What is a good 250m rowing time?

In this reference table, the overall average 250m time is 48.8. The page also shows age-by-ability ranges for male and female rows so you can compare your own log entries.

How should I use the tabs for Finish Time, Split, Watts, and Calories?

All four tabs are generated from the same finish-time matrix. 500m split is derived from finish time, then watts and calories per hour are calculated from that split for consistent comparisons.

How is 500m split calculated from a 250m result?

500m split is finish time multiplied by 500 divided by distance. For a 250m piece, split is exactly double the finish time.

How are watts and calories per hour calculated?

Watts use the Concept2 relation W = 2.8 / (splitSeconds / 500)^3. Calories per hour then use cal/hr = 300 + (4 x watts / 1.1639). Values are rounded to whole numbers.

What does the WR column represent?

WR in this page is the fastest reference value listed in the source table for each age row.

250m Row Times

Rowing standards by age and ability.

What is a good 250m row time?

A good 250m time is 48.8. This is the average 250m time across all ages and genders. The fastest 250m time is 35.3.

Male 250m Rowing Times

A good 250m time for a man is 45.3. This is the average 250m time across men of all ages. The fastest 250m time rowed by a man is 35.3.

Average 250m row time by age and ability

Age

Age 30

Metric unit: seconds

Beginner

53.3

Novice

49.4

Intermediate

45.7

Advanced

42.2

Elite

39.1

35.6

Age	Beginner	Novice	Intermediate	Advanced	Elite	WR
10	01:06.3	01:01.4	56.7	52.4	48.6	44.2
15	58.9	54.6	50.5	46.6	43.2	39.3
20	55.0	51.0	47.1	43.5	40.3	36.7
25	54.1	50.1	46.3	42.8	39.6	36.1
30	53.3	49.4	45.7	42.2	39.1	35.6
35	53.0	49.1	45.4	41.9	38.8	35.3
40	53.6	49.7	45.9	42.4	39.3	35.8
45	54.2	50.2	46.4	42.9	39.7	36.1
50	54.6	50.6	46.8	43.2	40.0	36.4
55	55.4	51.4	47.4	43.8	40.6	37.0
60	57.8	53.5	49.4	45.7	42.3	38.5
65	01:00.1	55.7	51.5	47.5	44.1	40.1
70	01:02.6	58.0	53.6	49.5	45.9	41.7
75	01:05.0	01:00.3	55.7	51.4	47.7	43.4
80	01:08.4	01:03.4	58.5	54.1	50.1	45.6
85	01:16.0	01:10.5	01:05.1	01:00.1	55.7	50.7
90	01:23.6	01:17.5	01:11.6	01:06.1	01:01.3	55.8

Female 250m Rowing Times

A good 250m time for a woman is 57.4. This is the average 250m time across women of all ages. The fastest 250m time rowed by a woman is 42.3.

Average 250m row time by age and ability

Age

Age 30

Metric unit: seconds

Beginner

01:12.9

Novice

01:05.5

Intermediate

58.5

Advanced

52.3

Elite

47.0

43.1

Age	Beginner	Novice	Intermediate	Advanced	Elite	WR
10	01:22.8	01:14.4	01:06.5	59.5	53.4	49.0
15	01:18.3	01:10.4	01:02.9	56.2	50.5	46.3
20	01:15.5	01:07.9	01:00.7	54.2	48.7	44.7
25	01:14.5	01:06.9	59.8	53.5	48.1	44.1
30	01:12.9	01:05.5	58.5	52.3	47.0	43.1
35	01:12.1	01:04.8	57.9	51.8	46.5	42.6
40	01:15.2	01:07.6	01:00.4	54.0	48.5	44.5
45	01:14.6	01:07.0	59.9	53.5	48.1	44.1
50	01:13.9	01:06.4	59.3	53.0	47.7	43.7
55	01:15.2	01:07.5	01:00.4	54.0	48.5	44.4
60	01:24.3	01:15.7	01:07.7	01:00.5	54.4	49.8
65	01:28.4	01:19.4	01:11.0	01:03.5	57.0	52.3
70	01:31.2	01:22.0	01:13.3	01:05.5	58.9	53.9
75	01:36.6	01:26.8	01:17.6	01:09.4	01:02.3	57.1
80	01:42.7	01:32.3	01:22.5	01:13.7	01:06.2	01:00.7
85	02:12.0	01:58.6	01:46.1	01:34.8	01:25.2	01:18.1
90	02:41.4	02:25.0	02:09.7	01:55.9	01:44.1	01:35.5

What do the rowing abilities mean?

Beginner

Faster than 5% of rowers. A beginner rower has started rowing and has rowed for at least a month.

Novice

Faster than 20% of rowers. A novice rower has rowed regularly for at least six months.

Intermediate

Faster than 50% of rowers. An intermediate rower has rowed regularly for at least two years.

Advanced

Faster than 80% of rowers. An advanced rower has rowed for over five years.

Elite

Faster than 95% of rowers. An elite rower has dedicated over five years to become competitive at rowing.

More Distances

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Rate Your Row

Use the Rowing Performance Calculator to compare your latest effort and log progress over time.

Calculate Rowing Performance

Appendix: Conversion and Planning Notes

The tabs use one source finish-time table, then derive split, watts, and calories with transparent formulas for consistent logging comparisons.

Conversion Formulas

Split(500m) = Finish Time x (500 / Distance)

Power (W) = 2.80 / (splitSeconds / 500)^3

Calories/hour = 300 + (4 x Watts / 1.1639)

Example (250m finish 45.3)

Finish 45.3 (45.3 sec) to split 01:30.6 /500m to 471W to 1919 cal/hr

250m Finish	500m Split	Power (Watts)	Calories (per hour)
01:05.0	02:10.0	159W	846
00:55.0	01:50.0	263W	1204
00:48.0	01:36.0	396W	1661
00:42.0	01:24.0	591W	2331

Performance Calculator

Compare your result and planning metrics

Speed and Pace Calculator

Convert split, speed, and watts

What is a good 250m row time?

Male 250m Rowing Times

Average 250m row time by age and ability

Female 250m Rowing Times

Average 250m row time by age and ability

What do the rowing abilities mean?

More Distances

Rate Your Row

Appendix: Conversion and Planning Notes

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