205 lb for 8 reps
Estimated one-rep max: about 254 lb (115 kg). The five formulas span 246–260 lb, so treat it as a range rather than a number.
Estimated one-rep max
115 kg
Mean of five published formulas. Range 112–118 kg.
| Formula | 1RM | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Epley | 117.8 | Epley, 1985 |
| Brzycki | 115.4 | Brzycki, 1993 |
| Lombardi | 114.5 | Lombardi, 1989 |
| O'Conner | 111.6 | O'Conner et al., 1989 |
| Mayhew | 117.4 | Mayhew et al., 1992 |
SOURCE·Published formulae — Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi; IPF GL and DOTS coefficients·REVIEWED JUL 2026
So is 254 lb a good bench press?
If that lift is a bench press, 254 lb (115 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 36th 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.
Bench standards
Full curve for this class
Open →Squat standards
Same class, different lift
Open →Deadlift standards
Same class, different lift
Open →SOURCE·Judged competition results (OpenPowerlifting)·29,914 judged bench presses, men 82.5–87.5 kg·REVIEWED JUL 2026
Percentages of that max
| % of 1RM | Weight |
|---|---|
| 95% | 109.6 |
| 90% | 103.8 |
| 85% | 98.0 |
| 80% | 92.3 |
| 75% | 86.5 |
| 70% | 80.7 |
| 65% | 75.0 |
| 60% | 69.2 |
| 55% | 63.4 |
| 50% | 57.7 |
A sensible warm-up to it
| Step | Weight | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| 40% | 46.1 | 5 |
| 55% | 63.4 | 5 |
| 70% | 80.7 | 3 |
| 80% | 92.3 | 2 |
| 90% | 103.8 | 1 |
| Working | 115.3 | 1 |
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 205 lb, so the estimate for any set you actually did is one click away.
205 lb × 2
1RM 219 lb
205 lb × 3
1RM 225 lb
205 lb × 4
1RM 231 lb
205 lb × 5
1RM 237 lb
205 lb × 6
1RM 243 lb
205 lb × 7
1RM 249 lb
205 lb × 9
1RM 260 lb
205 lb × 10
1RM 266 lb
205 lb × 11
1RM 272 lb
205 lb × 12
1RM 278 lb
SOURCE·Published formulae — Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi; IPF GL and DOTS coefficients·REVIEWED JUL 2026
205 lb × 8 — common questions
What is my one-rep max if I lift 205 lb for 8 reps?
About 254 lb (115 kg), taken as the mean of the Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi, O'Conner and Mayhew formulas. Individually they give 246 to 260 lb, so the range is the honest answer.
Is 254 lb a good bench press?
If the lift is a bench press, 254 lb (115 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 36th 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 102 lb × 5, 140 lb × 5, 178 lb × 3, 203 lb × 2, 229 lb × 1, then the working single at 254 lb. It is a conventional ladder rather than a rule; the test is that the last warm-up still moves fast.