NFL Passer Rating Calculator
Compute an NFL quarterback's official passer rating from completions, attempts, passing yards, and touchdowns. Used by coaches, analysts, and fans to evaluate QB performance.
About this calculator
The NFL passer rating (also called the NFL quarterback rating or QBR) is a composite efficiency metric introduced in 1973. It combines four statistical components — completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown rate, and interception rate — each scaled and capped before being averaged. Each component a is calculated, clamped between 0 and 2.375, and the four values are summed and divided by 6, then multiplied by 100. The formula is: Rating = min(max( [((C/A − 0.3)×5) + ((Y/A − 3)×0.25) + ((TD/A)×20) + (2.375 − (INT/A×25))] ÷ 6 × 100, 0), 158.3). A perfect passer rating is 158.3 (the mathematical ceiling of the formula). A rating above 100 is considered excellent, 80–100 is average to good, and below 70 is poor. Note: this calculator uses completions, attempts, yards, and touchdowns — interceptions default to zero if not provided.
How to use
Take a quarterback who went 22 of 32 for 310 yards and 3 touchdowns (0 interceptions). Enter Completions = 22, Attempts = 32, Yards = 310, Touchdowns = 3. Compute each component: (22/32 − 0.3)×5 = (0.6875 − 0.3)×5 = 1.9375; (310/32 − 3)×0.25 = (9.6875 − 3)×0.25 = 1.6719; (3/32)×20 = 1.875; INT component = 2.375 (no interceptions). Sum = 1.9375 + 1.6719 + 1.875 + 2.375 = 7.8594. Divide by 6 and multiply by 100: 7.8594 ÷ 6 × 100 ≈ 130.99. Rating ≈ 131.0 — an excellent performance.
Frequently asked questions
How is the NFL passer rating formula calculated step by step?
The formula uses four sub-components, each based on per-attempt rates. Completion rate: (Completions/Attempts − 0.3) × 5. Yards per attempt: (Yards/Attempts − 3) × 0.25. Touchdown rate: (Touchdowns/Attempts) × 20. Interception rate: 2.375 − (Interceptions/Attempts × 25). Each component is clamped between 0 and 2.375, then all four are summed, divided by 6, and multiplied by 100. The result is bounded between 0 and 158.3. A perfect 158.3 requires a completion rate of at least 77.5%, 12.5+ yards per attempt, a TD rate above 11.875%, and zero interceptions.
What is a good NFL passer rating for a starting quarterback?
A passer rating above 100 for a full season is considered elite and is typically associated with Pro Bowl and MVP-caliber quarterbacks. Ratings between 85 and 100 represent solid, above-average starter performance. The historical NFL average sits around 80–85. Legends like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes have posted career ratings above 100, while a single-season rating above 120 is exceptionally rare. It is worth comparing ratings within era, since rule changes protecting quarterbacks and favoring passing have inflated ratings over the past two decades.
Why does the NFL passer rating formula have a maximum of 158.3?
The ceiling of 158.3 is a mathematical artifact of the formula's design, not an arbitrary round number. Each of the four components is capped at 2.375. When all four components are simultaneously at their maximum (2.375 × 4 = 9.5), the formula produces 9.5 ÷ 6 × 100 = 158.333…, rounded to 158.3. The formula was designed in 1971 by a committee led by Don Smith, with the goal of creating a statistic that rewarded efficiency across multiple dimensions simultaneously. While it remains the official NFL metric, many analysts now prefer ESPN's Total QBR, which also accounts for rushing, situational context, and opponent strength.