Part of the data ring
WHITELIGHTS

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

One-rep max

275 lb for 3 reps

Estimated one-rep max: about 302 lb (137 kg). The five formulas span 291–313 lb, so treat it as a range rather than a number.

Estimated one-rep max

137 kg

Mean of five published formulas. Range 132142 kg.

Formula1RMSource
Epley137.2Epley, 1985
Brzycki132.1Brzycki, 1993
Lombardi139.2Lombardi, 1989
O'Conner134.1O'Conner et al., 1989
Mayhew142.2Mayhew et al., 1992

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

So is 302 lb a good bench press?

If that lift is a bench press, 302 lb (137 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 66th 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%130.1
90%123.3
85%116.4
80%109.6
75%102.7
70%95.9
65%89.0
60%82.2
55%75.3
50%68.5

A sensible warm-up to it

StepWeightReps
40%54.85
55%75.35
70%95.93
80%109.62
90%123.31
Working137.01

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 275 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

275 lb × 3 — common questions

What is my one-rep max if I lift 275 lb for 3 reps?

About 302 lb (137 kg), taken as the mean of the Epley, Brzycki, Lombardi, O'Conner and Mayhew formulas. Individually they give 291 to 313 lb, so the range is the honest answer.

Is 302 lb a good bench press?

If the lift is a bench press, 302 lb (137 kg) puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 66th 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 121 lb × 5, 166 lb × 5, 211 lb × 3, 242 lb × 2, 272 lb × 1, then the working single at 302 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.