Below, are 11 interesting deadlift statistics for 2023. All numbers and data have been researched through scientific papers and database analysis.
1) Deadlift World Record Holders
The deadlift is widely considered to be a good indicator of pure brute strength, and there are many benefits to deadlifting.
Here are the world record holders for the heaviest deadlifts ever made:
| Deadlift World Record Title: | Title Holder: | Weight: |
|---|---|---|
| Official Male Heaviest Deadlift | Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson 2021 | 1,104lbs / 501kg |
| Unofficial Male Heaviest Deadlift | Krzystof Wierzbicki 2022 | 1,107lbs / 502kg |
| Heaviest Female Deadlift | Becca Swanson 2015 | 672lbs / 305kg |
- Hafþór Björnsson achieved his colossal 1,104lbs deadlift in his own gym (Thor’s Power Gym, Kópavogur, Iceland). His 1,104lbs deadlift beat Eddie Hall’s previous world record of 1,102lbs set in 2016, by a mere 2 pounds. So as you can see, there’s a fine line between being the world’s strongest man! Hafþór weighs 343lbs, making his world record deadlift 3.2x his own body weight.
- Krzystof Wierzbicki seems to have just pulled the heaviest-ever recorded 1,107lbs deadlift in 2022. The lift was executed sumo style with straps. And weighing in at just 230lbs body weight, this means powerlifter Krzystof deadlifted a gargantuan 4.8x his own body weight. However, it was not recorded at an officially sanctioned event.
- Becca Swanson has held her official 674lbs deadlift female world record for a long time now. I couldn’t find an official date and location details for the event, but videos of Becca’s deadlift suggest that she completed it sometime in 2015. Becca weighs 229lbs, and this makes her deadlift 2.9x her body weight.
2) How Much Men Should Deadlift Relative To Body Weight
The average untrained male should be able to deadlift 1.25x his body weight for a single repetition. After 2 years of deadlifting, strength is expected to increase to 1.8x body weight. And after 5 years, a male should be able to deadlift between 2.3x to 2.8x his body weight.
Here’s a line graph showing male deadlift 1-repetition maximum (1RM) standards according to body weight and training level:
And here are the average male deadlift 1RMs as a multiple of body weight based on training level:
- Beginners- should be able to deadlift an average of 1.1x his body weight.
- Novices- should be able to deadlift an average of 1.4x his body weight.
- Intermediates- should be able to deadlift an average of 1.8x his body weight.
- Advanced- should be able to deadlift an average of 2.3x his body weight.
- Elites- should be able to deadlift an average of 2.8x his body weight.
These numbers are for the traditional barbell deadlift.
You may also be interested in my other post for male and female dumbbell deadlift standards.
3) How Much Women Should Deadlift Relative To Body Weight
The average untrained female should be able to deadlift 0.75x her body weight for a single repetition. After 2 years of deadlifting, strength is expected to increase to 1.3x body weight. And after 5 years, a female should be able to deadlift between 1.7x to 2.2x her body weight.
Here’s a line graph showing female deadlift 1-repetition maximum (1RM) standards according to body weight and training level:
And here are the average female deadlift 1RMs as a multiple of body weight based on training level:
- Beginners- should be able to deadlift an average of 0.6x her body weight.
- Novices- should be able to deadlift an average of 0.9x her body weight.
- Intermediates- should be able to deadlift an average of 1.3x her body weight.
- Advanced- should be able to deadlift an average of 1.7x her body weight.
- Elites- should be able to deadlift an average of 2.2x her body weight.
These numbers are for the traditional barbell deadlift.
4) Percentage Of People Who Can Deadlift 2x Their Body Weight
Around 34% of males aged 24 to 39 are able to deadlift twice their body weight. In comparison, only 10% of females aged 24 to 39 are able to deadlift twice their body weight. The 24% difference is due to increased muscle mass and strength in males.
Here are the percentages of males (aged 24-39) who can deadlift twice their body weight (at body weights of 110 to 290lbs) for 1 rep:
| Male Bodyweight (lb): | % Who Can Deadlift 2x Bodyweight |
|---|---|
| 110 | 40% |
| 140 | 43% |
| 170 | 42% |
| 200 | 37% |
| 230 | 33% |
| 260 | 28% |
| 290 | 13% |
| Average: | 34% |
Now, here are the percentages of females (aged 24-39) who can deadlift twice their body weight (at body weights of 90 to 270lbs) for 1 rep:
| Female Bodyweight (lb): | % Who Can Deadlift 2x Bodyweight |
|---|---|
| 90 | 28% |
| 120 | 19% |
| 150 | 12% |
| 180 | 7% |
| 210 | 4% |
| 240 | 2% |
| 270 | 0.8% |
| Average: | 10% |
You may also be interested in my other post on squat statistics!
5) Percentage Of People Who Can Deadlift 3x Their Body Weight
Around 3% of males aged 24 to 39 are able to deadlift triple their body weight. In comparison, only 1% of females aged 24 to 39 are able to deadlift triple their body weight. The difference of 2% is due to increased muscle mass and strength in men.
Here are the percentages of males (aged 24-39) who can deadlift triple their body weight (at body weights of 110 to 290lbs) for 1 rep:
| Male Bodyweight (lb): | % Who Can Dead Lift 3x Bodyweight |
|---|---|
| 110 | 7% |
| 140 | 6% |
| 170 | 4% |
| 200 | 3% |
| 230 | 2% |
| 260 | 1% |
| 290 | 0.5% |
| Average: | 3% |
Now, here are the percentages of females (aged 24-39) who can deadlift triple their body weight (at body weights of 90 to 270lbs) for 1 rep:
| Female Bodyweight (lb): | % Who Can Deadlift 3x Bodyweight |
|---|---|
| 90 | 4% |
| 120 | 2% |
| 150 | 0.4% |
| 180 | 0.1% |
| 210 | 0.02% |
| 240 | N/A |
| 270 | N/A |
| Average: | 1% |
6) How Much The Average American Should Be Able To Deadlift
The average American man weighing 200 pounds should be able to deadlift around 296 pounds for 1 repetition at a beginner to intermediate level. The average American woman weighing 170 pounds should be able to deadlift around 157 pounds for 1 repetition at a beginner to intermediate level.
Here are the 1 rep max deadlift figures for a 200lbs American male beginner and intermediate:
| Beginner 1 RM (lb) | Intermediate 1 RM (lb) | Average 1 RM (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 219lbs | 373lbs | 296lbs |
Based on these figures, the average 200lb American male should be able to deadlift around 296 pounds for one repetition. That’s 23% of Hafþór Björnsson’s 1,104 pound world record!
Now, here are the 1 rep max deadlift figures for a 170lbs American female beginner and intermediate:
| Beginner 1 RM (lb) | Intermediate 1 RM (lb) | Average 1 RM (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 104lbs | 215lbs | 160lbs |
Based on these figures, the average 170lb American female should be able to deadlift around 160 pounds for one repetition. That’s 23% of Becca Swanson’s 672 pound world record!
If you’re new to leg training, you can check out my other post to find out why you should avoid daily lower-body workouts!
7) Ideal Grip For Beginners To Deadlift
Most people find a mixed grip to be the easiest for deadlifting. This requires the lifter to hold the barbell using one overhand and one underhand grip. A stronger grip can help with improved deadlift performance.
This was shown in a 2020 study where 29 participants (15 male and 14 female) performed the barbell deadlift using different types of grips:
- Mixed grip- one hand overhand and one hand underhand.
- Overhand grip- both hands overhand.
- Hook grip- both hands overhand with the thumb hooked between the fingers and barbell.
The scientists then asked the participants to rate each grip on a scale of 1-3 (1 being the hardest and 3 being the easiest):
| Deadlift Grip: | Female Perceived Difficulty | Male Perceived Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed | 2.62 | 2.60 |
| Overhand | 1.66 | 1.89 |
| Hook | 1.72 | 1.51 |
The mixed grip was perceived to be ~46% easier than the overhand grip and ~59% easier than the hook grip.
The scientists attributed the easier deadlifting using a mixed-grip with decreased barbell roll.
You may also be interested in my other post to learn about the main differences between deadlifting vs squatting!
8) Equipped Vs Unequipped For Deadlift Performance
Deadlifting with knee wraps, wrist wraps, and lifting suits can increase the weight lifted. On average, equipped lifting can increase maximum deadlift weight by around 6% in men and 9% in women, compared to raw (unequipped) lifting.
This has been shown in 2020 study which compared equipped and raw deadlift results for 120 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) competitors (63 men and 57 women):
| Deadlift Division | Average Male Deadlift Weight (Kg) | Average Female Deadlift Weight (Kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Equipped | 291 kg | 198 kg |
| Raw | 276 kg | 182 kg |
| % Difference (Raw vs Equipped) | 5.5% increase | 8.8% increase |
So if you’re looking to deadlift the heaviest weight possible, then you can consider using wraps and suits to facilitate your lifts!
Conclusion
That’s 10 of my favorite deadlift statistics and scientific findings for 2023.
They can help you to benchmark your own deadlifting progress and the scientific findings can be applied to your own training.
You may also be interested in the downloadable Kalibre Blueprint PDF which details exactly how I gained 40lbs of lean muscle (it’s 100% free!). It details the exact exercises and nutrition (with printables) I used to go from skinny to ripped!
