Part of the data ring
WHITELIGHTS

Real judged lifts. Zero self-reported numbers. This is what strong actually is.

One-rep max

120 kg for 6 reps

Estimated one-rep max: about 142 kg (313 lb). The five formulas span 138–146 kg, so treat it as a range rather than a number.

Estimated one-rep max

142 kg

Mean of five published formulas. Range 138146 kg.

Formula1RMSource
Epley144.0Epley, 1985
Brzycki139.4Brzycki, 1993
Lombardi143.5Lombardi, 1989
O'Conner138.0O'Conner et al., 1989
Mayhew145.8Mayhew et al., 1992

SOURCE·Published formulae — Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi; IPF GL and DOTS coefficients·REVIEWED JUL 2026

So is 142 kg a good bench press?

If that lift is a bench press, 142 kg (313 lb) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 72nd percentile of 29,914 judged competition benches — advanced. For a squat or a deadlift the same weight ranks lower, because those lifts are heavier for everyone.

SOURCE·Judged competition results (OpenPowerlifting)·29,914 judged bench presses, men 82.5–87.5 kg·REVIEWED JUL 2026

Percentages of that max

% of 1RMWeight
95%135.0
90%127.9
85%120.8
80%113.7
75%106.6
70%99.5
65%92.4
60%85.3
55%78.2
50%71.1

A sensible warm-up to it

StepWeightReps
40%56.95
55%78.25
70%99.53
80%113.72
90%127.91
Working142.11

A conventional ramp, not the ramp. Add or remove steps to taste — the point is to arrive warm and not tired.

Same weight, other rep counts

The whole rep range for 120 kg, so the estimate for any set you actually did is one click away.

SOURCE·Published formulae — Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi; IPF GL and DOTS coefficients·REVIEWED JUL 2026

120 kg × 6 — common questions

What is my one-rep max if I lift 120 kg for 6 reps?

About 142 kg (313 lb), taken as the mean of the Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi, O'Conner and Mayhew formulas. Individually they give 138 to 146 kg, so the range is the honest answer.

Is 142 kg a good bench press?

If the lift is a bench press, 142 kg (313 lb) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 72nd percentile of 29,914 judged competition benches — advanced. That population all competed, so it is stronger than a gym average.

What should I warm up with?

The ramp below runs 57 kg × 5, 78 kg × 5, 99 kg × 3, 114 kg × 2, 128 kg × 1, then the working single at 142 kg. It is a conventional ladder rather than a rule; the test is that the last warm-up still moves fast.

See all 10 sites in this family, with what each one answers

Published by

Amit Sharma

Auckland real-estate agent and marketer. Builds free, sourced data tools.