Squat Strength Standards (lb)
A 315 lb squat beats 17.8% of male competitive powerlifters and beats 87.5% of female competitive powerlifters in the OpenPowerlifting dataset.
This page shows how a squat ranks for men and women at every bodyweight. The numbers come from the OpenPowerlifting database, a public domain archive of sanctioned meet results, filtered to raw (unequipped) lifts and reduced to each lifter's single best squat so no one is counted twice.
Read it in two parts. The strength levels table uses traditional bodyweight multiples that gym lifters can aim for, from untrained through elite, while the percentile tables rank competitive powerlifters, who are stronger than the average gym-goer. Treat those percentiles as a hard grading curve rather than a snapshot of the general public.
Viewing in lb. Switch to kg
Strength levels by bodyweight
Traditional bodyweight-multiple estimates. Each cell is a bodyweight multiple applied to the row bodyweight, rounded to the nearest 5 lb.
Men (lb)
| Bodyweight (lb) | Untrained | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 | 90 | 120 | 150 | 210 | 270 |
| 140 | 105 | 140 | 175 | 245 | 315 |
| 150 | 115 | 150 | 190 | 265 | 340 |
| 160 | 120 | 160 | 200 | 280 | 360 |
| 170 | 130 | 170 | 215 | 300 | 385 |
| 180 | 135 | 180 | 225 | 315 | 405 |
| 200 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 350 | 450 |
| 220 | 165 | 220 | 275 | 385 | 495 |
| 240 | 180 | 240 | 300 | 420 | 540 |
Women (lb)
| Bodyweight (lb) | Untrained | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 | 55 | 70 | 90 | 125 | 160 |
| 140 | 65 | 85 | 105 | 145 | 190 |
| 150 | 70 | 90 | 115 | 160 | 205 |
| 160 | 70 | 95 | 120 | 170 | 215 |
| 170 | 75 | 100 | 130 | 180 | 230 |
| 180 | 80 | 110 | 135 | 190 | 245 |
| 200 | 90 | 120 | 150 | 210 | 270 |
| 220 | 100 | 130 | 165 | 230 | 295 |
| 240 | 110 | 145 | 180 | 250 | 325 |
Percentiles among competitive powerlifters (lb)
Each row is a bodyweight class from the dataset. Columns are the squat at the 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 99th percentile within that class.
Men (lb)
| Bodyweight class | Lifters | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | 99th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| under 123 lb | 5,170 | 138 | 187 | 245 | 298 | 380 |
| 123-140 lb | 11,212 | 220 | 276 | 331 | 375 | 452 |
| 140-160 lb | 32,767 | 287 | 336 | 386 | 430 | 507 |
| 160-180 lb | 59,461 | 331 | 386 | 435 | 480 | 562 |
| 180-200 lb | 60,373 | 364 | 419 | 474 | 524 | 617 |
| 200-220 lb | 45,058 | 395 | 452 | 507 | 557 | 661 |
| 220-240 lb | 32,518 | 408 | 474 | 535 | 595 | 694 |
| 240-260 lb | 15,448 | 419 | 485 | 551 | 612 | 717 |
| over 260 lb | 23,591 | 441 | 518 | 601 | 672 | 816 |
Women (lb)
| Bodyweight class | Lifters | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | 99th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| under 123 lb | 23,276 | 154 | 187 | 226 | 259 | 320 |
| 123-140 lb | 30,917 | 187 | 220 | 259 | 298 | 364 |
| 140-160 lb | 31,624 | 204 | 243 | 281 | 320 | 391 |
| 160-180 lb | 21,194 | 215 | 259 | 303 | 342 | 424 |
| 180-200 lb | 11,724 | 220 | 265 | 314 | 358 | 446 |
| 200-220 lb | 5,554 | 220 | 270 | 320 | 364 | 452 |
| 220-240 lb | 3,537 | 231 | 281 | 331 | 386 | 468 |
| 240-260 lb | 2,129 | 237 | 292 | 342 | 397 | 494 |
| over 260 lb | 2,655 | 248 | 309 | 375 | 430 | 557 |
How rare is a big squat?
Percent of competitive powerlifters whose best squat is below each weight.
| Squat (lb) | Percent of men below | Percent of women below |
|---|---|---|
| 135 lb | 0.8% | 5.7% |
| 225 lb | 4.6% | 42.7% |
| 315 lb | 17.8% | 87.5% |
| 405 lb | 46.5% | 98.5% |
| 495 lb | 77.2% | 99.9% |
| 585 lb | 94.2% | 100.0% |
Methodology
These standards are computed from the public domain bulk data published by OpenPowerlifting, which aggregates results from sanctioned powerlifting meets. The data is released into the public domain, so it can be reused and republished freely.
Only raw (unequipped) lifts are included, so figures reflect lifts performed without a bench shirt, squat suit, or supportive equipment beyond a belt and sleeves. For each lifter we keep only their single best result on this lift, which prevents someone with many logged meets from counting more than once. This snapshot was generated on 2026-07-11 from 1,876,119 raw competition entries, covering 285,598 men and 132,610 women for the squat.
One honest caveat: everyone in this dataset chose to compete in powerlifting, and competitive powerlifters are considerably stronger than the general gym population. These percentiles therefore understate how rare a given lift is among all men or women. A lift that beats a modest share of competitors would beat a far larger share of the untrained public.
Frequently asked questions
How rare is a 315 lb squat?
A 315 lb squat beats 17.8% of male competitive powerlifters, so among dedicated lifters it is an early-intermediate number. In the broader gym population it is more impressive, because competitors squat well beyond what the average trainee lifts.
How much should a 170 lb man be able to squat?
An intermediate 170 lb man should be able to squat roughly 1.25 times bodyweight, or about 210 lb. For comparison, the median competitive lifter in the 160-180 lb class squats 386 lb, which reflects how much stronger dedicated powerlifters are than typical gym-goers.
Is a 225 lb squat good?
A 225 lb squat beats 4.6% of male competitive powerlifters, so within that strength-focused field it is a novice-level lift. For a general gym-goer it is a respectable working weight, since most untrained men squat far less than competitors do.
What is a good squat for a woman?
A good squat for a woman is roughly 0.75 times bodyweight at an intermediate level, about 110 lb for a 150 lb lifter. Among competitive women the median in the 140-160 lb class squats 243 lb, and those lifters train specifically for the movement.
How rare is a 405 lb squat?
A 405 lb squat beats 46.5% of male competitive powerlifters, putting it just below the median in that dedicated group. Against the general population it is far rarer, as most men who lift never approach a four-plate squat.