What Is Slugging Percentage in Baseball?
Quick answer
Total bases divided by at-bats: a single counts 1, a double 2, a triple 3 and a home run 4. It measures power, while batting average treats every hit the same.
In this article
Slugging percentage (SLG) measures a hitter's power. It's total bases divided by at-bats, so a double counts twice as much as a single and a home run four times as much. Batting average treats all hits the same; slugging percentage rewards extra-base hits.
How to calculate slugging percentage
SLG = total bases ÷ at-bats
| Hit | Bases |
|---|---|
| Single | 1 |
| Double | 2 |
| Triple | 3 |
| Home run | 4 |
Example: in 10 at-bats a hitter has two singles, a double and a home run. Total bases = 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 8. Slugging percentage = 8 ÷ 10 = .800.
Walks and hit-by-pitches aren't at-bats, so they don't count either way.
What's a good slugging percentage?
| SLG | What it means in MLB |
|---|---|
| .550+ | Elite power |
| .500 | Excellent |
| .450 | Good |
| around .400 | League average in recent seasons |
| below .350 | Little power |
Since MLB added Negro Leagues statistics in 2024, Josh Gibson (.718) leads the official career list, with Babe Ruth (.690) first among American and National League players. Barry Bonds' .863 in 2001 is the American and National League single-season record.
Related stats
- Batting average: hits ÷ at-bats
- On-base percentage (OBP): how often a hitter reaches base
- OPS: OBP + SLG, a quick all-in-one measure
- Isolated power (ISO): SLG minus batting average, pure extra-base power
How to raise your slugging
Slugging comes from hard contact in the air. Work on bat speed and getting the ball off the ground; our guide on how to hit a baseball harder has drills, and a bat with the right weight for you (see our baseball bat guide) helps too.
Related terms
More definitions: baseball terms explained.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate slugging percentage?
Divide total bases by at-bats. A single is 1 base, a double 2, a triple 3 and a home run 4.
What is a good slugging percentage?
In MLB, .500 or higher is excellent, .450 is good and the league average has been around .400 in recent seasons.
What is the difference between batting average and slugging percentage?
Batting average counts every hit the same. Slugging percentage weights hits by bases, so a home run counts four times as much as a single.
Can slugging percentage be higher than 1.000?
Yes. The maximum is 4.000, a home run in every at-bat. Over a full season, MLB's best are in the .600s.
