QB Passer Rating Calculator

This calculator determines a quarterback’s Passer Rating based on the official NFL formula. Enter the five key passing statistics below to see the result. The rating provides a standardized measure of a QB’s performance.

Calculation Breakdown

Statistic	Player Input	Formula Step	Component Value
Completion %	—	((COMP/ATT) – 0.3) * 5	—
Yards/Attempt	—	((YDS/ATT) – 3) * 0.25	—
TD %	—	(TD/ATT) * 20	—
Interception %	—	2.375 – ((INT/ATT) * 25)	—

The table shows how raw stats are converted into the four key components of the QB Passer Rating formula.

What is QB Passer Rating?

The QB Passer Rating (officially known simply as passer rating in the NFL) is a metric used to measure the performance of quarterbacks or any other player who throws the ball. It was developed in 1973 to provide a standardized method for comparing passers, combining four major statistics into a single number: completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown percentage, and interception percentage. The resulting rating is on a scale from 0 to a perfect 158.3. A higher QB Passer Rating generally indicates a more efficient and effective performance.

This stat should be used by fans, analysts, and coaches to get a quick, objective measure of a QB’s efficiency in a game, season, or career. It is not an all-encompassing metric—it doesn’t account for rushing ability, sacks taken, or the context of a game—but it provides an excellent baseline for passing performance. A common misconception is that QB Passer Rating is the same as ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating (QBR). They are different; QBR incorporates more factors, including sacks, fumbles, and rushing, and is scaled from 0 to 100.

QB Passer Rating Formula and Mathematical Explanation

The NFL’s QB Passer Rating formula is a multi-step process that converts raw statistics into four components, which are then summed, divided, and multiplied to produce the final rating. Each component is designed to be on a scale where 1.0 is average, with a maximum cap of 2.375 and a minimum of 0.

The four components are calculated as follows:

1. Component ‘a’ (Completion Percentage): `a = ((COMP / ATT) – 0.3) * 5`
2. Component ‘b’ (Yards per Attempt): `b = ((YDS / ATT) – 3) * 0.25`
3. Component ‘c’ (Touchdown Percentage): `c = (TD / ATT) * 20`
4. Component ‘d’ (Interception Percentage): `d = 2.375 – ((INT / ATT) * 25)`

After each component (a, b, c, d) is calculated, any value greater than 2.375 is set to 2.375, and any value less than 0 is set to 0. The final QB Passer Rating is then calculated:

Final Rating = ((a + b + c + d) / 6) * 100

Variables Table

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range (Single Game)
ATT	Pass Attempts	Count	20 – 50
COMP	Pass Completions	Count	10 – 40
YDS	Passing Yards	Yards	150 – 450
TD	Touchdown Passes	Count	0 – 5
INT	Interceptions	Count	0 – 4

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Example 1: Elite Performance

An elite quarterback has a near-perfect game. The stats are: 30 attempts, 25 completions, 350 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Using our QB Passer Rating calculator:

• Inputs: ATT=30, COMP=25, YDS=350, TD=4, INT=0
• Component ‘a’: 2.667 (Capped to 2.375)
• Component ‘b’: 2.167
• Component ‘c’: 2.667 (Capped to 2.375)
• Component ‘d’: 2.375
• Final QB Passer Rating: 157.0

Interpretation: This rating is incredibly high, just shy of a perfect 158.3. It reflects elite accuracy, high yardage per attempt, a phenomenal touchdown rate, and perfect ball security. This is the kind of performance that wins games.

Example 2: Struggling Performance

A quarterback struggles against a tough defense. The stats are: 38 attempts, 19 completions, 180 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions.

• Inputs: ATT=38, COMP=19, YDS=180, TD=1, INT=3
• Component ‘a’: 1.0
• Component ‘b’: 0.434
• Component ‘c’: 0.526
• Component ‘d’: 0.408
• Final QB Passer Rating: 39.5

Interpretation: This is a very low QB Passer Rating. The 50% completion rate is mediocre, the yards per attempt is poor, and the touchdown-to-interception ratio is negative. This rating indicates a highly ineffective passing performance that likely hurt the team’s chances of winning.

How to Use This QB Passer Rating Calculator

Using this calculator is simple and provides instant insight into a quarterback’s performance.

1. Enter Pass Attempts (ATT): Input the total number of passes the quarterback attempted.
2. Enter Pass Completions (COMP): Input how many of those passes were successfully caught. This number cannot be higher than attempts.
3. Enter Passing Yards (YDS): Input the total yardage gained on all completed passes.
4. Enter Touchdown Passes (TD): Input the number of passing touchdowns.
5. Enter Interceptions (INT): Input the number of passes intercepted by the defense.

Once you input the stats, the calculator automatically updates the QB Passer Rating in real-time. The main result gives you the final number, while the component breakdown shows you *why* the rating is what it is. A low “Yards Component,” for example, tells you the QB was not pushing the ball downfield effectively, even if their completion percentage was high.

Key Factors That Affect QB Passer Rating Results

The QB Passer Rating is a sensitive formula where each input plays a crucial role. Understanding these factors helps in analyzing performance more deeply.

• Completion Percentage: This is the foundation. A high completion rate boosts component ‘a’ significantly. It reflects accuracy and decision-making.
• Yards Per Attempt: This metric separates dink-and-dunk passers from downfield threats. A high Y/A is crucial for a great rating, as it heavily impacts component ‘b’. A QB can have a 75% completion rate, but if all passes are for 2 yards, their rating will suffer.
• Touchdown Percentage: The ultimate goal of a drive is a touchdown. The formula heavily rewards QBs who convert attempts into TDs at a high rate, boosting component ‘c’.
• Interception Percentage: Turnovers are the most damaging plays in football. The formula severely penalizes interceptions. A single interception can drastically lower a QB Passer Rating by tanking component ‘d’.
• Number of Attempts: While not a direct positive or negative, the number of attempts acts as the denominator for all percentage-based components. A single interception on 10 attempts is far more damaging to the rating than one interception on 40 attempts.
• Game Context (Not in Formula): Factors outside the formula, like dropped passes by receivers (which count as incompletions), pressure from the defense, weather conditions, and quality of opposition, all affect a QB’s raw stats and thus their final QB Passer Rating.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a perfect QB Passer Rating?

A perfect QB Passer Rating is 158.3. To achieve this, a quarterback must meet or exceed several benchmarks simultaneously: at least a 77.5% completion rate, at least 12.5 yards per attempt, a touchdown on at least 11.875% of attempts, and zero interceptions.

What is considered a ‘good’ QB Passer Rating?

The standard for a “good” rating has evolved as passing offenses have become more efficient. Generally, a rating of 95 or above is considered great for a season, 100+ is elite, and anything over 85 is respectable. A single-game rating over 120 is an exceptional performance.

Why is the maximum QB Passer Rating 158.3?

The number 158.3 is a result of the formula’s structure. If a quarterback achieves the maximum possible value for all four components (2.375 each), the sum is 9.5. Then, `(9.5 / 6) * 100` equals 158.333…, which is rounded to 158.3.

Is QB Passer Rating the best stat to evaluate a quarterback?

It is one of the best for measuring passing efficiency, but it is not perfect. It ignores crucial aspects of modern quarterback play like rushing yards, avoiding sacks, and extending plays. For a more holistic view, analysts often use it in conjunction with other metrics like Total QBR vs Passer Rating and DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average).

Can a QB Passer Rating be negative?

No. The lowest possible value for each of the four components is 0. Therefore, the lowest possible final rating is 0, which would result from a performance with 0 completions, 0 yards, 0 touchdowns, and a very high interception rate.

How are sacks treated in the QB Passer Rating formula?

Sacks are completely ignored. A sack is not counted as a pass attempt, so it has no direct impact on the QB Passer Rating. This is a primary criticism of the stat, as avoiding sacks is a key QB skill.

Does the NCAA use the same formula?

No, the NCAA uses a different formula, often called “passing efficiency.” While it uses the same five core stats, the weighting and scaling are different, resulting in a different range of scores (e.g., a rating of 180 is common for a top college QB).

Why was the QB Passer Rating created?

It was created to solve a problem: prior to 1973, the NFL’s passing leader was determined by a single stat, like completion percentage or yards, which changed from year to year. The league wanted a single, composite statistic to definitively and consistently crown its most efficient passer. The QB Passer Rating was the result.