The legal age of consent varies from 16 to 18 years old from state to state across the United States. In some states, a "close in age exemption" exists to decriminalize consensual sex between two individuals who are both under the age of consent.

As of August 1, 2018, the age of consent in each state in the United States is either 16 years of age, 17 years of age, or 18 years of age. The most common age of consent is 16, which is a common age of consent in most other Western countries.

Eleven states, including Wisconsin, Virginia, Utah, Tennessee, Oregon, North Dakota, Idaho, Florida, Delaware, California, and Arizona, outlaw sexual relationships with partners who are below 18 years of age.

While federal law establishes an age of 18 for sexual consent in specific cases, each state has the authority to set its age of consent laws. The table below summarizes the age of consent across the United States.

Eight states have an age of consent of 17, and eight states have an age of consent of 18. Statutory rape laws, which make any sexual activity with a minor illegal, also vary significantly between states.