Is a 245 lb Bench Press Good?
A 245 lb bench is in the top tier of gym-goers. Most lifters never reach this. Against competition powerlifters, 245 lbs is the 19th percentile — solid intermediate-to-advanced territory among people who train and compete seriously.
245 lbs is one of the most commonly searched bench press milestones. But "is it good?" depends entirely on context — your bodyweight, your training age, and most importantly, who you're measuring against.
245 Bench by the Numbers
Where 245 Sits on the Strength Standards
Strength standards rank lifts relative to your bodyweight, since a 245 lb bench means something very different for a lean lifter versus a heavyweight. Here's how 245 maps across common bodyweights for males:
| Bodyweight | BW Ratio | Tier at 245 lbs |
|---|---|---|
| 150 lbs | 1.63× BW | Intermediate |
| 165 lbs | 1.48× BW | Intermediate |
| 180 lbs | 1.36× BW | Intermediate |
| 200 lbs | 1.23× BW | Novice |
| 220 lbs | 1.11× BW | Novice |
| 250 lbs | 0.98× BW | Novice |
| 275 lbs | 0.89× BW | Beginner |
The takeaway: At a 188 lb bodyweight, a 245 lb bench is exactly Intermediate level (1.30× bodyweight). Heavier lifters need to bench more for the same tier; lighter lifters need less.
See the full strength standards by bodyweight →
How 245 Compares to Other Competition Benchers
Here's the distribution of bench press 1RMs across all 2,805 male competition lifters in our database. The highlighted row shows where 245 falls.
Bench Press Distribution — Male Competitors
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 245 lb bench press good?
A 245 lb bench is in the top tier of gym-goers. Most lifters never reach this. Against competition powerlifters, 245 lbs is the 19th percentile — solid intermediate-to-advanced territory among people who train and compete seriously.
How long does it take to bench 245 lbs?
For most men, reaching a 245 lb bench takes between 2 and 5 years of consistent training, depending on bodyweight, genetics, age, and program quality. Larger, shorter-armed lifters tend to get there faster.
What percentile is a 245 lb bench?
Among 2,805 male competition powerlifters in our database, 245 lbs ranks at the 19th percentile. 541 lifters bench less, 2,260 bench more, and 4 bench exactly 245. The percentile is much higher when measured against the general population — competition lifters represent the strong upper tail of the lifting world.
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Submit Your Lifts →Other Bench Press Milestones
Curious about other weights? Compare yourself across the most-searched bench numbers: