About 320 lb (145 kg) for one rep. That is the start of the Intermediate level for a 160 lb man: 2 times bodyweight, where most people land after a year or so of steady training. A beginner deadlifts about 160 lb, and an elite lifter at the same bodyweight deadlifts 480 lb.
Deadlift standards for a 160 lb man
| Level | × bodyweight | 1 rep | kg | 5 reps | 10 reps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1× | 160 lb | 72.5 kg | 135 lb | 120 lb |
| Novice | 1.5× | 240 lb | 110 kg | 205 lb | 180 lb |
| Intermediate | 2× | 320 lb | 145 kg | 275 lb | 240 lb |
| Advanced | 2.5× | 400 lb | 182.5 kg | 345 lb | 300 lb |
| Elite | 3× | 480 lb | 217.5 kg | 410 lb | 360 lb |
The 5- and 10-rep columns are what each one-rep max lets you lift for that many reps, so you can check your level from a normal working set. Hitting 275 lb for 5 clean reps puts you at about 320 lb for one.
Work out your own level from a set
Say you deadlift 270 lb for 6 reps. The Epley formula, 270 × (1 + 6 ÷ 30), puts your max at about 324 lb — Intermediate for a 160 lb man. Put your own set into the one-rep max calculator, or check every lift at once with the strength standards calculator, already set to 160 lb.
How 160 lb compares to nearby bodyweights
| Bodyweight | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140 lb | 140 | 210 | 280 | 350 | 420 |
| 150 lb | 150 | 225 | 300 | 375 | 450 |
| 160 lb | 160 | 240 | 320 | 400 | 480 |
| 170 lb | 170 | 255 | 340 | 425 | 510 |
| 180 lb | 180 | 270 | 360 | 450 | 540 |
Every 10 lb of bodyweight moves the intermediate mark by about 20 lb. Standards scale with bodyweight because a heavier lifter usually carries more muscle, but a lighter lifter at the same ratio is just as strong for their size.
What it takes to reach the next level
| From → to | Add | At 10 lb a month | Loaded on the bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner → Novice | 80 lb | 8 months | 2 × 45 + 1 × 5 + 1 × 2.5 lb on each side of a 45 lb bar |
| Novice → Intermediate | 80 lb | 8 months | 3 × 45 + 1 × 2.5 lb on each side of a 45 lb bar |
| Intermediate → Advanced | 80 lb | 8 months | 3 × 45 + 1 × 35 + 1 × 5 + 1 × 2.5 lb on each side of a 45 lb bar |
| Advanced → Elite | 80 lb | 8 months | 4 × 45 + 1 × 35 + 1 × 2.5 lb on each side of a 45 lb bar |
The months column assumes you keep adding 10 lb a month, which is a fair pace for a steady lifter past the novice stage; beginners usually move much faster and advanced lifters slower. To train toward 400 lb (Advanced), most of your work sits around 70–85% of it: sets of 5 to 8 at 280–320 lb and heavy triples near 340 lb. Start with the bar over mid-foot, pull the slack out before it leaves the floor, and keep it dragging up your legs.
What the levels mean
Beginner: 160 lb
Can do the lift with good form and has trained it for a few weeks. Most people reach this in their first month.
Novice: 240 lb
Has trained it regularly for several months and still adds weight most sessions or most weeks.
Intermediate: 320 lb
A year or more of consistent training. Progress has slowed to weekly or monthly jumps, and a plan starts to matter.
Advanced: 400 lb
Several years of focused training. Stronger than almost everyone in a typical gym, and every extra pound takes a block of work.
Elite: 480 lb
Competitive strength: what people who train for meets reach after many years. Few lifters ever get here.
Questions
How much should a 160 lb man deadlift?
A 160 lb man should deadlift about 320 lb (145 kg) for one rep to count as intermediate — 2× bodyweight. A beginner lifts about 160 lb, a novice 240 lb, an advanced lifter 400 lb and an elite one 480 lb.
Is a 405 lb deadlift good for a 160 lb man?
Yes — 405 lb is Advanced for a 160 lb man (2.53× bodyweight). The next level, Elite, starts at 480 lb.
What is an elite deadlift for a 160 lb man?
480 lb (217.5 kg), which is 3× bodyweight. Advanced starts at 400 lb, so the last step is 80 lb on its own.
How do I find my deadlift max without testing a single?
Lift a weight you can move for 3 to 8 clean reps and put it through the Epley formula. 270 lb for 6 reps works out to a 324 lb max, which is Intermediate at 160 lb.
Keep going
- Deadlift standards for every bodyweight, men and women
- How much should a 160 lb man bench?
- How much should a 160 lb man squat?
- How much should a 160 lb man overhead press?
- How to do the deadlift, step by step
- Barbell back workouts
- Pull day workout
- Upper/lower split or push pull legs to build a week around it
- Plates for 320 lb · Warm-up sets calculator
- How competitive powerlifters compare: real meet results by bodyweight
Splyt logs every set, estimates your max from it automatically and shows where each lift sits for your bodyweight: get it free on the App Store.
Standards are one-rep-max-to-bodyweight ratios that published tables (Strength Level, ExRx, Symmetric Strength) cluster around for adults. A guide to where you sit, not a verdict. Kilograms are rounded to 2.5 kg, pounds to 5 lb.