How the love calculator by age scores you
The love calculator by age gives the highest scores to small age gaps and lowers the score gently as the gap grows:
- 0–2 years apart: 94–96%
- 3–5 years apart: 83–89%
- 6–10 years apart: 68–80%
- More than 10 years: from 66% down to a minimum of 35%
If the younger partner is below the “half your age plus seven” line for the older partner, 10 points come off. Both ages must be at least 18.
The “half your age plus seven” rule
This old rule of thumb says the youngest partner it is socially acceptable to date is half your age plus seven years. It works in reverse too: the oldest is your age minus seven, doubled. The table shows the range for common ages:
| Your age | Youngest partner by the rule | Oldest partner by the rule |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 18 | 22 |
| 20 | 18 | 26 |
| 22 | 18 | 30 |
| 25 | 20 | 36 |
| 28 | 21 | 42 |
| 30 | 22 | 46 |
| 35 | 25 | 56 |
| 40 | 27 | 66 |
| 45 | 30 | 76 |
| 50 | 32 | 86 |
| 60 | 37 | 106 |
| 70 | 42 | 126 |
What research says about age gaps
Most couples are close in age — in many countries the average gap between partners is two to three years. Some studies have found that couples with smaller age gaps report slightly higher satisfaction on average, but many couples with big gaps are very happy. Shared values, life stage and goals matter far more than the number of years between you.
Ages, not birthdays
This page only needs ages. If you know both dates of birth, the love calculator by date of birth adds zodiac and numerology, and the Age Calculator works out an exact age in years, months and days.