How much can the average person bench press?

[ajdahlheimer]

Interesting article with comprehensive charts for age, body weight, sex, level of training, etc.

https://www.healthline.com/health/ex...ge-bench-press

[xTeTe]

I saw this article yesterday.

Wonder how many men hit the elite level for their weight that train regularly? Probably a very tiny percentage (if natty).

[ajdahlheimer]

I saw this article yesterday.

Wonder how many men hit the elite level for their weight that train regularly? Probably a very tiny percentage (if natty).

Yeah, best I ever would have been at various different body weights was between advanced and elite (all natty).

[Mark1T]

This is interesting. Another factor is that if you train and if bench press is part of your training, your bench press strength is relative to how you train and consistency. No matter what, maximum strength is fleeting.

Not scientific at all, but even though I did bench 360 several years ago, I cannot now because it’s not what I train for.

But, interesting article, aj.

[2nd_chance]

bout tree fiddy

[OldFartTom]

I'm being pedantic, but that should be titled what can the average gym user bench, not average person. Sure if you stopped 100 random people in a shopping mall, the average would be way lower

[ajdahlheimer]

I'm being pedantic, but that should be titled what can the average gym user bench, not average person. Sure if you stopped 100 random people in a shopping mall, the average would be way lower

The chart has a column for "untrained" though, broseph.

[PhDPepper1111]

The chart has a column for "untrained" though, broseph.

That untrained column was pretty sad, really.
Interesting read: for the average person on the street that's that they ask about when they learn you train.... and the average person couldn't push their partner off of them if they collapsed in the throes of passion. SMH

[ajdahlheimer]

That untrained column was pretty sad, really.
Interesting read: for the average person on the street that's that they ask about when they learn you train.... and the average person couldn't push their partner off of them if they collapsed in the throes of passion. SMH

My rule of thumb for gauging strength of someone who has never lifted has always been if they can bench press their own body weight for one rep. IMO if they can do that--they have decent "God-given" strength.

[OldFartTom]

My rule of thumb for gauging strength of someone who has never lifted has always been if they can bench press their own body weight for one rep. IMO if they can do that--they have decent "God-given" strength.

I know someone who has never gym trained yet is one of the strongest guys I know (wiry not huge built, but his grip strength is amazing), I'd be amazed if he couldn't bench his own weight first time. There are people out there who are STRONG.

For someone like myself with Pee Wee Herman genetics, it took me 2 years of consistent hard training and I don't mean time wasting in gym, I mean training. Mileage does vary!

[ArchAngel'73]

I think the bench press is over rated and held in too high esteem by some builders. Imo, there are at least a few other chest exercises that are superior to it for fiber stimulation and muscle growth.
Benching is also the leading cause of pec tears of injuries in the gym and is known to damage the shoulders over time and with heavy loads.

As such, unless you're a competitive powerlifter, choosing the bench as your main exercise for chest growth over time is imo, foolhardy.

and ftr, I don't care how strong I am as my focus is muscle growth and lifting longevity.

[bustasinclair]

I think the bench press is over rated and held in too high esteem by some builders. Imo, there are at least a few other chest exercises that are superior to it for fiber stimulation and muscle growth.
Benching is also the leading cause of pec tears of injuries in the gym and is known to damage the shoulders over time and with heavy loads.

As such, unless you're a competitive powerlifter, choosing the bench as your main exercise for chest growth over time is imo, foolhardy.

and ftr, I don't care how strong I am as my focus is muscle growth and lifting longevity.

QFT^^^^ from a guy with two pec tears.

If I had known 11 years ago that one day I would no longer bench press, I would have been in complete disbelief.

[anonymous]

I doubt the average untrained person, especially post 35, can press.135.for even a half rep tbh

More like 75 at most

[anonymous]

When I started lifting again in 2010 at age 42 I had not set foot in a gym in over 7 years and my first day I benched 185 for 2 reps.

That's great and all, but my mid 30s coworkers could barely do 90lbs when I took them to the gym (with one exception who could do weighted dips with a 45)

The average guy is ridiculously soft and weak if he doesn't do manual labor or play sports

[anonymous]

It's really sad how many guys wither away.

I am 53 now, and due to some serious injuries and gym closures in 2020 I am not where I was just a year ago. This this time last year I was squatting and deadlifting 600+ and I benched 365.

When my ex father-in-law was my age he could not even lift a couple small patio stones into my ex-wife car for her. Sad.

My Dad is 75 and still in decent shape. Not sure how strong he is but he still lifts weights.

Mrs Flex and I both realize that the key to having a good life as we age is to stay strong.

Agreed, it's shocking how much damage a desk job, stress and chit diets take on the average person. Whenever I get tough on myself I have to remember 99.9% of people my age have it way, way worse.

Glad your dad is lifting to fight off old age!

[bodyhard]

I have a friend of mine name Bandit (real name Frank) who never lifts weight but is one of the strongest guys I know. He was once shot at point blank range with a 38 right to the chest and walk himself to the hospital.

Anyway, around 10 years ago with the bullet still in his chest (he still has it till this day it can not be removed) he went to the gym with me and bench 315lbs for reps like the man has been lifting for years! fcking guy is a beast.

[2nd_chance]

QFT^^^^ from a guy with two pec tears.

If I had known 11 years ago that one day I would no longer bench press, I would have been in complete disbelief.

Reverse grip FTW

[2nd_chance]

I have a friend of mine name Bandit (real name Frank) who never lifts weight but is one of the strongest guys I know. He was once shot at point blank range with a 38 right to the chest and walk himself to the hospital.

Anyway, around 10 years ago with the bullet still in his chest (he still has it till this day it can not be removed) he went to the gym with me and bench 315lbs for reps like the man has been lifting for years! fcking guy is a beast.

Hershal Walker has never lifted weights. This is him in his 50s.

[Payton1221]

If I had known 11 years ago that one day I would no longer bench press, I would have been in complete disbelief.

I've not (barbell) benched in months. My shoulders are much happier with dumbbells. But when my son benched 225x6 a few weeks ago, I got caught up in the moment, and thought, heck yeah . . . I'm going to give this a try to. I have him put 135 on so that I can warm up and literally did one rep and said "screw this." I knew that it wouldn't end well.

[bodyhard]

Hershal Walker has never lifted weights. This is him in his 50s.

Damn! Seriously?

[Bando]

Hershal Walker has never lifted weights. This is him in his 50s.

Damn! Seriously?

Herschel has always been an exception to the rule. Since college he has always done thousands of pushups, situps and pullups and bodyweight stuff. He's also a freak in that he'll go a whole day or 2 without eating then sit down and eat 2 whole chickens, no regard to diet timing and only eats when he feels like it.

I think the bench press is over rated and held in too high esteem by some builders. Imo, there are at least a few other chest exercises that are superior to it for fiber stimulation and muscle growth.
Benching is also the leading cause of pec tears of injuries in the gym and is known to damage the shoulders over time and with heavy loads.

As such, unless you're a competitive powerlifter, choosing the bench as your main exercise for chest growth over time is imo, foolhardy.

Agreed. I'll add that training chest with dumbells, inclines, pullovers and flyes is more healthy even for powerlifters in the long term. I've competed 6 or 7 times and always gotten a bigger bench than the last time, but didn't start flat BB BP'ing until about 6 weeks out.

Unless you're ramping up to a comp it's a dangerous Bro Metric that I would leave to the rookies.

[snailsrus]

I saw this article yesterday.

Wonder how many men hit the elite level for their weight that train regularly? Probably a very tiny percentage (if natty).

I hit the female elite level in 1 year, but those numbers seem low compared to uspa records/the meets I’ve done

[OldFartTom]

Not totally relevant (sorry) but... on the subject of strength -- in the last year or two one inspirational lift, showing what can be achieved through self belief and hard work was Miles Taylor deadlifting 200lbs at 99lbs bodyweight. Just throwing it out there

[Gabbar99]

Hershal Walker has never lifted weights. This is him in his 50s.

Don't think my son ever did a barbell bench. He did some fairly light dumbbell incline bench. Turned out okay, he was a D1 All American in the decathlon.

[Jtbny]

I've not (barbell) benched in months. My shoulders are much happier with dumbbells. But when my son benched 225x6 a few weeks ago, I got caught up in the moment, and thought, heck yeah . . . I'm going to give this a try to. I have him put 135 on so that I can warm up and literally did one rep and said "screw this." I knew that it wouldn't end well.

I've gotten away from standard BB bench presses as part of my regular routine. Instead, I now use a fat bar to bench and do tons weighted dips. My shoulders are so much happier. The fat bar makes the movement different by decreasing the ROM plus I feel it much more in my chest than standard BB. I haven't lost much on the strength scale on flat BB bench doing these either. I can put up a paused 315 on any given day still and rep 225 for 15-20. Maybe an idea if you ever want to get back into bench pressing.

Bench press is highly dependent on body weight. If you're heavier you should be able to put up more untrained or not. The trick is to be able to do the same weight at lower body weight.

[ajdahlheimer]

I've gotten away from standard BB bench presses as part of my regular routine. Instead, I now use a fat bar to bench and do tons weighted dips. My shoulders are so much happier. The fat bar makes the movement different by decreasing the ROM plus I feel it much more in my chest than standard BB. I haven't lost much on the strength scale on flat BB bench doing these either. I can put up a paused 315 on any given day still and rep 225 for 15-20. Maybe an idea if you ever want to get back into bench pressing.

Bench press is highly dependent on body weight. If you're heavier you should be able to put up more untrained or not. The trick is to be able to do the same weight at lower body weight.

What does the fat bar look like?

[ectoBgone]

Forever stuck in intermediate territory here. Orangutan arms with paper machete joints puts me in the never even hit 225, and at this stage I never intend to try. Ironic because my chest is one of the few body parts that doesn't actually suck aesthetically.

[BlackJack619]

Like 305 something like that.

[Jtbny]

What does the fat bar look like?

A normal bar but larger diameter. Something like this:

https://www.roguefitness.com/the-rog...BoCtvkQAvD_BwE

The one I use weighs 55lb but looks just like the Rogue bar.

[Corbi]

I doubt the average untrained person, especially post 35, can press.135.for even a half rep tbh

More like 75 at most

From what I have witnessed at the gym I would say this is correct. The number of guys I have seen who can press 3 plates can be counted on 1 hand yet the number of kids who come in wearing their fukking string back tank tops and struggle with 95 lbs is a number way above that.