Bench Press 101: Determining Your Ideal Bench Press Weight (2024)

Bench Press 101: Determining Your Ideal Bench Press Weight (1)

Welcome to our comprehensive guide to one of the most quintessential exercises in weightlifting—the bench press. It's an exercise that provokes many questions, especially about how much weight one should be able to lift. We're here to shed some light on this topic.

The Importance of Bench Pressing

Before we delve into the numbers, let's establish why the bench press is a cornerstone in strength training. This compound exercise targets multiple muscle groups, including your pectorals, triceps, and deltoids, promoting upper body strength and muscle mass. Before you begin, using wrist wraps can help to increase your bench press by limiting wrist extension thus maximizing your power.

How Much Should I Be Able to Bench?

Bench pressing isn't a one-size-fits-all exercise. Factors such as age, gender, fitness level, and training history contribute to the amount you should be able to bench.

The average male beginner might aim to bench press 135 lbs. A beginner female, on the other hand, might start with a 65 lbs lift. Remember, these are just averages—individual capabilities vary significantly.

What is the Average Bench Press?

Bench Press 101: Determining Your Ideal Bench Press Weight (2)

The average bench press varies depending on several factors. Men aged 20-29 typically bench press around 160 lbs. For women in the same age group, the average is 70 lbs. Again, these figures are averages and will vary based on individual circ*mstances. Please do not confuse what "you want to be bench pressing" to what the average is.

Understanding Bench Press Weight Ratio

The bench press weight ratio refers to how much you can press to your body weight. Bench pressing one's body weight is a good goal for men. For women, a good goal is a half to three-quarters of body weight.

What is a Good Bench Press?

Bench Press 101: Determining Your Ideal Bench Press Weight (3)

A 'good' bench press depends on your personal goals, fitness level, and body composition. For a male weighing 198 lbs, lifting 160 lbs might be considered good.

This is 80% of their body weight. For a female weighing 165 lbs, lifting 85 lbs could be a good benchmark. This is around 50% of their body weight.

How Much Should I Bench Press for My Weight?

Bench Press 101: Determining Your Ideal Bench Press Weight (4)

Men should aim to bench press their body weight as a starting point. Women should aim for half to three-quarters of their body weight. A man weighing 170 lbs should aim for a 170 lbs bench press. A reasonable goal for a woman weighing 140 lbs is a 70-105 lbs bench press.

How Villain Wrist Wraps Can Improve Your Bench Press

Ensuring proper form and safety while bench pressing is crucial, and that's where ourVillain Wrist Wrapscome in. TuffWraps offers wraps that feature a belt loop tightening system.

Our belt loop tightening system allows you to control wrist support and stability during heavy lifting. It also protects wrists from injury. Wrist wraps are designed to limit wrist extension, thus giving you maximum power through your lift.

Never fuss with thumb loops again with Villain Wrist Wraps! These are available in16-inch,24-inch, and30-inch.The 16" are the most popular andgreat place to start with wrist wraps.

Conclusion

Bench pressing is a versatile and valuable exercise. However, it is not only about the weight you lift. It is also important to lift safely and effectively. Everyone's bench press ability will differ based on various factors, but we hope this guide clarifies the subject.

Remember, no matter your bench press goal, ourVillain Wrist Wrapssupport your journey, promoting safety and performance. Happy lifting!

Bench Press 101: Determining Your Ideal Bench Press Weight (2024)

FAQs

Bench Press 101: Determining Your Ideal Bench Press Weight? ›

Men should aim to bench press their body weight

body weight
Human body weight is a person's mass or weight. Strictly speaking, body weight is the measurement of weight without items located on the person.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Human_body_weight
as a starting point. Women should aim for half to three-quarters of their body weight. A man weighing 170 lbs should aim for a 170 lbs bench press. A reasonable goal for a woman weighing 140 lbs is a 70-105 lbs bench press.

How much should I bench press for my weight? ›

Bodyweight Ratio
Strength LevelBodyweight Ratio
Novice0.75x
Intermediate1.25x
Advanced1.75x
Elite2.00x
1 more row

How rare is a 315 bench? ›

According to the information found, the rarity of a 315 lb bench press can vary depending on the population being considered. Here are some key findings: TikTok user @Папочка states that out of the entire world's population, approximately 0.01% of people can bench press 315 pounds [1].

How much should a 150 pound man bench? ›

Bench Press Standards for Men (lb)
BodyweightBeginnerElite
15097273
160106290
170115306
180123321
17 more rows

What percent of men can bench 225? ›

Only 0.075% of the male population can bench press 2:25. That means that if you went out onto the street. and found 1,000 people, less than one of them would be able to bench press 2. twenty five.

Is 135 pounds a good bench press? ›

Bench pressing isn't a one-size-fits-all exercise. Factors such as age, gender, fitness level, and training history contribute to the amount you should be able to bench. The average male beginner might aim to bench press 135 lbs. A beginner female, on the other hand, might start with a 65 lbs lift.

What is Steph Curry's bench? ›

Related to Steph Curry Bench Press 315 Pounds

How common is a 185 bench? ›

The average bench press weight can vary among different age groups. However, as a general guideline, a beginner lifter in their 20s can bench press around 135-185 pounds. In comparison, an advanced lifter in the same age group may be able to bench press 225 pounds or more.

How much can an untrained man bench press? ›

Bench Press Strength Standards (Ages 18-39, lb)
PoundsBench Press - Adult Men
Body WeightUntrainedElite
11485220
12390240
132100260
9 more rows

How much can a gorilla bench press? ›

Gorilla strength is estimated to be about 10 times their body weight. Fully grown silverbacks are in actually stronger than 20 adult humans combined. A Silverback gorilla can lift 4,000 lb (1,810 kg) on a bench press, while a well-trained man can only lift up to 885 lb (401.5 kg.

How much can a 140 pound man bench? ›

Average Bench Press Standards for Adult Men
Body Weight (pounds)UntrainedElite
12390240
132100260
148110290
165120320
9 more rows
Mar 28, 2024

What is the average bench press at the NFL combine? ›

The average number of repetitions varies according to position. Linemen typically do 30-39 lifts, tight ends and linebackers do 25-30, running backs do 20-25, and defensive backs and receivers do 15-20.

Is a 135 bench good for a 16 year old? ›

Average Bench Press for Teenagers

For a 15-year-old, the average is around 85 pounds. For a 16-year-old, the average is around 100 pounds. For a 17-year-old, the average is around 115 pounds. And for an 18-year-old, the average is around 130 pounds.

Is a 150 lb bench good for a 15-year-old? ›

At an advanced level, a 15-year-old boy weighing between 140 and 160 pounds could be expected to bench press 225 to 255 pounds [1]. An advanced female lifter of the same age, weighing 130 to 150 pounds, might be able to bench press 144 to 158 pounds [1].

How much should you lift based on your weight? ›

Squat Strength Standards: 1.5 times your body weight. Bench Strength Standards: 1.2 times your body weight. Deadlift Strength Standards: 2 times your body weight. Overhead Press Strength Standards: 0.8 x body weight.

Is a 200lb bench good? ›

If you theorize that the target bench-pressing total of an intermediate weightlifter is an indicator of a “good” bench-press weight, then 215 pounds is an ideal bench-pressing target for a 200-pound person, or 7 percent above that individual's body weight.

References

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