265 lb for 12 reps
Estimated one-rep max: about 359 lb (163 kg). The five formulas span 340–382 lb, so treat it as a range rather than a number.
Estimated one-rep max
163 kg
Mean of five published formulas. Range 154–173 kg — above ten reps every formula is extrapolating, so this is a rough guide only.
| Formula | 1RM | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Epley | 168.3 | Epley, 1985 |
| Brzycki | 173.1 | Brzycki, 1993 |
| Lombardi | 154.1 | Lombardi, 1989 |
| O'Conner | 156.3 | O'Conner et al., 1989 |
| Mayhew | 162.8 | Mayhew et al., 1992 |
SOURCE·Published formulae — Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi; IPF GL and DOTS coefficients·REVIEWED JUL 2026
So is 359 lb a good bench press?
If that lift is a bench press, 359 lb (163 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 91st percentile of 29,914 judged competition benches — elite. 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% | 154.8 |
| 90% | 146.6 |
| 85% | 138.5 |
| 80% | 130.3 |
| 75% | 122.2 |
| 70% | 114.0 |
| 65% | 105.9 |
| 60% | 97.7 |
| 55% | 89.6 |
| 50% | 81.4 |
A sensible warm-up to it
| Step | Weight | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| 40% | 65.2 | 5 |
| 55% | 89.6 | 5 |
| 70% | 114.0 | 3 |
| 80% | 130.3 | 2 |
| 90% | 146.6 | 1 |
| Working | 162.9 | 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 265 lb, so the estimate for any set you actually did is one click away.
265 lb × 2
1RM 283 lb
265 lb × 3
1RM 291 lb
265 lb × 4
1RM 299 lb
265 lb × 5
1RM 306 lb
265 lb × 6
1RM 314 lb
265 lb × 7
1RM 321 lb
265 lb × 8
1RM 329 lb
265 lb × 9
1RM 336 lb
265 lb × 10
1RM 344 lb
265 lb × 11
1RM 351 lb
SOURCE·Published formulae — Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi; IPF GL and DOTS coefficients·REVIEWED JUL 2026
265 lb × 12 — common questions
What is my one-rep max if I lift 265 lb for 12 reps?
About 359 lb (163 kg), taken as the mean of the Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi, O'Conner and Mayhew formulas. Individually they give 340 to 382 lb, so the range is the honest answer — and above ten reps all five are extrapolating past the data they were fitted on.
Is 359 lb a good bench press?
If the lift is a bench press, 359 lb (163 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 91st percentile of 29,914 judged competition benches — elite. That population all competed, so it is stronger than a gym average.
What should I warm up with?
The ramp below runs 144 lb × 5, 198 lb × 5, 251 lb × 3, 287 lb × 2, 323 lb × 1, then the working single at 359 lb. It is a conventional ladder rather than a rule; the test is that the last warm-up still moves fast.