What Is a Normal Male Testosterone Count?

A normal testosterone level varies with a man's age, what time of day the test is done, how much exercise he has done before the test, and what type of testosterone is measured.

Wide Range

• For general purposes, a normal total testosterone range for a man is 260 to 1,000 nanograms (ng) per deciliter (dL) of blood.

Age

• Testosterone levels naturally fall with age.

  A man's testosterone is highest when he is younger that 25. It then averages about 692, according to a study published in the textbook "Androgens and the Aging Male." By the time men are 55 to 59 years old, their testosterone level averages about 552.

Daily Fluctuations

• Testosterone levels rise and fall during the day. The level peaks between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., then falls to its lowest level between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Considerations

• Exercise raises a man's testosterone. It is wise not to work out before a testosterone test.

Measuring Testosterone

• Testosterone can be measured in different ways. Free (or bioavailable) testosterone is testosterone that is not bound to proteins or other hormones as is bound testosterone. Bound testosterone is not available to boost a man's libido. Total testosterone measures both types.