Total testosterone optimal range and reference range

Compiled by Alina Radu, founder of Sera, from the published sources below · Last reviewed November 9, 2026

Sera's bands for Total testosterone, which differ for men and women:

Female: Optimal 40 – 60 ng/dL (1.4 – 2.1 nmol/L); sufficient 8 – 60 ng/dL (0.28 – 2.1 nmol/L); out of range below 8 or above 60 ng/dL.
Male: Optimal 500 – 900 ng/dL (17.3 – 31.2 nmol/L); sufficient 300 – 916 ng/dL (10.4 – 31.8 nmol/L); out of range below 300 or above 916 ng/dL.

Evidence grade: Established clinical threshold. A band edge that corresponds to a recognised diagnostic, risk or treatment threshold from a major clinical guideline or public-health body.

All units

Unit	Applies to	Optimal	Sufficient	Out of range
ng/dL	Female	40 – 60	8 – 60	below 8 or above 60
ng/dL	Male	500 – 900	300 – 916	below 300 or above 916
nmol/L	Female	1.4 – 2.1	0.28 – 2.1	below 0.28 or above 2.1
nmol/L	Male	17.3 – 31.2	10.4 – 31.8	below 10.4 or above 31.8
ng/mL	Female	0.4 – 0.6	0.08 – 0.6	below 0.08 or above 0.6
ng/mL	Male	5 – 9	3 – 9.16	below 3 or above 9.16

What the evidence says

For men, the acceptable band starts at 300 ng/dL (10.4 nmol/L), the American Urological Association cut-off for low testosterone, and ends at 916 ng/dL, the top of the harmonised reference range for healthy men aged 19 to 39 used by the Endocrine Society. European urology guidance uses a slightly higher cut-off of 12 nmol/L. The optimal band of 500 to 900 ng/dL is a functional target: the AUA aims for the middle of the range in men on therapy, and no outcome study shows that an untreated man does better at 500 than at 350. For women, the band of 8 to 60 ng/dL is a mass-spectrometry reference interval for adults in their reproductive years; the optimal band of 40 to 60 ng/dL is a functional target with no published threshold behind it, and no blood level defines low testosterone in a woman. Routine immunoassays are unreliable at female concentrations. Testosterone varies across the menstrual cycle, peaking around ovulation, declines with age and differs after menopause. In men, test in the morning and repeat a low result before acting on it.

For women: These ranges are informative, not diagnostic, and reflect women in their reproductive years (pre-menopausal). Testosterone varies across the menstrual cycle, peaking around ovulation, so the ranges are intentionally wide. Levels also decline gradually with age and differ after menopause.

Menstrual cycle: Female range spans the cycle, peaking around ovulation.

Assay: Results differ meaningfully between platforms and methods. Compare against the interval printed by the issuing laboratory before acting on a borderline value.

Sources

Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency: AUA Guideline — American Urological Association, 2018 · Clinical guidelineLow testosterone in men is a total testosterone below 300 ng/dL, which is Sera's sufficient lower edge for men. The treatment target is 450 to 600 ng/dL, the middle third of the reference range. Published 2018, validity confirmed 2024; still the edition in force.
Harmonized Reference Ranges for Circulating Testosterone Levels in Men of Four Cohort Studies in the United States and Europe — Travison TG, Vesper HW, Orwoll E, et al. — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2017 · Peer-reviewed publicationIn 9054 men from four US and European cohorts, with assays calibrated to the CDC reference method, the normal range for healthy non-obese men aged 19 to 39 is 264 to 916 ng/dL, median 531. Supports an upper edge of 916.
Testosterone, Total (test 004226) — Labcorp, 2026 · Laboratory / reference-interval sourceAdult men of every age band: 264 to 916 ng/dL. Women: 13 to 71 ng/dL at 20 to 30 years, 8 to 60 at 31 to 40, 4 to 50 at 41 to 60. Immunoassay.
Testosterone, Total, Mass Spectrometry, Serum (TTST) — Mayo Clinic Laboratories, 2026 · Laboratory / reference-interval sourceAdults aged 19 and over by mass spectrometry: men 240 to 950 ng/dL, women 8 to 60 ng/dL. Supports the proposed women's band of 8 to 60.
EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health: Male Hypogonadism — European Association of Urology, 2026 · Clinical guidelineThe European threshold for late-onset hypogonadism is a total testosterone of 12 nmol/L (about 346 ng/dL), a little above Sera's 10.4 nmol/L.
Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women — Davis SR, Baber R, Panay N, et al. — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2019 · Professional societyNo androgen blood level separates women with and without sexual dysfunction, and direct immunoassays are highly unreliable in the female range. So a low result in a woman has no diagnostic threshold, and no optimal band is supported.
Associations of Testosterone and Related Hormones With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Men: Individual Participant Data Meta-analyses — Yeap BB, Marriott RJ, Dwivedi G, et al. — Annals of Internal Medicine, 2024 · Peer-reviewed publicationIn pooled cohorts of community-dwelling men, all-cause mortality was higher only below 7.4 nmol/L (213 ng/dL). This is outcome evidence for flagging a low result, not for the 500 to 900 optimal band. Australian-led, with European and North American cohorts.

What Testosterone (Total) measures

The total amount of testosterone in your blood, including both the bound and free forms.

Testosterone affects energy, mood, muscle, and sex drive in both men and women. Low levels can add to fatigue.

Related hormone health markers

See Total testosterone in the full list of biomarker ranges

This page is a reference for practitioners, not medical advice. Sera's bands are practitioner targets for structured review, not diagnostic thresholds, and Sera does not diagnose or recommend treatment. Read a result alongside the interval printed by the issuing laboratory and the client's history and symptoms. Range set: Sera Production, version 1.0, last reviewed November 9, 2026.