225 lb for 9 reps
Estimated one-rep max: about 285 lb (129 kg). The five formulas span 276–293 lb, so treat it as a range rather than a number.
Estimated one-rep max
129 kg
Mean of five published formulas. Range 125–133 kg.
| Formula | 1RM | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Epley | 132.7 | Epley, 1985 |
| Brzycki | 131.2 | Brzycki, 1993 |
| Lombardi | 127.1 | Lombardi, 1989 |
| O'Conner | 125.0 | O'Conner et al., 1989 |
| Mayhew | 131.3 | Mayhew et al., 1992 |
SOURCE·Published formulae — Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi; IPF GL and DOTS coefficients·REVIEWED JUL 2026
So is 285 lb a good bench press?
If that lift is a bench press, 285 lb (129 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 54th 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.
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% | 123.0 |
| 90% | 116.5 |
| 85% | 110.0 |
| 80% | 103.6 |
| 75% | 97.1 |
| 70% | 90.6 |
| 65% | 84.2 |
| 60% | 77.7 |
| 55% | 71.2 |
| 50% | 64.7 |
A sensible warm-up to it
| Step | Weight | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| 40% | 51.8 | 5 |
| 55% | 71.2 | 5 |
| 70% | 90.6 | 3 |
| 80% | 103.6 | 2 |
| 90% | 116.5 | 1 |
| Working | 129.5 | 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 225 lb, so the estimate for any set you actually did is one click away.
225 lb × 2
1RM 240 lb
225 lb × 3
1RM 247 lb
225 lb × 4
1RM 254 lb
225 lb × 5
1RM 260 lb
225 lb × 6
1RM 267 lb
225 lb × 7
1RM 273 lb
225 lb × 8
1RM 279 lb
225 lb × 10
1RM 292 lb
225 lb × 11
1RM 298 lb
225 lb × 12
1RM 305 lb
SOURCE·Published formulae — Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi; IPF GL and DOTS coefficients·REVIEWED JUL 2026
225 lb × 9 — common questions
What is my one-rep max if I lift 225 lb for 9 reps?
About 285 lb (129 kg), taken as the mean of the Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi, O'Conner and Mayhew formulas. Individually they give 276 to 293 lb, so the range is the honest answer.
Is 285 lb a good bench press?
If the lift is a bench press, 285 lb (129 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 54th 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 114 lb × 5, 157 lb × 5, 200 lb × 3, 228 lb × 2, 257 lb × 1, then the working single at 285 lb. It is a conventional ladder rather than a rule; the test is that the last warm-up still moves fast.