Is a 500 lb Deadlift?
At 500 lbs you're in the top 63% of competition lifters and a tiny slice of the general population. Most gym-goers never sniff this number.
500 lbs is one of the most commonly searched deadlift milestones. But "is it good?" depends entirely on context — your bodyweight, your training age, and most importantly, who you're measuring against.
500 Deadlift by the Numbers
Where 500 Sits on the Strength Standards
Strength standards rank lifts relative to your bodyweight, since a 500 lb deadlift means something very different for a lean lifter versus a heavyweight. Here's how 500 maps across common bodyweights for males:
| Bodyweight | BW Ratio | Tier at 500 lbs |
|---|---|---|
| 150 lbs | 3.33× BW | Elite |
| 165 lbs | 3.03× BW | Advanced |
| 180 lbs | 2.78× BW | Advanced |
| 200 lbs | 2.50× BW | Intermediate |
| 220 lbs | 2.27× BW | Intermediate |
| 250 lbs | 2.00× BW | Novice |
| 275 lbs | 1.82× BW | Novice |
The takeaway: At a 238 lb bodyweight, a 500 lb deadlift is exactly Intermediate level (2.10× bodyweight). Heavier lifters need to deadlift more for the same tier; lighter lifters need less.
See the full strength standards by bodyweight →
How 500 Compares to Other Competition Deadlifts
Here's the distribution of deadlift 1RMs across all 2,805 male competition lifters in our database. The highlighted row shows where 500 falls.
Deadlift Distribution — Male Competitors
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 500 lb deadlift good?
At 500 lbs you're in the top 63% of competition lifters and a tiny slice of the general population. Most gym-goers never sniff this number.
How long does it take to deadlift 500 lbs?
For most men, reaching a 500 lb deadlift takes between 5 and 12 years of consistent training, depending on bodyweight, genetics, age, and program quality.
What percentile is a 500 lb deadlift?
Among 2,805 male competition powerlifters in our database, 500 lbs ranks at the 37th percentile. 1,041 lifters deadlift less, 1,738 deadlift more, and 26 deadlift exactly 500. 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 Deadlift Milestones
Curious about other weights? Compare yourself across the most-searched deadlift numbers: