Raw Bench Press Records - Men
All-time raw bench press records for men, ranked by weight lifted across all weight classes and federations.
The all-time raw bench press world record for men is 355.0 kg, set by Julius Maddox at Hybrid Showdown III on Feb 20, 2021. Source: OpenPowerlifting competition results.
Top 20 All-Time
| Rank | Athlete | Bench Press | Bodyweight | Weight Class | Meet | Date | DOTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julius Maddox | 355.0 kg | - | 140+ kg | Hybrid Showdown III | Feb 20, 2021 | - |
| 2 | Kenneth Sandvik | 330.0 kg | - | 125+ kg | Penkkipunnerrus - avoin | Mar 24, 2007 | - |
| 3 | Eric Spoto | 327.5 kg | - | 110+ kg | California State Championship | May 19, 2013 | - |
| 4 | Scot Mendelson | 324.3 kg | - | 127+ kg | Atlantis New England Bench Press | May 22, 2005 | - |
| 5 | Ove Lehto | 320.0 kg | - | 120+ kg | Varustepenkkipunnerrus - Raasepori | Jul 6, 2019 | - |
| 6 | Johnnie Harris | 320.0 kg | - | 140 kg | Virginia is for Lifters | Sep 12, 2020 | - |
| 7 | Jeremy Hoornstra | 306.2 kg | - | 136.5 kg | Kings of the Bench X | Jun 12, 2014 | - |
| 8 | Siamand Rahman | 305.0 kg | - | 107+ kg | Paralympic Games | Sep 8, 2016 | - |
| 9 | Jeremy Hoornstra | 305.0 kg | - | 110 kg | Raw Wars III | Jul 29, 2017 | - |
| 10 | Vladimir Kravtsov | 303.5 kg | - | 125 kg | Russian Cup | Dec 24, 2011 | - |
| 11 | Julius Maddox | 292.5 kg | - | 136.5+ kg | Clash of the Titans VIII | Jul 16, 2015 | - |
| 12 | Siamand Rahman | 291.0 kg | - | 100+ kg | IWAS World Games | Dec 2, 2011 | - |
| 13 | Pedro Mejias | 290.3 kg | - | 136+ kg | World Championships | Nov 10, 2013 | - |
| 14 | Al Davis | 288.0 kg | - | 113.8+ kg | Kings of the Bench IV | Apr 10, 2010 | - |
| 15 | Oleg Perepechenov | 287.5 kg | - | 100 kg | Korrida III | May 22, 2021 | - |
| 16 | Pedro Mejias | 285.8 kg | - | 125.1+ kg | Kings of the Bench IX | May 3, 2013 | - |
| 17 | Stan Barmore | 281.2 kg | - | 118 kg | North Carolina Raw Pro-Am | Aug 4, 2012 | - |
| 18 | Andrey Sapozhonkov | 280.0 kg | - | 90 kg | Restart Gym Cup | Jul 31, 2021 | - |
| 19 | John Dolan | 280.0 kg | - | 145+ kg | Chicago Single Event & Powerlifting Open | Apr 19, 2008 | - |
| 20 | Jeremy Hoornstra | 279.0 kg | - | 113.8 kg | Kings of the Bench | Sep 29, 2006 | - |
Record by Weight Class
The raw bench press record holder in every men's weight class.
Record Progression History
How the all-time raw 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 | - | - |
Records Over Time
raw bench press records for men by year.
| Year | Bench Press Record |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 250.0 kg |
| 2012 | 275.0 kg |
| 2013 | 275.0 kg |
| 2014 | 281.0 kg |
| 2015 | 282.0 kg |
| 2016 | 283.0 kg |
| 2017 | 285.0 kg |
| 2018 | 290.0 kg |
| 2019 | 320.0 kg |
| 2020 | 252.5 kg |
| 2021 | 282.5 kg |
| 2022 | 291.5 kg |
| 2023 | 280.0 kg |
| 2024 | 285.0 kg |
| 2025 | 285.0 kg |
| 2026 | 287.5 kg |
About Raw Bench Press Records
The raw 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.
Raw bench press records have grown significantly since the raw division became formally recognized in most federations around 2010. As more elite lifters have shifted to raw competition, records have been pushed to levels that were previously thought impossible without supportive equipment. The current generation of raw lifters benefits from better programming, nutrition science, and competition opportunities than any previous era.
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.