Boston Marathon Qualifying Standards (BQ): A Runner's Guide for 2027 & 2028

Boston Marathon qualifying times by age group, the actual acceptance cutoff, qualifying race and net downhill rules, the random selection process, and how the standards have changed over the years, to help you set a BQ target that is truly fast enough.

Last updated: November 5, 2026　|　Sources: B.A.A. official qualifying page, History of qualifying times

This page is a compiled reference, not an official publication. Always confirm with the B.A.A. website before registering.

Key takeaways

• Qualifying only earns you the right to apply; it does not guarantee entry. When applicants exceed the field size, the B.A.A. accepts them from fastest to slowest by how far they beat their age-group standard.
• Set your training target at "standard − buffer". The cutoff over the last four races ranged from 4:34 to 6:51; running 7 to 8 minutes faster than your standard is a safer target (a reference suggestion, not an official statement).
• Age is based on Boston race day, and times are chip times.
• Check certification and start-to-finish elevation drop before choosing a qualifying race. Starting with 2027 registration, results from courses with excessive net downhill have time added, or are not accepted at all.

2027 & 2028 qualifying standards

• Age is based on Boston race day (April 19 for 2027, April 17 for 2028), not your age on the day of your qualifying race.
• Times are official net times (chip times).
• 2027 and 2028 use the same standards.

Age group	Men's standard	Men's required pace	Women's standard	Women's required pace
18–34	2:55:00	4:08 /km	3:25:00	4:51 /km
35–39	3:00:00	4:15 /km	3:30:00	4:58 /km
40–44	3:05:00	4:23 /km	3:35:00	5:05 /km
45–49	3:15:00	4:37 /km	3:45:00	5:19 /km
50–54	3:20:00	4:44 /km	3:50:00	5:27 /km
55–59	3:30:00	4:58 /km	4:00:00	5:41 /km
60–64	3:50:00	5:27 /km	4:20:00	6:09 /km
65–69	4:05:00	5:48 /km	4:35:00	6:31 /km
70–74	4:20:00	6:09 /km	4:50:00	6:52 /km
75–79	4:35:00	6:31 /km	5:05:00	7:13 /km
80 and over	4:50:00	6:52 /km	5:20:00	7:35 /km

Required pace = standard time ÷ 42.195 km, rounded down to the second: the average pace that just meets the standard. The distance you actually run in a race is usually slightly longer than 42.195 km, so the pace on your watch needs to be a little faster. Convert other target times with the pace calculator.

The real threshold: the acceptance cutoff

The field is limited (about 30,000 runners in recent years). When qualified applicants exceed the field size, the B.A.A. accepts them from fastest to slowest by how far they beat their own age-group standard. The margin of the last accepted runner is that year's cutoff time.

The cutoff for the 2027 Boston Marathon is 5 minutes 17 seconds.

2027 actual acceptance times (standard − 5:17)

Age group	Men	Women
18–34	2:49:43	3:19:43
35–39	2:54:43	3:24:43
40–44	2:59:43	3:29:43
45–49	3:09:43	3:39:43
50–54	3:14:43	3:44:43
55–59	3:24:43	3:54:43
60–64	3:44:43	4:14:43
65–69	3:59:43	4:29:43
70–74	4:14:43	4:44:43
75–79	4:29:43	4:59:43
80 and over	4:44:43	5:14:43

The cutoff changes every year depending on the number of applicants. The table above reflects 2027 only and should not be treated as a prediction for future years.

Cutoff times and qualified applicants not accepted, by year

Year	Field size	Cutoff	Qualifiers not accepted
2012	27,000	1:14	3,228
2014	36,000	1:38	2,976
2015	30,000	1:02	1,947
2016	30,000	2:28	4,562
2017	30,000	2:09	2,957
2018	30,000	3:23	5,062
2019	30,000	4:52	7,248
2020	31,500	1:39	3,161
2021	20,000	7:47	9,215
2022	30,000	0:00	0
2023	30,000	0:00	0
2024	30,000	5:29	11,039
2025	30,000	6:51	12,324
2026	30,000	4:34	8,887
2027	30,000	5:17	8,019

Notes: 2013 is not listed officially; the 2021 field was reduced due to the pandemic; in 2022 and 2023 no qualifier was turned away for lack of space.

How to set your BQ target

1. Find your age group: use your age on Boston race day, not on the day of your qualifying race.
2. Look up your standard: check the standards table above.
3. Add a buffer: based on cutoffs of 4:34–6:51 over the last four races, aim 7 to 8 minutes faster than your standard.
4. Convert to pace and choose a race: turn your target time into a full-race pace, and favor certified, flat courses with a small start-to-finish elevation drop.

Example: A male runner who will be 41 on race day of the 2028 Boston Marathon is in the 40–44 group, with a standard of 3:05:00. Using the 2027 cutoff, the acceptance time would be 2:59:43; a safe training target is 2:57:00–2:58:00, an average pace of about 4:11–4:13 /km.

Boston Qualifier Selection (random selection)

Starting in 2027, the B.A.A. added a random selection stage (Boston Qualifier Selection):

• Who: applicants who qualified but did not beat the cutoff are included automatically; no separate application is needed.
• Places: about 1,000.
• Odds: depend on the number of applicants that year; not everyone will be selected.

Qualifying race rules

Which race results count

• The race must be a certified full marathon (26.2 miles). Certifying bodies include USA Track & Field (USATF), the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), or the national athletics governing body of the race's country.
• It must be held outdoors with chip timing (races without chips need 5K checkpoint records and video evidence).
• It must have at least 3 officially registered entrants and be publicly advertised in advance.
• Not accepted: virtual marathons, indoor races, treadmills, time trials, handicapped races, or anything shorter than the full distance.
• The marathon leg of a triathlon counts only if it is officially timed and the course is certified as an accurate 26.2 miles.
• Applicants must be at least 18 on race day.
• Submitted times must be verified; you are not officially accepted until verification is complete.

Net downhill adjustment (from 2027 registration)

The B.A.A. defines "net downhill" as the elevation difference between start and finish. Results from courses with too large a drop have time added before they are evaluated:

Net drop (feet)	In meters	Adjustment
1,500–2,999	about 457–914 m	+5 minutes
3,000–5,999	about 914–1,829 m	+10 minutes
6,000 or more	over 1,829 m	Not accepted for qualifying

The B.A.A. says the rule will stay in place for at least two years and may be adjusted afterward. When choosing a qualifying race, check the course's start-to-finish elevation difference first.

FAQ

If I run under my qualifying standard, can I run Boston?

Not necessarily. Qualifying only earns you the right to apply; acceptance depends on that year's cutoff. If you don't beat the cutoff, you still have a chance at one of about 1,000 places through random selection.

If my time beats "standard − cutoff", am I guaranteed entry? Is there a lottery?

Essentially yes: as long as your time is faster than that year's cutoff, you are accepted directly with no lottery. Boston's time-qualifier entry is not a lottery; random selection applies only to those who qualified but did not beat the cutoff.

A few things to keep in mind:

• The cutoff is announced after the fact. The B.A.A. sets the cutoff only after registration week closes and applications are counted (usually announced in late September), so you won't know whether you are fast enough when you apply.
• The cutoff changes every year. Recent cutoffs were 5:29 in 2024, 6:51 in 2025, 4:34 in 2026, and 5:17 in 2027; last year's number cannot be treated as a prediction for next year.
• Other conditions must also be met. Your time must come from a certified race within the qualifying window and pass verification, and you must apply during registration week. Results from net downhill courses have 5 or 10 minutes added before being compared with the cutoff.
• Be careful right at the cutoff. The B.A.A. page states that applicants who "did not beat the cutoff" go into random selection. Margins of a few seconds at the boundary are not unusual, and the B.A.A. has not detailed what happens to a time exactly equal to the cutoff.
• Training suggestion: don't set your target at exactly "standard − cutoff"; leave a safety margin. Based on recent years, running 7 to 8 minutes faster than your standard is a safer bet. This is a reference suggestion, not an official statement.

I ran my qualifier at 39, but I'll be 40 on Boston race day. Which age group applies?

Your age on race day, so the 40–44 group.

Is it gun time or chip time?

Official net time, i.e., chip time.

When did the qualifying window for the 2028 Boston Marathon open?

It opened on September 19, 2026; race day is April 17, 2028. For 2028 registration week, follow announcements on the B.A.A. website and Athletes' Village.

Is a flat, fast course or a downhill course better for a BQ attempt?

A flat course is the safest choice. Courses with a large start-to-finish drop may have 5 or 10 minutes added to your time, or may not be accepted at all. Always check the course elevation data and certification status before choosing a race.

If I'm not fast enough, are there other ways to run Boston?

Yes, such as charity entries or official tour operator packages. See the B.A.A. website for details.

Changes in standards (1990 to present)

Men

Age group	1990–2002	2003–2012	2013–2019	2020–2025	2026–2028
18–34	3:10	3:10	3:05	3:00	2:55
35–39	3:15	3:15	3:10	3:05	3:00
40–44	3:20	3:20	3:15	3:10	3:05
45–49	3:25	3:30	3:25	3:20	3:15
50–54	3:30	3:35	3:30	3:25	3:20
55–59	3:35	3:45	3:40	3:35	3:30
60–64	3:40	4:00	3:55	3:50	3:50
65–69	3:45	4:15	4:10	4:05	4:05
70–74	3:50 (all 70+ combined)	4:30	4:25	4:20	4:20
75–79	Same as above	4:45	4:40	4:35	4:35
80 and over	Same as above	5:00	4:55	4:50	4:50

Women

Age group	1990–2002	2003–2012	2013–2019	2020–2025	2026–2028
18–34	3:40	3:40	3:35	3:30	3:25
35–39	3:45	3:45	3:40	3:35	3:30
40–44	3:50	3:50	3:45	3:40	3:35
45–49	3:55	4:00	3:55	3:50	3:45
50–54	4:00	4:05	4:00	3:55	3:50
55–59	4:05	4:15	4:10	4:05	4:00
60–64	4:10	4:30	4:25	4:20	4:20
65–69	4:15	4:45	4:40	4:35	4:35
70–74	4:20 (all 70+ combined)	5:00	4:55	4:50	4:50
75–79	Same as above	5:15	5:10	5:05	5:05
80 and over	Same as above	5:30	5:25	5:20	5:20

Key changes

• 2003: the field grew, standards for runners 45 and over were relaxed, and new age groups were added.
• 2012: the cutoff system began, and for the first time qualified runners were not accepted.
• 2013: standards for all age groups were tightened by 5 minutes.
• 2020: standards for all age groups were tightened by 5 minutes.
• 2026: standards for ages 18–59 were tightened by another 5 minutes; ages 60 and over stayed the same.
• 2027: random selection and the net downhill adjustment were introduced.

Early standards (1970–1989)

Period	Men	Women
1970	Certification by a club or coach of the ability to finish in under 4 hours	Women were not allowed to enter
1971	3:30, or specified 10-mile, 15-mile, or 20-mile times	Same as men
1972–1976	3:30; shorter-distance results such as 20K also accepted	Officially allowed from 1972, with the same standard as men
1977–1979	Ages 19–39: 3:00; 40 and over: 3:30	All ages: 3:05
1980	Ages 19–39: 2:50; 40 and over: 3:10	All ages: 3:20
1981–1983	Ages 19–39: 2:50; 40–49: 3:10; 50–59: 3:20; 60 and over: 3:30	Ages 19–39: 3:20; 40–49: 3:30 (the official page does not list women 50 and over)
1984–1986	Ages 19–39: 2:50; 40–49: 3:10; 50–59: 3:20; 60 and over: 3:30	Ages 19–39: 3:20; 40–49: 3:30; 50–59: 3:40 (the official page does not list 60 and over)
1987–1989	Ages 18–39: 3:00; 40–49: 3:10; 50–59: 3:20; 60 and over: 3:30	Ages 18–39: 3:30; 40–49: 3:40; 50–59: 3:50; 60 and over: 4:00

Note: the minimum age dropped from 19 to 18 starting in 1986.

Sources and disclaimer

• B.A.A.: Qualify for the Boston Marathon
• B.A.A.: History of Qualifying Times

Data on this page was compiled from the official pages above on November 5, 2026. The "2027 actual acceptance times" and the target example are calculated from the official standards and the officially announced cutoff; they are estimates, not official publications. Rules and standards may change; always rely on official announcements.