have symptoms that could point to low testosterone, low libido, fatigue, low mood, lost muscle or motivation, and you want to know whether your hormones are involved.
For an accurate reading, test in the morning between 7am and 10am when testosterone peaks, and confirm a low result on a second morning sample. Our guide on how to check your testosterone levels walks through the whole process.
Compare your levels to the range
View the Testosterone TestWhy your own number beats the average
Age charts are useful context, but they are not a diagnosis. Reference ranges are wide, and "normal" for the population may not be normal for you. The most valuable thing a test gives you is your personal baseline, a number to compare against later as you age or make changes to your sleep, training and weight. If you want the fullest picture in one test, the Male Hormone Profile measures total and free testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol and the pituitary hormones that explain why a level might be low. Browse the full range under men's health.
Remember: these ranges are indicative and vary by laboratory. A result outside the range is a prompt to talk with your doctor, not a diagnosis. MediTests reports are reviewed by AHPRA-registered doctors and flag anything outside the expected range.
Frequently asked questions
A typical adult male total testosterone sits roughly between 8 and 30 nmol/L, trending toward the lower end with age as levels decline about 1% a year from 30. Australian labs usually report a single adult reference range rather than age-banded cut-offs, so read your result alongside your symptoms.
Indicatively, around 8 to 27 nmol/L in your 40s and 7 to 25 nmol/L in your 50s, though ranges vary by lab. Just as important is your free testosterone, which can fall faster with age as SHBG rises, so a normal-looking total can still sit with a low active level.
For adult men, a total testosterone comfortably within the roughly 8 to 30 nmol/L range, with a healthy free testosterone and no symptoms, is generally considered good. Below 8 nmol/L with symptoms is the threshold used for subsidised treatment.
Yes. Testosterone peaks in early adulthood and declines slowly from around age 30, at roughly 1% a year. Free testosterone often falls faster than total, because SHBG rises with age and binds more of it.
Indicative free testosterone for adult men is roughly 255 to 725 pmol/L, varying by assay. Free testosterone is the active fraction your body uses, so it is often more informative than total testosterone alone.
Women have much lower levels than men, roughly 0.5 to 1.7 nmol/L. A raised level in women can point to PCOS, while low levels can affect libido and energy.
- Healthy Male (Andrology Australia). Testosterone and reference ranges. healthymale.org.au
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Testosterone deficiency and testing. racgp.org.au
- Monash University. Women's testosterone declines with age, not menopause. monash.edu
- Australian Government. Medicare Benefits Schedule and PBS testosterone criteria. mbsonline.gov.au
- Healthdirect Australia. Testosterone. healthdirect.gov.au
See where your testosterone sits
Order online, walk into any of 3,300+ collection centres, results in 24 to 48 hours. No GP referral, no appointment, no consultation fee.
Get a testosterone test