eGFR Normal Range
What counts as a normal filtration rate.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Rishi Kumar Kafle, MBBS, MD, FASN · Last reviewed June 2026
A normal eGFR is about 90 mL/min/1.73m² or higher. An eGFR below 60 that persists for three months or more defines chronic kidney disease.
The Normal Range and the CKD Threshold
An eGFR of 90 or above usually means normal kidney function. Values between 60 and 89 can still be normal if there are no other signs of kidney damage, since eGFR declines with age. The key threshold is 60: persistently below it points to CKD.
It helps to think of the range in three bands. An eGFR of 90 or higher is the usual goal and signals normal filtration. A value of 60 to 89 is a grey zone — often perfectly normal, especially with age, but worth watching if it is paired with other signs of kidney damage. A value that stays below 60 for three months or more is the formal threshold for chronic kidney disease. No single number tells the whole story; the bands are a starting point, not a diagnosis.
What a High eGFR Means
A higher eGFR is generally good news and simply reflects strong filtration. The CKD-EPI 2021 equation caps the reported value at the top of its range, so most labs do not distinguish much above about 90 to 120 — a result of “>90” usually means normal rather than something to act on. A very high reading on its own is not treated as a problem; the value that draws attention is a low one, or a result that is falling over time.
eGFR and CKD Stages
| Stage | eGFR | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| G1 | ≥ 90 | normal or high |
| G2 | 60–89 | mildly reduced |
| G3a | 45–59 | mild–moderate |
| G3b | 30–44 | moderate–severe |
| G4 | 15–29 | severely reduced |
| G5 | < 15 | kidney failure |
See the full CKD stages explained.
Why the Three-Month Rule Matters
A single low eGFR does not, by itself, mean kidney disease. Filtration can dip for short-term reasons — dehydration, a recent illness, or certain medicines — and then recover. That is why the definition of CKD requires the value to stay below 60 for three months or more. If your first result is under 60, the usual next step is a repeat test, not alarm. Many people who see one low reading have a normal value when it is checked again. Read more about what a low eGFR means before drawing conclusions from a single number.
How Age Changes the Normal Range
Filtration declines gradually as part of normal ageing, by roughly 1 mL/min/1.73m² per year after about age 40. Because of this, a value in the 60s or 70s can be perfectly normal for an older adult while the same number in a young adult would prompt a closer look. The threshold of 60 is read in context rather than as a hard line. The table below shows roughly where a typical, healthy result sits by decade — see the full eGFR by age page for detail.
| Age band | Typical eGFR |
|---|---|
| 20s–30s | ~99 |
| 40s | ~94 |
| 50s | ~88 |
| 60s | ~85 |
| 70s | ~78 |
| 80s | ~70 |
Normal for Adults vs Children
The 90-or-above benchmark applies to adults, whose eGFR is estimated with the CKD-EPI 2021 equation. In children, kidney function is still maturing and is estimated with a different, paediatric method, so the “normal” values are not the same. By early adulthood, eGFR has reached its adult plateau, and the gradual age-related decline only begins later. For that reason the ranges on this page are for adults; a child’s result is interpreted against age-appropriate paediatric values by their clinician.
eGFR Is Read With Albuminuria
The number alone is only half the picture. Clinicians pair your GFR category with an albuminuria category (A1–A3), a urine test for protein leaking into the urine. Two people with the same eGFR can carry very different risk depending on how much albumin is present. A normal eGFR with no albuminuria is reassuring; a borderline eGFR with high albuminuria deserves more attention. The combined view is shown on the KDIGO risk heat map.
What Can Move a Result In or Out of Range
Because eGFR is calculated from creatinine, several everyday factors can shift a single result. Knowing them helps explain why one reading near the edge of the range is not treated as the final word:
- Muscle mass — a very muscular person tends to have a slightly lower estimate, and someone with low muscle mass a slightly higher one.
- A recent heavy meal or hard workout — either can raise creatinine briefly and nudge the eGFR down.
- Hydration and illness — dehydration or a recent infection can cause a temporary dip that recovers.
- Some medicines — a few drugs affect creatinine or filtration and are taken into account by your clinician.
This is why a borderline value — say, just below 60 — is usually rechecked rather than acted on immediately, and why the result is read together with a urine albumin test and your past readings.
Reading a Result Below Range
A value under 60 may be a low eGFR, which is interpreted alongside your trend and other tests rather than from one reading. A steadily falling trend matters more than any single result, and a clinician reads it together with your creatinine, urine tests, blood pressure, and history. If a low value is confirmed over three months, it places you on the CKD staging scale, where the eGFR range marks the stage from G3a down to G5. Calculate your own with the eGFR calculator, then compare it with the ranges above and discuss anything unexpected with your doctor rather than drawing conclusions from a single figure.