Average marathon time
A typical amateur takes a little over 4 hours. In the RunRepeat database, 35 million results from 28,000 races over 20 years, the median marathon is 4:14:29 for men and 4:42:09 for women. The table shows what you need to beat a given share of runners.
| Faster than | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 99% of runners | 2:44:18 | 3:11:35 |
| 90% of runners | 3:22:40 | 3:49:22 |
| 80% of runners | 3:40:13 | 4:06:58 |
| 70% of runners | 3:53:07 | 4:20:24 |
| 60% of runners | 4:03:47 | 4:31:21 |
| 50% of runners | 4:14:29 | 4:42:09 |
| 40% of runners | 4:25:33 | 4:53:37 |
| 30% of runners | 4:38:26 | 5:07:36 |
| 20% of runners | 4:55:33 | 5:26:40 |
| 10% of runners | 5:25:26 | 5:56:31 |
The source does not list the countries of the races. A sub-3:30 marathon puts a man in roughly the top 15% and a woman in the top 5 to 6%; sub-4 for women is about the top 18%.
Marathon and half marathon pace calculator
Type the digits in a row: 14530 means 1:45:30. The + and − buttons change the number by one step.Arrow keys ↑↓ change it by one step, with Shift by ten, and you can drag the number with the mouse.
marathon: finish 3:59:48, pace 5:41 per kilometer, 10.6 kilometers per hour
Equivalent results by the Riegel formula
Even-pace splits every 5 km
- 5 km28:25
- 10 km56:50
- 15 km1:25:15
- 20 km1:53:40
- 25 km2:22:05
- 30 km2:50:30
- 35 km3:18:55
- 40 km3:47:20
- 42.2 km3:59:48
Average half marathon time
In the same RunRepeat database the median half marathon is 1:59:48 for men and 2:24:03 for women. The fastest 10% run under 1:40:35 and 1:57:01, the slowest 10% take more than 2:42:48 and 3:08:21.
Marathon cutoff times
Every race sets its own time limit, and many also close checkpoints along the course: runners who miss one must stop. The Majors in 2027:
| Race | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 7 hours from the start gun |
| Sydney | 7 hours |
| Chicago | 6 hours 30 minutes |
| Cape Town | 6 hours 30 minutes |
| Berlin | 6 hours 15 minutes |
A 6-hour limit means an average pace of 8:31 per kilometer. Check the limit in your race rules before you sign up.
Marathon and half marathon world records
The marathon world record is 1:59:30 for men and 2:09:56 for women; the half marathon records are 57:20 and 1:02:52. World Athletics data as of early October 2026.
| Distance | Time | Who | Where and when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon, men | 1:59:30 | Sabastian Sawe, Kenya | London, April 26, 2026 |
| Marathon, women | 2:09:56 | Ruth Chepngetich, Kenya | Chicago, October 13, 2024 |
| Half marathon, men | 57:20 | Jacob Kiplimo, Uganda | Lisbon, March 8, 2026 |
| Half marathon, women | 1:02:52 | Letesenbet Gidey, Ethiopia | Valencia, October 24, 2021 |
World Athletics still recognizes Ruth Chepngetich's record, although she was banned for three years for doping in October 2025. The banned diuretic was found in a sample from March 14, 2025, and the Athletics Integrity Unit kept all her results before that date.
For women, World Athletics keeps two records: in a mixed race (in the table) and in a women-only race. The women-only marathon record is 2:15:41 by Tigst Assefa (Ethiopia, London, April 26, 2026), and the half marathon record is 1:05:16 by Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya, Gdynia, October 17, 2020).
Half marathon pace chart
A sub-2 half marathon needs 5:41 per kilometer, 1:45 needs 4:58, 1:30 needs 4:15. Pace is rounded down to the second, as in the calculator: held evenly, it finishes a few seconds under the goal. At 5:41 the half marathon takes 1:59:54.
| Goal | Pace, min/km | Speed, km/h | 5K | 10K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:30 | 4:15 | 14.1 | 21:15 | 42:30 |
| 1:35 | 4:30 | 13.3 | 22:30 | 45:00 |
| 1:40 | 4:44 | 12.7 | 23:40 | 47:20 |
| 1:45 | 4:58 | 12.1 | 24:50 | 49:40 |
| 1:50 | 5:12 | 11.5 | 26:00 | 52:00 |
| 1:55 | 5:27 | 11.0 | 27:15 | 54:30 |
| 2:00 | 5:41 | 10.6 | 28:25 | 56:50 |
| 2:05 | 5:55 | 10.1 | 29:35 | 59:10 |
| 2:10 | 6:09 | 9.8 | 30:45 | 1:01:30 |
| 2:15 | 6:23 | 9.4 | 31:55 | 1:03:50 |
| 2:20 | 6:38 | 9.0 | 33:10 | 1:06:20 |
| 2:25 | 6:52 | 8.7 | 34:20 | 1:08:40 |
| 2:30 | 7:06 | 8.5 | 35:30 | 1:11:00 |
| 2:35 | 7:20 | 8.2 | 36:40 | 1:13:20 |
| 2:40 | 7:35 | 7.9 | 37:55 | 1:15:50 |
| 2:45 | 7:49 | 7.7 | 39:05 | 1:18:10 |
Marathon pace chart
A 4-hour marathon needs 5:41 per kilometer, 3:30 needs 4:58, 3 hours needs 4:15. The half marathon column is your halfway split at an even pace.
| Goal | Pace, min/km | Speed, km/h | 5K | 10K | Half marathon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | 4:15 | 14.1 | 21:15 | 42:30 | 1:29:40 |
| 3:15 | 4:37 | 13.0 | 23:05 | 46:10 | 1:37:24 |
| 3:30 | 4:58 | 12.1 | 24:50 | 49:40 | 1:44:47 |
| 3:45 | 5:19 | 11.3 | 26:35 | 53:10 | 1:52:10 |
| 4:00 | 5:41 | 10.6 | 28:25 | 56:50 | 1:59:54 |
| 4:15 | 6:02 | 9.9 | 30:10 | 1:00:20 | 2:07:17 |
| 4:30 | 6:23 | 9.4 | 31:55 | 1:03:50 | 2:14:40 |
| 4:45 | 6:45 | 8.9 | 33:45 | 1:07:30 | 2:22:24 |
| 5:00 | 7:06 | 8.5 | 35:30 | 1:11:00 | 2:29:48 |
| 5:15 | 7:27 | 8.1 | 37:15 | 1:14:30 | 2:37:11 |
| 5:30 | 7:49 | 7.7 | 39:05 | 1:18:10 | 2:44:55 |
| 5:45 | 8:10 | 7.3 | 40:50 | 1:21:40 | 2:52:18 |
| 6:00 | 8:31 | 7.0 | 42:35 | 1:25:10 | 2:59:41 |
How to choose your goal
The race median is not your goal. A realistic time comes from a recent result over a shorter distance. By the Riegel formula a 50-minute 10K predicts 1:50:19 for the half marathon and 3:50:01 for the marathon, if your endurance is built with long runs.
How to turn a prediction into a goal and why to keep three scenarios is in the guide to choosing a race goal. How many weeks to train and how much to run is in the marathon and half marathon training guides.
Quick answers
How long does it take to run a marathon?
A little over 4 hours for a typical amateur: in the RunRepeat database, half of men finish faster than 4:14:29 and half of women faster than 4:42:09.
How long does it take to run a half marathon?
About 2 to 2.5 hours: the RunRepeat median is 1:59:48 for men and 2:24:03 for women.
What pace do I need for a sub-2 half marathon?
5:41 per kilometer: at that pace you finish in 1:59:54. 1:45 needs 4:58, 1:30 needs 4:15.
What pace do I need for a 4-hour marathon?
5:41 per kilometer, which finishes in 3:59:48. 3:30 needs 4:58, 3 hours needs 4:15.
What is the marathon cutoff time?
It depends on the race. Among the Majors, Tokyo and Sydney allow 7 hours, Chicago and Cape Town 6:30, Berlin 6:15.
Train for your time
Pacero builds a plan for your race and goal time, checks your finish forecast against your runs and updates the plan as you train.
Train with Pacero →First 7 days free, no card needed.Sources
- RunRepeat: runners percentile calculator: marathon and half marathon percentiles, 35 million results.
- Race rules for the cutoffs: see the sources in each race guide, checked October 18, 2026.
- World Athletics records: marathon, men, marathon, women, half marathon, men, half marathon, women.
- Athletics Integrity Unit, October 23, 2025: Ruth Chepngetich's ban, records before March 14, 2025 stand.
- Peter Riegel, 1981: the time prediction formula.