Part of the data ring
WHITELIGHTS

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

One-rep max

195 lb for 12 reps

Estimated one-rep max: about 264 lb (120 kg). The five formulas span 250–281 lb, so treat it as a range rather than a number.

Estimated one-rep max

120 kg

Mean of five published formulas. Range 113127 kg — above ten reps every formula is extrapolating, so this is a rough guide only.

Formula1RMSource
Epley123.8Epley, 1985
Brzycki127.4Brzycki, 1993
Lombardi113.4Lombardi, 1989
O'Conner115.0O'Conner et al., 1989
Mayhew119.8Mayhew et al., 1992

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

So is 264 lb a good bench press?

If that lift is a bench press, 264 lb (120 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 40th percentile of 29,914 judged competition benches — intermediate. 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%113.9
90%107.9
85%101.9
80%95.9
75%89.9
70%83.9
65%77.9
60%71.9
55%65.9
50%59.9

A sensible warm-up to it

StepWeightReps
40%47.95
55%65.95
70%83.93
80%95.92
90%107.91
Working119.91

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 195 lb, 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

195 lb × 12 — common questions

What is my one-rep max if I lift 195 lb for 12 reps?

About 264 lb (120 kg), taken as the mean of the Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi, O'Conner and Mayhew formulas. Individually they give 250 to 281 lb, so the range is the honest answer — and above ten reps all five are extrapolating past the data they were fitted on.

Is 264 lb a good bench press?

If the lift is a bench press, 264 lb (120 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 40th percentile of 29,914 judged competition benches — intermediate. That population all competed, so it is stronger than a gym average.

What should I warm up with?

The ramp below runs 106 lb × 5, 145 lb × 5, 185 lb × 3, 211 lb × 2, 238 lb × 1, then the working single at 264 lb. 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.