Part of the data ring
WHITELIGHTS

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

One-rep max

265 lb for 2 reps

Estimated one-rep max: about 283 lb (128 kg). The five formulas span 273–295 lb, so treat it as a range rather than a number.

Estimated one-rep max

128 kg

Mean of five published formulas. Range 124134 kg.

Formula1RMSource
Epley128.2Epley, 1985
Brzycki123.6Brzycki, 1993
Lombardi128.8Lombardi, 1989
O'Conner126.2O'Conner et al., 1989
Mayhew134.0Mayhew et al., 1992

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

So is 283 lb a good bench press?

If that lift is a bench press, 283 lb (128 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 53rd 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.

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%121.8
90%115.4
85%108.9
80%102.5
75%96.1
70%89.7
65%83.3
60%76.9
55%70.5
50%64.1

A sensible warm-up to it

StepWeightReps
40%51.35
55%70.55
70%89.73
80%102.52
90%115.41
Working128.21

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.

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

265 lb × 2 — common questions

What is my one-rep max if I lift 265 lb for 2 reps?

About 283 lb (128 kg), taken as the mean of the Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi, O'Conner and Mayhew formulas. Individually they give 273 to 295 lb, so the range is the honest answer.

Is 283 lb a good bench press?

If the lift is a bench press, 283 lb (128 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 53rd 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 113 lb × 5, 155 lb × 5, 198 lb × 3, 226 lb × 2, 254 lb × 1, then the working single at 283 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.