Draw Weight Calculator (By Body Weight and Age)
Recommended draw weight is set mainly by body weight and experience. Most adult beginners belong between 30 and 45 pounds, and the fit test is holding full draw for 15 seconds without shaking.
Draw weight is the number archers most consistently overestimate, and overbowing is the single most common reason people quit. The recommendation below is built from body weight, age and experience, then checked against the practical minimums for bowhunting. Take it as a starting point and let the 15 second hold test overrule it.
Draw weight by body weight
These ranges are the long-standing industry starting points, published in some form by nearly every bow manufacturer and archery association. They are conservative on purpose. The figures assume a compound with let-off; a recurve holding the same poundage at anchor feels roughly a third heavier and should be set lower.
| Archer | Body weight | Compound range | Recurve range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small child | 55 to 70 lb | 10 to 15 lb | 10 to 15 lb |
| Child | 70 to 100 lb | 15 to 25 lb | 12 to 18 lb |
| Youth or small adult | 100 to 130 lb | 25 to 35 lb | 18 to 26 lb |
| Smaller-framed adult | 130 to 150 lb | 30 to 40 lb | 22 to 30 lb |
| Average adult | 150 to 180 lb | 40 to 50 lb | 28 to 38 lb |
| Larger adult | 180 to 200 lb | 45 to 55 lb | 32 to 42 lb |
| Large-framed adult | 200 lb and over | 50 to 65 lb | 36 to 48 lb |
Body weight is a proxy for frame size and available back strength, not a rule about fitness. A lean, well-conditioned 150 pound archer often out-draws a heavier one, which is why the calculator adjusts for experience and why the hold test below outranks every chart on this page.
The 15 second test
This is the only assessment that matters and it takes a minute. With the bow pointed at a safe backstop:
- Draw with the bow level. If you have to raise it above your shoulder and pull down to get it back, the weight is too high. Full stop, no further testing needed.
- Hold at full draw for 15 seconds. No shaking, no creeping forward, no holding your breath.
- Let down under control. Slowly, without the string escaping. Being unable to let down safely is a genuine hazard, not just a strength gap.
- Repeat 20 times. If shot 20 is noticeably worse than shot 5, you are practising fatigue instead of form.
Failing any step means dropping five to ten pounds. Most bows adjust several turns of the limb bolts, so this usually costs nothing but a hex key.
The practical answer to draw weight uncertainty is a bow with a genuinely wide adjustment range, because it lets you start low and work up without a second purchase. A package covering roughly 5 to 70 pounds and a broad span of draw lengths will fit a beginner, follow them as they gain strength, and still fit a growing teenager afterwards. That flexibility is worth more to a new archer than any speed figure on the spec sheet.
Legal minimum draw weight for bowhunting
Many states set a minimum draw weight for bowhunting, and a number of them also set minimum arrow or broadhead requirements alongside it. The figures below are the commonly published minimums for deer-sized game and are given as orientation only.
Verify before you hunt. Regulations change between seasons, several states set higher minimums for elk, moose and bear than for deer, and some also regulate broadhead width, minimum arrow weight or mechanical head use. Always confirm against your state wildlife agency's current regulations rather than any chart, including this one.
| State | Commonly cited minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 35 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Arizona | 30 lb | Among the lowest published minimums |
| Colorado | 35 lb | Also sets minimum arrow and broadhead requirements |
| Georgia | 30 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Idaho | 40 lb | Higher minimum applies to elk, moose and bear |
| Illinois | 30 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Indiana | 35 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Iowa | 40 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Minnesota | 30 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Montana | 40 lb | Deer-sized game |
| New York | 35 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Oregon | 40 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Pennsylvania | 35 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Washington | 40 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Wisconsin | 30 lb | Deer-sized game |
| Wyoming | 40 lb | Higher minimum applies to elk and moose |
| Texas, Michigan, Ohio and others | none stated | No numeric minimum published, but broadhead rules still apply |
The pattern across states is clear: the legal floor clusters between 30 and 40 pounds, and where a state sets no number it still regulates the broadhead. A legal minimum is not an ethical recommendation, though. What determines whether a setup is adequate is the energy the finished arrow delivers, which depends on arrow weight and speed as much as poundage. Check yours with the kinetic energy calculator rather than reasoning from draw weight alone.
Let-off, and why compound and recurve numbers are not comparable
A compound's cams reduce holding weight once you pass peak, typically by 75 to 90 percent. A 60 pound compound at 85 percent let-off holds at about 9 pounds while you aim. That is why compound archers can shoot poundages that would be impossible on a recurve, and it is also why the peak weight number understates how much energy the bow stores.
A recurve has no let-off at all. You hold every pound of the marked weight the entire time you are aiming, and marked weight is measured at a 28 inch draw, rising about 2.5 pounds for every inch you draw beyond that. An archer with a 30 inch draw pulling a bow marked 40 pounds is actually pulling about 45. That matters for arrow selection as much as comfort, so feed the real number into the arrow spine calculator.
What draw weight changes downstream
Changing poundage is not an isolated adjustment. Every five pounds is worth roughly ten feet per second of arrow speed, it shifts your minimum safe arrow weight by 25 grains under the 5 grains per pound rule, and it moves your spine requirement. If you turn a bow down for comfort, recheck the arrow with the total arrow weight calculator, since a lighter bow makes an existing arrow relatively heavier and relatively stiffer, which is usually fine but occasionally enough to need a tune.
Related tools
- Draw length calculator: the other half of a correct fit
- Arrow speed calculator: what each pound is worth in fps
- Arrow spine calculator: poundage changes the shaft you need
- Best archery rangefinders: more useful than extra poundage for most archers
Frequently asked questions
What draw weight should a beginner start with?
Most adult beginners are best served somewhere between 30 and 45 pounds, chosen by body weight rather than ambition. The working test is simple: you should be able to draw the bow smoothly without raising it above your shoulder, hold at full draw for 15 seconds, and let down under control. If any of those three fails, the bow is too heavy regardless of what the chart says.
Is 70 lb draw weight too much?
For most archers, yes, and it is rarely necessary. Seventy pounds became the default because it is the top of the common adjustment range and the standard for speed ratings, not because it is the right fit. A well-built 60 pound setup with a properly matched arrow delivers ample energy for common game, and it is far easier to shoot accurately from a treestand or an awkward position.
How much draw weight do I need for deer hunting?
The commonly cited practical floor is 40 pounds for a compound with a well-matched arrow and a sharp broadhead, and most states that set a minimum land between 30 and 40 pounds. Arrow weight, broadhead sharpness and shot placement matter more than poundage. Confirm the energy your specific setup produces rather than assuming a poundage number is sufficient on its own.
Should I increase draw weight over time?
Only if your form stays clean at the higher weight, and only in small steps of about five pounds with several weeks of shooting between them. Archery-specific strength builds faster than people expect once shooting becomes regular. What does not improve with time is form learned under a bow that was always too heavy, which is why starting light is the faster route to a heavier bow later.
How do I know if my draw weight is too heavy?
The telltale sign is raising the bow above your face and drawing downward, sometimes called sky drawing, which is both a form failure and genuinely dangerous. Other signs are shaking at full draw, being unable to hold for 15 seconds, needing to let down early, and getting worse rather than better across a practice session. Any of those means dropping five to ten pounds.
Do recurve and compound draw weights compare directly?
No, and the difference is large. A compound has 75 to 90 percent let-off, so a 60 pound compound holds at roughly 6 to 15 pounds at full draw. A recurve holds the full weight the entire time you are aiming, so 40 pounds on a recurve is far more physically demanding than 60 on a compound. Recurve poundage is also marked at a 28 inch draw and rises about 2.5 pounds per inch beyond that.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, verified owner reviews, and pro shop guidance. We do not test gear in person. Draw weight and arrow spine affect safety, so follow your bow manufacturer's specifications and have setup work checked by a qualified pro shop.