Enter an age to see the socially-accepted minimum (and maximum) dating age range, based on the popular "half your age plus seven" rule.
The "half your age plus seven" rule is the most widely referenced formula for a socially acceptable dating age range. It doesn't determine compatibility — it's simply a popular heuristic people use as a quick reference point.
Example: for a 30-year-old, the minimum is (30 ÷ 2) + 7 = 22, and the maximum is (30 − 7) × 2 = 46.
| Age | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 17 | 26 |
| 25 | 19.5 | 36 |
| 30 | 22 | 46 |
| 40 | 27 | 66 |
| 50 | 32 | 86 |
What is the half-your-age-plus-seven rule? It's a popular rule of thumb suggesting the youngest age someone should date is (your age ÷ 2) + 7. For example, a 30-year-old's minimum would be 22. It's a social guideline, not a scientific or legal standard.
Is this dating calculator scientific? No — it's a widely-cited social convention with no formal research backing the exact formula. It's best used as a lighthearted reference point rather than a strict rule.
How is the maximum age calculated? The common mirrored version of the rule calculates the maximum as (your age − 7) × 2, giving a rough upper bound for the age range.
Does this account for legal age of consent? No. Legal age of consent varies by country and region and is always the minimum requirement regardless of what this or any age-gap formula suggests — always check your local laws.
Where did the half-your-age-plus-seven rule come from? It has circulated as folk wisdom and in etiquette columns for over a century in various forms, long before it became a popular internet meme and calculator format.