Boston Marathon Qualifying Time Calculator
Check if your marathon time qualifies for the Boston Marathon (BQ) and see how much buffer you have.
Uses 2025 BAA qualifying standards by age and gender.
The Boston Marathon Qualifying Standard The Boston Marathon, organized by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), is one of the oldest and most prestigious marathons in the world, first held in 1897. To enter, most runners must meet an age- and gender-based qualifying time at a certified marathon held within the previous year. The qualifying standards are tiered by 5-year age groups, with the requirements becoming progressively more lenient as runners get older.
The Qualifying Time vs. The Acceptance Cutoff Meeting the qualifying time does not guarantee entry. The Boston Marathon receives far more qualifying applications than it has bibs to offer. In recent years, the BAA has accepted only runners who finish FASTER than the standard by a certain buffer — known as the “cutoff.” In 2024, the cutoff was 5 minutes and 29 seconds under the standard. In 2023 it was 6:51. In 2022 it was 2:09. The cutoff varies each year based on total qualified applicants. As a general rule, being at least 5 minutes under your qualifying standard gives you a strong chance of acceptance.
2025 BAA Qualifying Standards (Used in This Calculator) Men 18–34: 3:00:00 | Women 18–34: 3:30:00 Men 35–39: 3:05:00 | Women 35–39: 3:35:00 Men 40–44: 3:10:00 | Women 40–44: 3:40:00 Men 45–49: 3:20:00 | Women 45–49: 3:50:00 Men 50–54: 3:30:00 | Women 50–54: 4:00:00 Men 55–59: 3:40:00 | Women 55–59: 4:10:00 Men 60–64: 3:50:00 | Women 60–64: 4:20:00 Men 65–69: 4:05:00 | Women 65–69: 4:35:00 Men 70–74: 4:20:00 | Women 70–74: 4:50:00 Men 75–79: 4:35:00 | Women 75–79: 5:05:00 Men 80+: 4:50:00 | Women 80+: 5:20:00
Non-Binary Category The BAA accepts non-binary entries. As of 2025, non-binary runners use the women’s qualifying standard for their age group.
What “BQ” Means to Runners Achieving a BQ is a major milestone for amateur runners, representing years of dedicated training. Many runners structure their entire training and racing year around achieving or improving their BQ time. Beyond the standard itself, a BQ time is a meaningful benchmark of marathon fitness — typically requiring a consistent weekly mileage of 40–60+ miles and quality speed work.