Passer Rating Calculator (QB Rating)

What is passer rating?

Passer rating, often called QB rating or quarterback rating, is a statistical formula used to evaluate how efficiently a quarterback performs in the NFL. The league introduced this system in 1973, and it is one of the most widely used ways to evaluate quarterback play today.

This rating system rewards quarterbacks for completing passes, gaining passing yards, and throwing touchdown passes, while penalizing them for interceptions. It does not take into account rushing yards, sacks, or lost fumbles. Because the calculation uses a per-attempt average, passer rating focuses on efficiency rather than overall volume or total output.

How passer rating is calculated

In the NFL formula, each part of the passer rating calculation has a minimum value of 0 and a maximum value of 2.375. After calculating each component, the formula adds them together, divides the total by 6, and then multiplies the result by 100. The system measures four main areas:

• Completion Percentage – (Completions/Attempts – 0.3) × 5
• Yards Per Attempt – (Yards/Attempts – 3) × 0.25
• Touchdown Percentage – (Touchdowns/Attempts) × 20
• Blockage Percentage – 2.375 − (Blockages/Attempts × 25)

Each category is limited to between 0 and 2.375. Once combined, the formula divides the sum by 6 and multiplies it by 100 to give a final rating.

Perfect Passer Rating: 158.3

A score of 158.3 indicates a “perfect” passer rating, as it is the highest possible mark a quarterback can achieve. To reach this number, a quarterback must meet all of the following criteria:

• Complete at least 77.5% of his passes
• Average at least 12.5 yards per attempt
• Record a touchdown on at least 11.875% of his attempts
• Throw no interceptions

What is a good passer rating?

Perfect ratings are rare in NFL games, so it makes more sense to look at passer ratings in the range. As the league has become more pass-oriented over the years, expectations have increased. In the modern NFL, a rating of 100 or higher indicates strong performance:

• 158.3 – Perfect passer rating (highest possible)
• 120+ – Elite-level performance
• 100–119 – Very good performance
• 90–99 – Above-average play
• 80–89 – Average performance
• 70–79 – Below-average output
• Below 70 – Poor performance

How is passer rating calculated?

For many years, analysts have used various methods to determine which quarterbacks perform best in football. In 1973, the NFL finally introduced a standard formula that brought together all the key passing elements. This system evaluates quarterbacks using passing attempts, completions, passing yards, touchdowns, and interceptions.

The passer rating formula followed by both the NFL and CFL looks like this:

Passer Rating = ((a + b + c + d) / 6) × 100, where

• a = ((Completions / Attempts) − 0.3) × 5
• b = ((Yards / Attempts) − 3) × 0.25
• c = (Touchdowns / Attempts) × 20
• d = 2.375 − (Interceptions / Attempts) × 25

If any of the values ​​in a, b, c, or d is below zero, the system converts it to zero. If any value is above 2.375, the formula caps it at 2.375. These caps create a rating scale from 0 to 158.3.

If you play college football instead of professional football, the NCAA uses a different passer rating formula. This version works on a much wider scale, from −731.6 to 1261.6:

Passer Rating (NCAA) = ((8.4 × Yards) + (330 × Touchdowns) + (100 × Completions) − (200 × Interceptions)) / Attempts

Learn to Calculate Ratings Like a QB Rating Calculator

A perfect passer rating remains untouchable in NFL history. Aaron Rodgers set a new benchmark by posting an impressive rating of 122.5 in the 2011 season.

Now, let’s calculate his performance since 2004 using the QB Rating Calculator. While playing at Butte Community College in Oroville, he recorded:

• 316 total passing attempts
• 209 completions
• 2566 passing yards
• 24 passing touchdowns
• 8 interceptions

Putting these numbers into the NCAA formula gives:

Passer rating (NCAA) = ((8.4 × 2566) + (330 × 24) + (100 × 209) − (200 × 8)) / 316 = 154.35

Aaron Rodgers achieved a passing efficiency rating of 154.35 during the 2004 season.

But suppose he put up the same numbers in the NFL. In that case, the calculation involves a few extra steps but remains simple. Using the NFL formula:

• a = ((209 / 316) − 0.3) × 5 = 1.807
• b = ((2566 / 316) − 3) × 0.25 = 1.280
• c = (24 / 316) × 20 = 1.519
• d = 2.375 − (8 / 316) × 25 = 1.742

Now, plug these values ​​into the final equation:

Passer Rating = ((1.807 + 1.280 + 1.519 + 1.742) / 6) × 100 = 105.8

If manual calculations seem tedious, skip the math and rely on a passer rating calculator to get instant results. And if you enjoy global football events like the World Cup, don’t forget to explore the football calorie calculator as well.