IBO Speed Chart: Rated Bow Speeds and Real Speeds
IBO speed is measured at a 30 inch draw, 70 lb of draw weight and a 350 grain arrow. Most current flagship compounds rate between 330 and 350 fps, and mid-priced bows between 310 and 330. Subtract 10 fps per inch of draw under 30, 2 fps per pound under 70, and 1 fps per 3 grains of arrow over 350 to estimate real speed.
Every compound bow is sold with a speed number, and every one of those numbers was measured under conditions almost nobody shoots. This page gives published IBO and ATA ratings for popular bows, then shows how to turn a rating into the speed your setup will actually chronograph, which is usually 20 to 60 fps lower.
IBO and ATA rated speeds by bow model
Figures below are manufacturer-published ratings as listed at release. Manufacturers occasionally revise a rating, and retailers sometimes quote a different number than the maker does, so confirm against the current spec sheet before treating any figure as exact. Ratings also carry a tolerance of a few fps between individual bows.
| Bow | Brand | Year | Rated speed | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSE Omen | PSE | 2010 | 366 fps | Historic speed flagship |
| Lift RS 27.75 | Mathews | 2025 | 353 fps | Short axle flagship |
| SR350 | Bowtech | 2022 | 350 fps | Speed flagship |
| Lift 29.5 | Mathews | 2024 | 348 fps | Flagship hunting |
| Omnia | Elite | 2023 | 347 fps | Flagship hunting |
| Lift X 33 | Mathews | 2025 | 343 fps | Long axle flagship |
| Carbon RX-7 | Hoyt | 2022 | 342 fps | Carbon riser flagship |
| V3X 29 | Mathews | 2022 | 342 fps | Flagship hunting |
| RVX 34 | Prime | 2024 | 342 fps | Long axle flagship |
| Whitetail Maxx | Bear | 2024 | 339 fps | Upper mid range |
| Phase4 29 | Mathews | 2023 | 336 fps | Flagship hunting |
| Mach 33 DS | PSE | 2025 | 335 fps | Flagship hunting |
| Alpha X 33 | Hoyt | 2024 | 334 fps | Long axle flagship |
| Edge 320 | Diamond | 2018 | 320 fps | Adjustable mid range |
| Cruzer G2 | Bear | 2017 | 315 fps | Wide-adjustment package bow |
| Stinger Max | PSE | 2019 | 312 fps | Entry package bow |
| Edge XT | Diamond | 2021 | 310 fps | Entry to mid range |
Flagship bows from Mathews, Hoyt, Prime and Bowtech are sold through authorised dealers rather than online, so treat those rows as specification reference rather than a shopping list. Package bows near the bottom of the table are the ones most archers actually buy first, and the 30 to 40 fps gap to a flagship matters far less than fit and tune.
What the rating conditions actually are
The IBO standard specifies a 30 inch draw length, 70 lb peak draw weight and a 350 grain arrow, which is exactly 5 grains per pound, the lowest weight most manufacturers consider safe. The ATA standard is the same test with tighter rules about what may be attached to the string. Both are measured on a bare bow, with no peep, no string stop, no silencers and typically no nock loop.
Three things follow from that. First, ratings are a comparison tool, not a prediction. Second, the ranking between bows is far more reliable than the absolute numbers, because every bow is measured the same way. Third, the gap between the sticker and your chronograph is not a defect, it is the normal difference between a laboratory condition and a hunting setup.
Converting a rating to your real speed
Apply three adjustments in order. Each is an approximation, but together they land within a few fps of a chronograph for most setups.
| Adjustment | Rate | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Draw length under 30 in | -10 fps per inch | Shorter power stroke, the string acts on the arrow for less distance |
| Draw length over 30 in | +10 fps per inch | Longer power stroke |
| Draw weight under 70 lb | -2 fps per pound | Less stored energy in the limbs |
| Arrow weight over 350 gr | -1 fps per 3 grains | More mass to accelerate with the same stored energy |
| Peep sight | -2 to 4 fps | Mass added to the string |
| String loop and nock set | -1 to 3 fps | Mass added to the string |
| String silencers and stop | -2 to 5 fps | Mass added to the string, deliberately |
A worked example
Take a bow rated at 330 fps, shot at a 28 inch draw and 60 lb, with a 450 grain hunting arrow and normal string accessories.
- Start at 330 fps
- Two inches under the 30 inch reference: -20 fps, now 310
- Ten pounds under 70: -20 fps, now 290
- One hundred grains over 350: -33 fps, now 257
- Peep, loop and silencers: -5 to 10 fps, roughly 247 to 252 fps
That is a 78 to 83 fps gap from the sticker, and nothing has gone wrong. It is also a perfectly effective hunting setup. Our arrow speed calculator runs this conversion for your own numbers.
Estimated real speed from a 330 fps rated bow
The grid below applies the draw length and arrow weight adjustments at a full 70 lb draw weight. Subtract about 20 fps for a 60 lb setup and about 40 fps for 50 lb, and a few more for string accessories.
| Draw length | At 350 gr | At 400 gr | At 450 gr | At 500 gr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 in | 290 fps | 273 fps | 257 fps | 240 fps |
| 27 in | 300 fps | 283 fps | 267 fps | 250 fps |
| 28 in | 310 fps | 293 fps | 277 fps | 260 fps |
| 29 in | 320 fps | 303 fps | 287 fps | 270 fps |
| 30 in | 330 fps | 313 fps | 297 fps | 280 fps |
| 31 in | 340 fps | 323 fps | 307 fps | 290 fps |
What speed actually buys, and what it costs
The genuine benefit of a fast bow is a flatter trajectory, which makes distance estimation errors less punishing. At 40 yards a 20 fps difference is worth a few inches of drop, which is the difference between a hit and a miss when you misjudge the range. That is a real advantage and the honest case for speed.
The costs are equally real. Fast bows achieve their ratings with short brace heights, aggressive cams and steep force-draw curves. A short brace height amplifies form errors because the string stays in contact with the arrow longer relative to the shot. An aggressive cam means a harsher draw and a less forgiving valley. More energy leaving the limbs quickly also means more noise and vibration to manage.
Note too that the highest-rated bow is often not the fastest for a given archer. Speed bows achieve their ratings partly through long axle-to-axle geometry and long draw settings. A shorter archer on a shorter draw gives back much of the advantage. Fit first, rating second.
The safety rule embedded in the standard
The 350 grain reference arrow at 70 lb is exactly 5 grains per pound, which is the minimum finished arrow weight nearly every manufacturer permits. Chasing a chronograph number by going lighter than that leaves energy in the limbs rather than the arrow, risks damage and voids warranties. Check your own build against the floor with the total arrow weight calculator before trying to close a gap to the sticker speed.
A more productive use of the same effort is making sure the arrow flies straight. A tuned setup at 260 fps will out-shoot an untuned one at 290 every time, particularly with fixed broadheads. The tuning troubleshooting chart is where that work starts.
Related tools and charts
- Arrow speed calculator: real fps from an IBO rating
- Kinetic energy calculator: what that speed is worth
- Draw length calculator: the largest single variable in the conversion
- Draw length chart: wingspan to draw length, and the speed table
- Arrow weight chart: the other half of the speed equation
Frequently asked questions
What does IBO speed mean?
IBO speed is a standardised rating measured at a 30 inch draw length, 70 lb peak draw weight, and a 350 grain arrow, which is 5 grains per pound. It exists so bows can be compared to each other, not so you can predict your own arrow speed. Because almost nobody shoots that exact combination, real chronograph readings are usually 20 to 60 fps below the sticker.
What is the difference between IBO and ATA speed?
They are effectively the same test with slightly different rules about string hardware and setup. Both use a 30 inch draw, 70 lb of draw weight and a 350 grain arrow. The Archery Trade Association standard is the one most manufacturers now quote, and it is generally a touch more conservative because it constrains what can be on the string. For practical comparison purposes, treat the two numbers as interchangeable.
How do I estimate my actual arrow speed from an IBO rating?
Start at the rating, subtract 10 fps for every inch your draw length is under 30, subtract about 2 fps for every pound under 70, then subtract 1 fps for every 3 grains your arrow exceeds 350. A 330 fps bow at a 28 inch draw, 60 lb, with a 450 grain arrow works out near 257 fps. Add roughly 3 to 5 fps back if you shoot a bare string with no accessories.
Is a faster bow better?
Not automatically. Speed buys a flatter trajectory, which forgives distance estimation errors, and that is genuinely valuable. It is paid for with a shorter brace height, a harsher draw cycle, more noise and more sensitivity to form errors. A bow rated 20 fps slower with a smoother draw is often the better hunting tool. Ratings are also measured on unaccessorised bows, so the ranking survives better than the number.
Why is my bow slower than its IBO rating?
Because the rating conditions are extreme. Most archers draw under 30 inches, many shoot under 70 lb, and almost every hunting arrow weighs more than 350 grains. Add a peep, a string stop, a nock loop and silencers and you lose several more fps. None of that indicates a fault. A bow reading 30 to 50 fps below its rating with a real hunting arrow is behaving exactly as expected.
How much speed do I lose per grain of arrow weight?
About 1 fps for every 3 grains above the 350 grain reference. Going from 350 to 450 grains therefore costs roughly 33 fps. The rule is linear and slightly pessimistic at the heavy end, so a chronograph usually shows heavy arrows doing a little better than the arithmetic suggests. The trade is worthwhile: the heavier arrow retains more energy downrange and is quieter out of the bow.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, verified owner reviews, and pro shop guidance. We do not test gear in person. Draw weight and arrow spine affect safety, so follow your bow manufacturer's specifications and have setup work checked by a qualified pro shop.