Boston Marathon Cutoff for 2027: 5:17 and 8,019 Qualifiers Turned Away
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) began notifying accepted runners for the April 19, 2027 Boston Marathon on September 29, 2026. The Boston Marathon cutoff landed at 5 minutes and 17 seconds: only runners who beat the qualifying standard for their age and gender by at least that margin got in on time. With 33,649 applications and 8,019 qualified runners turned away, it is the number to watch if you are aiming for 2028.
What the Boston Marathon cutoff is
To apply for Boston you need a qualifying time for your age and gender, run on a certified marathon course within the qualifying window. Having the time does not guarantee a bib. The race takes 30,000 entrants, and part of the field goes to charity runners, invited professionals and Para athletes. When there are more applications than places, the B.A.A. accepts the runners who beat their standard by the widest margin first. That margin, known once registration closes, is the Boston Marathon cutoff.
For 2027 the Boston Marathon cutoff was 5:17. A man aged 18 to 34, whose standard is 2:55:00, needed 2:49:43 or faster. A woman in the same age group, with a 3:25:00 standard, needed 3:19:43.
| Age group | Men’s standard | With the 2027 cutoff | Women’s standard | With the 2027 cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:55:00 | 2:49:43 | 3:25:00 | 3:19:43 |
| 35-39 | 3:00:00 | 2:54:43 | 3:30:00 | 3:24:43 |
| 40-44 | 3:05:00 | 2:59:43 | 3:35:00 | 3:29:43 |
| 45-49 | 3:15:00 | 3:09:43 | 3:45:00 | 3:39:43 |
| 50-54 | 3:20:00 | 3:14:43 | 3:50:00 | 3:44:43 |
| 55-59 | 3:30:00 | 3:24:43 | 4:00:00 | 3:54:43 |
| 60-64 | 3:50:00 | 3:44:43 | 4:20:00 | 4:14:43 |
The full table, up to the 80 and over group, is on the official qualifying page.
The 2027 registration in numbers
According to the B.A.A. announcement, qualifier registration ran from September 14 to 18, 2026, with these results:
- 33,649 applications from runners with a valid qualifying time.
- 24,630 accepted for beating the 5:17 cutoff.
- 1,000 more places allocated by random draw among qualifiers who missed the cutoff.
- 8,019 qualified runners left without a bib.
The runners accepted on time come from 120 countries, about 10,745 will be running Boston for the first time, and their ages range from 18 to 84. The races that produced the most qualifiers were Boston 2026 itself (4,448), Chicago 2025 (2,043), New York 2025 (826), the 2025 California International Marathon (812) and London 2026 (610).
New for 2027: a draw for qualifiers who missed out
Until now, missing the Boston Marathon cutoff meant there was no way in through a qualifying time. For 2027 the B.A.A. introduced the Boston Qualifier Selection, a random draw of about 1,000 places among qualifiers who did not make the cutoff. There is no separate sign-up: every application below the cutoff goes into it, and your chances depend on how many there are. With 9,019 runners in that position, the odds were roughly one in nine.
How the Boston Marathon cutoff has moved in recent years
The same B.A.A. page lists the cutoff history:
| Race year | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 7:47 |
| 2022 | 0:00 |
| 2023 | 0:00 |
| 2024 | 5:29 |
| 2025 | 6:51 |
| 2026 | 4:34 |
| 2027 | 5:17 |
In 2022 and 2023 every qualifier got in. Since 2024 the Boston Marathon cutoff has moved between four and a half and seven minutes, with no clear trend. If you want a target for 2028, beating your standard by about seven minutes would have been enough in each of the last three years, and five and a half minutes would have worked in two of them.
Downhill courses: the adjustment introduced this year
Starting with 2027 registration, the B.A.A. adjusts times run on courses with a large drop between start and finish. A net downhill of 1,500 to 2,999 feet adds 5 minutes to your time, 3,000 to 5,999 feet adds 10 minutes, and courses beyond that cannot be used to qualify. This year 240 accepted times came from net downhill courses. Europe’s big marathons, such as Valencia and Berlin, are flat and are not affected.
What it means if you are planning Boston from Europe
The qualifying window for 2028 opened on September 19, 2026, so any certified marathon you run from that date counts. If Boston is your goal, this is how I would approach it:
- Aim for a time six to seven minutes under your standard. Given the recent Boston Marathon cutoff figures, five minutes is not enough.
- Choose a fast, certified course. The Valencia Marathon on December 6 or Seville in February are good options for both the course and the date.
- If you end up close to the cutoff, the new draw gives you a second chance, but do not plan around it.
- Qualifier registration for 2027 will not reopen. If you want to run in April without a place, charity entries and official travel partners are the remaining routes, which I cover in the Boston Marathon guide.
To work out the pace you need, try the pace calculator with your goal time, and the marathon training plan shows how to structure the weeks.
Boston Marathon cutoff FAQ
What was the Boston Marathon cutoff for 2027?
It was 5 minutes and 17 seconds under each age group standard. For men aged 18 to 34 that means 2:49:43, the first time the toughest cutoff has gone under 2:50.
When is the Boston Marathon cutoff announced?
It is calculated when qualifier registration week closes in September, and the B.A.A. publishes it when it starts notifying accepted runners, a couple of weeks later.
Can I still run Boston 2027 if I was not accepted?
If you missed the Boston Marathon cutoff and the draw, not with a qualifying time, because registration will not reopen. Charity places, which open later in fall 2026, and official travel partner packages are still available.
When does the qualifying window for 2028 start?
On September 19, 2026, according to the B.A.A. Registration dates for 2028 will be announced after the April race.
