How to Set Your Power Zones From an FTP Test
Set all seven cycling power zones from one FTP test: the 20-minute, 8-minute and ramp protocols, the factor each uses, and when to retest.
Your cycling power zones are fixed percentages of FTP (functional threshold power): test FTP once and all seven Coggan power zones follow. Zone 2 endurance is 56–75% of FTP and threshold is 91–105%, so at an FTP of 250 W that is 140–188 W and 228–263 W. The power zone calculator does the multiplication. This post covers the part it cannot do for you: getting an FTP you can trust.
Pick an FTP test
Each test is a short maximal effort with a standard factor that converts it to FTP:
- 20-minute test: FTP = 95% of your best 20-minute average power. The classic field test.
- 8-minute test: FTP = 90% of your best 8-minute power. Shorter and friendlier.
- Ramp test: FTP ≈ 75% of your 1-minute peak (MAP) at the end of a ramp. Least dependent on pacing.
Pick the test in the calculator and it applies the factor for you. For choosing and pacing a test, read what's a good FTP.
Turn the result into zones
- Enter your FTP in watts, or the raw test result with its test type.
- Read your zones. All seven bands appear in watts, labelled with what they train and how they feel.
- Compare. Change the number and everything recalculates, so you can see how a 10-watt FTP gain shifts every zone.
FTP
250W
Sweet Spot
220–235W
88–94% FTP
| Zone | Range | What it trains |
|---|---|---|
| Z1 | Active Recovery ≤ 138 W | Recovery; spins the legs without adding load. RPE 1–2, very easy. |
| Z2 | Endurance 139–188 W | Aerobic base, fat oxidation, all-day pace. RPE 3–4, conversational. |
| Z3 | Tempo 189–225 W | Aerobic endurance and muscular efficiency. RPE 5–6, comfortably hard. |
| Z4 | Threshold 226–263 W | Lactate threshold, FTP work, the sustainable ceiling. RPE 7–8, 10–30 min reps. |
| Z5 | VO₂max 264–300 W | Maximal aerobic power; 3–8 min intervals. RPE 9, very hard. |
| Z6 | Anaerobic Capacity 301–375 W | Anaerobic capacity; 30s–3min efforts. RPE 9–10, near maximal. |
| Z7 | Neuromuscular Power ≥ 376 W | Sprint and neuromuscular power. RPE 10, all-out sprints. |
Z1 · Active Recovery. Recovery; spins the legs without adding load. RPE 1–2, very easy.
Z2 · Endurance. Aerobic base, fat oxidation, all-day pace. RPE 3–4, conversational.
Z3 · Tempo. Aerobic endurance and muscular efficiency. RPE 5–6, comfortably hard.
Z4 · Threshold. Lactate threshold, FTP work, the sustainable ceiling. RPE 7–8, 10–30 min reps.
Z5 · VO₂max. Maximal aerobic power; 3–8 min intervals. RPE 9, very hard.
Z6 · Anaerobic Capacity. Anaerobic capacity; 30s–3min efforts. RPE 9–10, near maximal.
Z7 · Neuromuscular Power. Sprint and neuromuscular power. RPE 10, all-out sprints.
- Andrew Coggan's seven-zone model expresses every zone as a percentage of Functional Threshold Power. Sweet Spot (220–235 W, 88–94% FTP) sits between Tempo and Threshold and gives a high training stimulus for moderate fatigue.
- FTP is the power you could theoretically hold for about an hour. Re-test every 4–6 weeks; a stale FTP makes every zone wrong.
A PDF of your personalized results, with a QR code to reopen them anytime.
The zones follow the Coggan 7-zone model, the standard TrainingPeaks, Zwift, Garmin and Wahoo build on, so the ranges match your head unit and platform. The result also marks sweet spot (88–94% of FTP), the band just below threshold that structured plans lean on.
Garbage in, garbage out
Zones are only as good as the FTP behind them. A guessed or months-old FTP gives confident but wrong zones, because every band shifts with it. Test honestly, retest every 4–8 weeks while training hard, and treat the boundaries as overlapping guidelines rather than walls (Coggan stresses this himself).
Keep a record of your zones
Hit Download to save a PDF of your zone chart. It matches the screen and carries a QR code back to the calculator, so you can:
- Pin it above your trainer or tape it to your stem.
- Keep a dated record each time you retest and watch FTP climb over a season.
- Re-open the calculator from the QR code after your next test.
Nothing is stored on our end. You keep the record.
Power zones, heart-rate zones, or pace?
Power is what you produce: instant and unaffected by heat, sleep or caffeine. Heart rate is how your body responds. It lags and drifts, which is why a 5-second sprint barely moves it. Without a power meter, use heart-rate zones or, for running, pace zones. Many riders watch power for the effort and heart rate for fatigue. The "mostly easy, a little very hard" shape is what the polarized model prescribes.
FTP zones are one model. Critical Power fits CP and W′ from a couple of efforts, and Stryd-style running power zones apply the same idea on foot. Every formula is implemented from its primary source and unit-tested against published reference values (see methodology).
FAQ
How often should I retest FTP? Every 4–8 weeks of focused training. Save a fresh PDF each time so you can see the trend.
Which FTP test should I use? The 20-minute test is the classic reference, the 8-minute test is shorter and friendlier, and the ramp test depends least on pacing. Use the same test every time, so each retest compares like with like.
What is sweet spot? 88–94% of FTP, between tempo and threshold. At 250 W FTP that is 220–235 W. It gives a near-threshold stimulus for less fatigue than riding at FTP. Typical sessions are 2–4 intervals of 8–20 minutes.
Do I need a power meter? To train by power zones, yes. To find your zones you only need your FTP, which you can estimate from a 20-minute, 8-minute or ramp test. Without a meter, use heart-rate or pace zones.
Is the calculator free? Yes, forever. No email, no account, no paywall on the result, and your FTP never leaves your device.
Set your zones in the power zone calculator, or browse every calculator for your sport.
Sources
- Allen, H. & Coggan, A. Training and Racing with a Power Meter (2nd ed., VeloPress, 2010)
- Coggan, A. Power Training Levels, TrainingPeaks
- FTP-estimation factors (20-minute ×0.95, 8-minute ×0.90, ramp ×0.75) follow the standard field-test protocols described in the same sources