Part of the data ring
WHITELIGHTS

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

One-rep max

145 kg for 12 reps

Estimated one-rep max: about 197 kg (433 lb). The five formulas span 186–209 kg, so treat it as a range rather than a number.

Estimated one-rep max

197 kg

Mean of five published formulas. Range 186209 kg — above ten reps every formula is extrapolating, so this is a rough guide only.

Formula1RMSource
Epley203.0Epley, 1985
Brzycki208.8Brzycki, 1993
Lombardi185.9Lombardi, 1989
O'Conner188.5O'Conner et al., 1989
Mayhew196.3Mayhew et al., 1992

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

So is 197 kg a good bench press?

If that lift is a bench press, 197 kg (433 lb) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 99th percentile of 29,914 judged competition benches — world-class. 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%186.7
90%176.9
85%167.0
80%157.2
75%147.4
70%137.6
65%127.7
60%117.9
55%108.1
50%98.3

A sensible warm-up to it

StepWeightReps
40%78.65
55%108.15
70%137.63
80%157.22
90%176.91
Working196.51

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 145 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

145 kg × 12 — common questions

What is my one-rep max if I lift 145 kg for 12 reps?

About 197 kg (433 lb), taken as the mean of the Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi, O'Conner and Mayhew formulas. Individually they give 186 to 209 kg, so the range is the honest answer — and above ten reps all five are extrapolating past the data they were fitted on.

Is 197 kg a good bench press?

If the lift is a bench press, 197 kg (433 lb) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 99th percentile of 29,914 judged competition benches — world-class. That population all competed, so it is stronger than a gym average.

What should I warm up with?

The ramp below runs 79 kg × 5, 108 kg × 5, 138 kg × 3, 157 kg × 2, 177 kg × 1, then the working single at 197 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.