About 130 lb (60 kg) for one rep. That is the start of the Intermediate level for a 170 lb man: 0.75 times bodyweight, where most people land after a year or so of steady training. A beginner overhead presses about 60 lb, and an elite lifter at the same bodyweight overhead presses 230 lb.
Overhead press standards for a 170 lb man
| Level | × bodyweight | 1 rep | kg | 5 reps | 10 reps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 0.35× | 60 lb | 27.5 kg | 50 lb | 45 lb |
| Novice | 0.55× | 95 lb | 42.5 kg | 80 lb | 70 lb |
| Intermediate | 0.75× | 130 lb | 60 kg | 110 lb | 100 lb |
| Advanced | 1.05× | 180 lb | 82.5 kg | 155 lb | 135 lb |
| Elite | 1.35× | 230 lb | 105 kg | 195 lb | 175 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 110 lb for 5 clean reps puts you at about 130 lb for one.
Work out your own level from a set
Say you overhead press 110 lb for 6 reps. The Epley formula, 110 × (1 + 6 ÷ 30), puts your max at about 132 lb — Intermediate for a 170 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 170 lb.
How 170 lb compares to nearby bodyweights
| Bodyweight | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 lb | 55 | 85 | 115 | 160 | 205 |
| 160 lb | 55 | 90 | 120 | 170 | 215 |
| 170 lb | 60 | 95 | 130 | 180 | 230 |
| 180 lb | 65 | 100 | 135 | 190 | 245 |
| 190 lb | 65 | 105 | 145 | 200 | 255 |
Every 10 lb of bodyweight moves the intermediate mark by about 7.5 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 2.5 lb a month | Loaded on the bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner → Novice | 35 lb | 14 months | 1 × 25 lb on each side of a 45 lb bar |
| Novice → Intermediate | 35 lb | 14 months | 1 × 35 + 1 × 5 + 1 × 2.5 lb on each side of a 45 lb bar |
| Intermediate → Advanced | 50 lb | 20 months | 1 × 45 + 2 × 10 + 1 × 2.5 lb on each side of a 45 lb bar |
| Advanced → Elite | 50 lb | 20 months | 2 × 45 + 1 × 2.5 lb on each side of a 45 lb bar |
The months column assumes you keep adding 2.5 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 180 lb (Advanced), most of your work sits around 70–85% of it: sets of 5 to 8 at 125–145 lb and heavy triples near 155 lb. Squeeze your glutes so your back stays straight, and move your head through once the bar passes your forehead.
What the levels mean
Beginner: 60 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: 95 lb
Has trained it regularly for several months and still adds weight most sessions or most weeks.
Intermediate: 130 lb
A year or more of consistent training. Progress has slowed to weekly or monthly jumps, and a plan starts to matter.
Advanced: 180 lb
Several years of focused training. Stronger than almost everyone in a typical gym, and every extra pound takes a block of work.
Elite: 230 lb
Competitive strength: what people who train for meets reach after many years. Few lifters ever get here.
Questions
How much should a 170 lb man overhead press?
A 170 lb man should overhead press about 130 lb (60 kg) for one rep to count as intermediate — 0.75× bodyweight. A beginner lifts about 60 lb, a novice 95 lb, an advanced lifter 180 lb and an elite one 230 lb.
Is a 135 lb overhead press good for a 170 lb man?
Yes — 135 lb is Intermediate for a 170 lb man (0.79× bodyweight). The next level, Advanced, starts at 180 lb.
What is an elite overhead press for a 170 lb man?
230 lb (105 kg), which is 1.35× bodyweight. Advanced starts at 180 lb, so the last step is 50 lb on its own.
How do I find my overhead press max without testing a single?
Lift a weight you can move for 3 to 8 clean reps and put it through the Epley formula. 110 lb for 6 reps works out to a 132 lb max, which is Intermediate at 170 lb.
Keep going
- Overhead press standards for every bodyweight, men and women
- How much should a 170 lb man bench?
- How much should a 170 lb man squat?
- How much should a 170 lb man deadlift?
- How to do the overhead press, step by step
- Barbell shoulder workouts
- Push day workout
- Upper/lower split or push pull legs to build a week around it
- Plates for 130 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.