Single-ply Bench Press Records - Men
All-time single-ply bench press records for men, ranked by weight lifted across all weight classes and federations.
The all-time single-ply bench press world record for men is 508.0 kg, set by Jimmy Kolb at Strength Spectacular on Jun 26, 2021. Source: OpenPowerlifting competition results.
Top 20 All-Time
| Rank | Athlete | Bench Press | Bodyweight | Weight Class | Meet | Date | DOTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimmy Kolb | 508.0 kg | - | 140 kg | Strength Spectacular | Jun 26, 2021 | - |
| 2 | Jimmy Kolb | 490.0 kg | - | 140+ kg | Bench Press & Deadlift Worlds | Mar 20, 2021 | - |
| 3 | Blaine Sumner | 455.0 kg | - | 120+ kg | Arnold Titan Pro Bench Bash | Mar 2, 2019 | - |
| 4 | Jimmy Kolb | 410.0 kg | - | 110 kg | East Coast BP & DL | Feb 25, 2012 | - |
| 5 | Anton Begalko | 410.0 kg | - | 125 kg | World Championships | Nov 5, 2018 | - |
| 6 | Jonathan Leo | 382.5 kg | - | 125+ kg | Rocky Mountain Pro Bench | Dec 6, 2014 | - |
| 7 | Bill Caton | 380.0 kg | - | 242 kg | MCI Bench Press | Dec 1, 1985 | - |
| 8 | Viktor Leskovets | 375.5 kg | - | 120 kg | World Bench Press Championships | Oct 22, 2021 | - |
| 9 | Greg Powell | 365.0 kg | - | 100 kg | Tourn 18 State BP & DL | Jun 10, 2017 | - |
| 10 | Rob Golgano | 365.0 kg | - | 117.5 kg | NE National BP & DL | Jun 13, 2015 | - |
| 11 | Williams | 365.0 kg | - | 181 kg | MCI Bench Press | Dec 1, 1985 | - |
| 12 | Brian Siders | 364.9 kg | - | 90.7+ kg | Mountaineer Cup VII | Jun 25, 2005 | - |
| 13 | Kostiantyn Musiienko | 362.5 kg | - | 93 kg | World Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championships | May 23, 2026 | - |
| 14 | Viktor Testsov | 360.0 kg | - | 105+ kg | World Games | Jul 30, 2013 | - |
| 15 | Askar Shokhanov | 356.5 kg | - | 105 kg | World Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championships | May 23, 2026 | - |
| 16 | Brian Siders | 352.5 kg | - | 100+ kg | Bench America 3 | Oct 1, 2005 | - |
| 17 | Mike Womack | 352.5 kg | - | 110+ kg | American Cup and Fit Expo Invitational | Jan 29, 2011 | - |
| 18 | Doney | 350.0 kg | - | 220 kg | MCI Bench Press | Dec 1, 1985 | - |
| 19 | David St. Romain | 340.2 kg | - | 118 kg | Proving Ground Classic | Jan 28, 2017 | - |
| 20 | Brian Siders | 330.0 kg | - | 90+ kg | World Games | Jul 14, 2005 | - |
Record by Weight Class
The single-ply bench press record holder in every men's weight class.
Record Progression History
How the all-time single-ply bench press record has progressed over time.
| Date | Athlete | Bench Press | Weight Class | Meet | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | +- | |
| - | - | 120 kg | - | - |
Records Over Time
single-ply bench press records for men by year.
| Year | Bench Press Record |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 170.0 kg |
| 2011 | 342.5 kg |
| 2012 | 325.0 kg |
| 2013 | 331.0 kg |
| 2014 | 332.0 kg |
| 2015 | 355.0 kg |
| 2016 | 360.0 kg |
| 2017 | 356.5 kg |
| 2018 | 357.5 kg |
| 2019 | 365.0 kg |
| 2020 | 360.0 kg |
| 2021 | 375.5 kg |
| 2022 | 360.0 kg |
| 2023 | 347.5 kg |
| 2024 | 370.0 kg |
| 2025 | 355.0 kg |
| 2026 | 355.0 kg |
About Single-ply Bench Press Records
The single-ply bench press has been one of the most closely watched record categories in competitive powerlifting. The bench press is often considered the most technical of the three powerlifts. Setting a bench press record demands precise bar path, powerful chest and tricep strength, and the ability to maintain a legal pause on the chest before pressing to lockout.
Equipped records showcase the extreme end of powerlifting performance. Single-ply equipment adds significant supportive resistance to each lift, allowing trained lifters to handle loads well beyond their raw capabilities. Mastering equipped lifting is a skill in its own right - learning to use the suit or shirt effectively requires years of specialized training and technique development.
Want to see how your bench press compares? Use our percentile calculator to see where you rank among all competition lifters, or visit the strength standards page for a detailed breakdown by weight class. View all record categories on the records overview.