---
title: "Testosterone test: what it measures, normal levels by age, and how to get tested"
type: biomarker
url: "https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/total-testosterone"
also_known_as:
  - testosterone
  - testosterone, total
  - total testosterone
  - testosterone (total)
category: Hormones
units:
  - ng/dL
order_price_usd: 33.99
order_item: Testosterone, Total
order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/testosterone-total"
reviewed_at: 2026-09-17
---

# Testosterone test: what it measures, normal levels by age, and how to get tested

> Total Testosterone is measured with a standard blood draw; no fasting is needed. A typical reference range is 264 – 916 ng/dL (male, age 18+; more bands below). At TestWell it's $33.99 all-in as Testosterone, Total, results in 1–3 business days, drawn at Quest or Labcorp. An out-of-range result is a prompt to look closer, not a diagnosis.

A testosterone test is a morning blood draw that measures how much of the hormone is circulating. Total testosterone is the standard first test; free testosterone is added when a binding-protein problem is suspected. Healthy men typically fall between roughly 264 and 916 ng/dL, women between 15 and 70 ng/dL, and a single low result is always repeated before anything is concluded.

Also known as: testosterone, testosterone, total, total testosterone, testosterone (total).

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Units | ng/dL |
| Sample | Blood draw |
| Fasting | Not required |
| Results | 1–3 business days |
| Price | $33.99 |
| Labs | Quest or Labcorp · BioReference in NY/NJ |

## What does a testosterone test measure?

Testosterone is the main androgen — the hormone behind muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, body hair, libido and sperm production in men, and a smaller but real contributor to energy, mood and sexual function in women. It is made mainly in the testes (men) and in the ovaries and adrenal glands (women), under the direction of two pituitary hormones, LH and FSH.

About 98% of the testosterone in blood is attached to proteins: tightly to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and loosely to albumin. Only the remaining 1–3% is free. A total testosterone test counts all of it — bound and free — in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). A free testosterone test estimates just the unbound fraction, and bioavailable testosterone adds back the loosely bound albumin portion, which tissues can also use.

Total testosterone is the test guidelines start with because it is the most standardized and reproducible measurement. Free and bioavailable values matter when SHBG is unusually high or low, because then the total can look normal while the amount actually reaching tissues is not, or the reverse.

## Who should get a testosterone test?

The Endocrine Society recommends testing men who have symptoms or signs consistent with testosterone deficiency rather than screening men who feel well. The symptoms that most specifically point to low testosterone are reduced libido, fewer spontaneous erections and erectile dysfunction, loss of body hair, very small or shrinking testes, infertility and hot flashes. Less specific but common reasons to test include persistent fatigue, low mood, poor concentration, loss of muscle and gain of fat, and reduced bone density.

Certain conditions raise the chance that a symptomatic man has a truly low level: obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic opioid or glucocorticoid use, HIV with weight loss, pituitary disease, prior chemotherapy or radiation to the testes, and known osteoporosis. Men already on testosterone therapy are tested to confirm the dose keeps them in the mid-normal range.

In women, testosterone is measured for a different set of reasons: excess hair growth on the face or body (hirsutism), stubborn adult acne, scalp hair thinning with a male pattern, irregular or absent periods and a suspected diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A very high level in a woman, or symptoms that appeared rapidly, prompts a search for an adrenal or ovarian source.

## How to get a testosterone test (and when to have blood drawn)

You can get a testosterone test through your own doctor, or order it online from TestWell and walk into a Quest or Labcorp patient service center — a licensed physician reviews the order, and results arrive in your portal, usually within a few business days. Either way, the timing of the draw matters more than where you have it done.

Testosterone follows a daily rhythm that peaks in the early morning and drifts down through the afternoon, most strongly in younger men. Guidelines therefore call for a morning sample, drawn between roughly 7 and 10 AM. Eating also lowers testosterone for a few hours, so a fasting draw gives a cleaner number; water is fine. Avoid testing during an acute illness, right after a night of very poor sleep, or in the 24 hours after unusually intense exercise — all three can push the level down temporarily.

Because the day-to-day swing is large, a single low total testosterone is never the end of the story. The Endocrine Society requires an unequivocally low result on at least two separate morning samples before diagnosing hypogonadism, and adds free testosterone when the total sits near the lower limit or SHBG is likely to be abnormal.

- Draw between 7 and 10 AM, ideally fasting
- Skip testing while sick, sleep-deprived or within a day of a very hard workout
- Tell the ordering physician about any testosterone, anabolic steroid, opioid or steroid medication use
- Expect a repeat morning test if the first result is low

## What is the normal range for Total Testosterone?

| Population | Reference range |
| --- | --- |
| Male, age 18+ | 264 – 916 ng/dL |
| Female, age 18+ | 15.0 – 70.0 ng/dL |

Reference intervals differ slightly between labs; the range printed on your report is the one to interpret against. Ranges are usually set so 95% of healthy people fall inside them.

## Normal testosterone levels by age and sex

The reference range printed on most US lab reports for adult men — 264 to 916 ng/dL — comes from a 2017 harmonization study of healthy, non-obese men aged 19 to 39 across several large cohorts, with results calibrated to the CDC's reference method. Some labs still use older, wider ranges (for example 300 to 1,000 ng/dL), so the number on your report should always be read against the range printed next to it.

Levels fall gradually with age — on the order of 1% a year after the thirties — and obesity, diabetes and chronic illness push them lower still, which is why an older man's result is judged partly against how he feels rather than purely against a range derived from young men. In women, total testosterone is roughly a tenth of male values, peaks in the twenties and declines through the reproductive years and after menopause. Children and adolescents have their own age- and puberty-stage ranges and are not covered by the table below.

| Group | Typical total testosterone | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Men 19–39 (healthy, non-obese) | 264–916 ng/dL | Harmonized reference range used by most US labs |
| Men 40 and older | Declines roughly 1% per year | No separate consensus range; symptoms weigh more |
| Women 18 and older | 15–70 ng/dL | Higher values raise the question of PCOS or an adrenal/ovarian source |
| Men on testosterone therapy | Mid-normal target | Checked 3–6 months after starting, then yearly |

_Ranges are lab- and method-dependent; use the range printed on your report._

## Total vs free testosterone: which one should you test?

Start with total. It is the measurement every guideline threshold is written for, and for most men it answers the question. Free testosterone earns its place when the total is borderline or when something is known to distort SHBG. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome and glucocorticoids lower SHBG, so the total can under-represent the free fraction; aging, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, HIV, anticonvulsants and estrogens raise SHBG, so a normal-looking total can hide a low free level.

How the free value is produced matters. Equilibrium dialysis is the reference method but is slow and expensive. The widely used alternative is a calculated free testosterone from total testosterone, SHBG and albumin — the same math behind TestWell's free testosterone calculator. Direct 'analog' immunoassays for free testosterone are inexpensive but inaccurate, and the Endocrine Society advises against relying on them.

## What can throw off a testosterone result

Time of day is the biggest controllable factor: an afternoon draw can read 20–30% below a morning one in a younger man. Food, sleep deprivation, acute illness and heavy exercise in the previous day each lower the level for hours. Chronic factors include obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, heavy alcohol use, opioids, glucocorticoids and anabolic steroid use, which suppresses the body's own production.

Laboratory method also matters. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the reference method, and the one to prefer at the low concentrations seen in women and children, where older immunoassays are least reliable. Quest and Labcorp both offer LC-MS/MS total testosterone; the method is printed on the report.

## What happens after a low or high testosterone result

A low result is repeated on another morning, ideally fasting, before it is called low. If it is confirmed, the usual next tests are LH and FSH, which show whether the problem is in the testes (high LH/FSH — primary hypogonadism) or in the pituitary and hypothalamus (low or inappropriately normal LH/FSH — secondary hypogonadism). Prolactin, iron studies (to look for hemochromatosis), a check of other pituitary hormones and, in selected cases, pituitary imaging follow when the pattern points to a central cause.

A high result in a man is most often explained by testosterone therapy or supplements; without those, a clinician looks for a testicular or adrenal source. In a woman, a high level leads to DHEA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, prolactin and TSH, and to a PCOS evaluation, with imaging when levels are very high or symptoms progressed quickly.

Testosterone therapy is a decision for a clinician who has confirmed the diagnosis, looked for the cause and discussed the risks; it is not started from a single online result. The interpretation sections below cover the common causes, symptoms and next steps for high and low readings in more detail.

## What does a high Total Testosterone mean?

In men, a high total testosterone is most often from testosterone therapy or anabolic steroid use; rarer causes include adrenal or testicular tumors, and a very high SHBG can raise total while free testosterone is normal. In women, elevated testosterone commonly reflects PCOS; a marked elevation raises concern for an adrenal or ovarian tumor and needs prompt evaluation.

### Common causes of high Total Testosterone

1. Testosterone replacement therapy, anabolic steroids, some supplements
2. High SHBG raising total testosterone while free is normal (thyroid excess, liver disease, oral estrogen)
3. Women: PCOS, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, ovarian or adrenal tumors (rare)
4. Men: androgen-secreting tumors (rare), early puberty in adolescents

### Symptoms that go with high Total Testosterone

- Men: acne, oily skin, irritability, reduced sperm count, sleep apnea worsening on therapy
- Women: acne, excess facial or body hair, scalp hair thinning, irregular periods, deepened voice when marked

### What clinicians usually check next

- Free testosterone and SHBG to interpret the total
- Women: DHEA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, LH/FSH, and pelvic imaging when levels are high
- Men on therapy: hematocrit, PSA and estradiol per monitoring guidelines
- Repeat on a morning sample

Follow-up tests at TestWell: [FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/fsh) ($29.99), [PSA, Total](https://www.test-well.com/tests/psa-total) ($28.99), [PSA, Free & Total](https://www.test-well.com/tests/psa-free-and-total) ($48.99), [LH (Luteinizing Hormone)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/luteinizing-hormone) ($36.99), [Estradiol (E2)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/estradiol) ($35.99), [SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/shbg-sex-hormone-binding-globulin) ($34.99).

### Seek care promptly if

- In a woman, a total testosterone more than about twice the upper limit or rapidly progressing virilization — prompt clinician evaluation

**Is high testosterone good for men?** Within the normal range there's no evidence higher is better. Above-range levels from therapy raise hematocrit and can worsen sleep apnea and fertility, which is why treated men are monitored.

## What does a low Total Testosterone mean?

Low total testosterone in men (below roughly 300 ng/dL on a morning draw) can reflect true hypogonadism, but obesity, poor sleep, illness, opioids, glucocorticoids, alcohol and an afternoon draw all lower it temporarily. Guidelines require two separate morning samples plus symptoms before a diagnosis, then LH and FSH to determine whether the problem is testicular or pituitary.

### Common causes of low Total Testosterone

1. Afternoon draw, acute illness, poor sleep or recent heavy exercise (temporary)
2. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome
3. Opioids, glucocorticoids, anabolic steroid withdrawal, some antidepressants
4. Primary hypogonadism: testicular injury, Klinefelter syndrome, chemotherapy
5. Secondary hypogonadism: pituitary tumors (including prolactinoma), hemochromatosis, head injury
6. Aging — a gradual decline is normal

### Symptoms that go with low Total Testosterone

- Low libido, erectile difficulty
- Fatigue, low mood, reduced motivation
- Loss of muscle, increased body fat, reduced body hair
- Low bone density over time

### What clinicians usually check next

- Repeat total testosterone on a second morning (7–10 a.m.), fasting sample
- Free testosterone and SHBG if total is borderline or SHBG may be abnormal
- LH, FSH and prolactin to locate the cause
- Iron studies (hemochromatosis) and, when indicated, pituitary imaging

Follow-up tests at TestWell: [FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/fsh) ($29.99), [LH (Luteinizing Hormone)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/luteinizing-hormone) ($36.99), [Prolactin](https://www.test-well.com/tests/prolactin) ($39.99), [SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/shbg-sex-hormone-binding-globulin) ($34.99).

**What testosterone level is low?** Most labs and the Endocrine Society use about 300 ng/dL as the lower limit for total testosterone on a morning sample — confirmed on two occasions, with symptoms.

**My level was 280 at 3 p.m. Do I have low T?** Not yet knowable. Testosterone falls through the day; a 3 p.m. 280 could be 400 in the morning. Repeat between 7 and 10 a.m., fasting, before drawing conclusions.

## How often should you retest?

One low reading isn't a diagnosis: the Endocrine Society asks for an unequivocally low total testosterone on at least two separate morning samples (ideally fasting, before 10 AM) before calling it hypogonadism. Men on testosterone therapy typically have levels rechecked 3–6 months after starting, then annually.

## How do you get tested for Total Testosterone?

| Order | Type | Price | Includes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Testosterone, Total](https://www.test-well.com/tests/testosterone-total) | Single test | $33.99 | This marker |
| [Fitness & Performance Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/fitness-performance-panel) | Panel | $119.99 | 8 tests |
| [TRT Quarterly Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/trt-quarterly-panel) | Panel | $179.00 | 11 tests |
| [Menopause Assessment Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/menopause-panel) | Panel | $179.99 | 8 tests |
| [Female HRT Quarterly Monitoring Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/female-hrt-quarterly-panel) | Panel | $179.99 | 12 tests |

## Quest vs Labcorp vs BioReference

| Lab | Available | Price | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Quest Diagnostics | Yes | $33.99 | Choose Quest at checkout; walk-in patient service centers in every state TestWell serves outside NY and NJ. |
| Labcorp | Yes | $43.99 | Choose Labcorp at checkout; walk-in patient service centers in every state TestWell serves outside NY and NJ. |
| BioReference (NY & NJ) | Yes | $45.99 | New York and New Jersey orders route here automatically — state rules keep Quest and Labcorp from accepting self-ordered draws. |

## Common questions about Total Testosterone

### What is a normal testosterone level for a man?

Most US labs use 264–916 ng/dL for adult men, a range derived from healthy non-obese men aged 19–39. Levels decline gradually with age, so many healthy men over 60 sit in the lower half of that range. Read your number against the range printed on your own report, and remember a single low reading is repeated before it means anything.

### What time of day should a testosterone test be done?

In the morning, between about 7 and 10 AM, when levels peak. Afternoon values can run 20–30% lower in younger men, which is enough to turn a normal result into a falsely low one. Fasting before the draw improves accuracy further.

### Can I get a testosterone test without seeing a doctor?

Yes. TestWell's physician network reviews and approves the order online, you have blood drawn at a nearby Quest or Labcorp location, and results appear in your portal — no appointment or referral needed. Discuss any abnormal result with a clinician before acting on it.

### Are saliva or at-home testosterone tests accurate?

Saliva tests measure the free fraction indirectly and are affected by collection technique, so guidelines do not use them for diagnosis. Blood testing — ideally by LC-MS/MS — remains the standard. If you have a low at-home result, confirm it with a morning blood test.

### Does a low testosterone level mean I need testosterone therapy?

Not on its own. The diagnosis needs symptoms plus unequivocally low levels on at least two morning tests, followed by tests that find the cause. Obesity, sleep apnea, medications and illness can all lower testosterone reversibly, and treating those is often the first step.

### Do I need a doctor's order to test my total testosterone?

No. TestWell's licensed physician network reviews and approves your order — usually within minutes. You can place an order online without an in-person visit or a referral from your own doctor.

### How long does it take to get Total Testosterone results?

Most Total Testosterone results are available in 1–3 business days after your specimen arrives at the lab. You'll get an email the moment your results are ready, with everything viewable in your TestWell portal.

### How much does a Total Testosterone test cost?

Our Testosterone, Total starts at $33.99. That's the all-in price — no copays, no insurance hoops, no surprise bills. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.

### Do I need to fast before my Total Testosterone test?

Fasting is not required for the Total Testosterone test. You can have your blood drawn any time of day.

### Which lab will process my Total Testosterone test?

Your test will be processed by Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, or BioReference depending on which is closest to you and which lab carries the test. All three are CLIA-certified and trusted by hospitals nationwide. You'll choose your lab during checkout from 4,000+ locations.

## Keep reading

- [Testosterone Testing: Which Test Do You Actually Need (Total, Free, SHBG, or Full TRT Panel)?](https://www.test-well.com/guides/testosterone-testing)
- [Blood Tests for Men's Health](https://www.test-well.com/guides/blood-tests-for-mens-health)
- [Low libido: which blood tests?](https://www.test-well.com/symptoms/low-libido)
- [Erectile dysfunction: which blood tests?](https://www.test-well.com/symptoms/erectile-dysfunction)
- [Fatigue: which blood tests?](https://www.test-well.com/symptoms/fatigue)
- [Hair loss: which blood tests?](https://www.test-well.com/symptoms/hair-loss)
- [Adult acne: which blood tests?](https://www.test-well.com/symptoms/acne)
- [Irregular periods: which blood tests?](https://www.test-well.com/symptoms/irregular-periods)
- [Before your test: Time of day](https://www.test-well.com/prep/time-of-day)
- [Before your test: Fasting](https://www.test-well.com/prep/fasting)
- [Before your test: Sleep deprivation](https://www.test-well.com/prep/sleep-deprivation)

## Sources

- [Endocrine Society](https://www.endocrine.org/clinical-practice-guidelines/testosterone-therapy)
- [Endocrine Society — Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism (2018)](https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2018-00229)
- [Travison et al. — Harmonized Reference Ranges for Circulating Testosterone Levels in Men (JCEM 2017)](https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2016-2935)
- [American Urological Association — Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency (2018)](https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/testosterone-deficiency-guideline)
- [MedlinePlus (NIH) — Testosterone Levels Test](https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/testosterone-levels-test/)

## Related biomarkers

- [Free Testosterone](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/free-testosterone)
- [SHBG](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/shbg)
- [Estradiol](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/estradiol)
- [Cortisol AM](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/cortisol-am)
- [DHEA-S](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/dhea-s)
- [FSH](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/fsh)

- [Reference range lookup tool](https://www.test-well.com/tools/reference-range-lookup)
- [Lab unit converter](https://www.test-well.com/tools/lab-unit-converter)
- [All biomarkers](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers)

---

Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-17. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md

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Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.