A 180 lb male with an Intermediate-level Chin Ups of 13 lbs ranks at the 50th percentile (FVCP), stronger than ~50% of lifters. An Advanced lifter at this weight lifts 22 lbs (0.12x bodyweight).
FitnessVolt Competition Percentile (FVCP), based on 2.5M+ verified competition results
How strong is your Chin Ups? Compare your 1RM against standards for 21 bodyweight categories, from Beginner to Elite.
How Strong Is Your Chin Ups?
How Much Should You Chin Ups?
1RM weight (lbs) you should be able to lift at each standard, based on your bodyweight.
| BW (lbs) | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | < 1 | 6 | 15 | 26 | 37 |
| 120 | < 1 | 7 | 15 | 25 | 36 |
| 130 | < 1 | 7 | 15 | 25 | 35 |
| 140 | < 1 | 7 | 15 | 24 | 34 |
| 150 | < 1 | 7 | 15 | 24 | 33 |
| 160 | < 1 | 7 | 14 | 23 | 32 |
| 170 | < 1 | 7 | 14 | 22 | 31 |
| 180 | < 1 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 30 |
| 190 | < 1 | 7 | 13 | 21 | 29 |
| 200 | < 1 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 28 |
| 210 | < 1 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 27 |
| 220 | < 1 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 26 |
| 230 | < 1 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 26 |
| 240 | < 1 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 25 |
| 250 | < 1 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 24 |
| 260 | < 1 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 23 |
| 270 | < 1 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 22 |
| 280 | < 1 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 22 |
| 290 | < 1 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 21 |
| 300 | < 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 20 |
| 310 | < 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 20 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 12 | 20 |
| 100 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 12 | 20 |
| 110 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 12 | 19 |
| 120 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 12 | 19 |
| 130 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 12 | 18 |
| 140 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 11 | 18 |
| 150 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 11 | 17 |
| 160 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 10 | 16 |
| 170 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 10 | 15 |
| 180 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| 190 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| 200 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| 210 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 9 | 13 |
| 220 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| 230 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| 240 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| 250 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
| 260 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
How Does Age Affect Chin Ups Strength?
How Chin Ups standards change across different age groups. Values represent a 1RM in lbs.
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 16 | 26 |
| 20 | < 1 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 34 |
| 25 | < 1 | 6 | 14 | 24 | 35 |
| 30 | < 1 | 6 | 14 | 24 | 35 |
| 35 | < 1 | 6 | 14 | 24 | 35 |
| 40 | < 1 | 6 | 14 | 24 | 35 |
| 45 | < 1 | 4 | 12 | 22 | 32 |
| 50 | < 1 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 28 |
| 55 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 15 | 24 |
| 60 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 11 | 19 |
| 65 | < 1 | < 1 | 1 | 8 | 15 |
| 70 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 10 |
| 75 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 80 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 |
| 85 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 15 | < 1 | < 1 | 1 | 8 | 14 |
| 20 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 12 | 20 |
| 25 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
| 30 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
| 35 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
| 40 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
| 45 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 11 | 19 |
| 50 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 | 9 | 16 |
| 55 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 13 |
| 60 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 9 |
| 65 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 |
| 70 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 |
| 75 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 80 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 85 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
What Do Chin Ups Strength Standards Mean?
Stronger than 5% of lifters. You are building the mind-muscle connection for the Chin Ups, learning to initiate the pull with your back rather than your arms, and developing basic grip strength.
Stronger than 20% of lifters. You can perform the Chin Ups with proper scapular retraction and a controlled range of motion. You are progressively overloading and building back thickness and lat width.
Stronger than 50% of lifters. Your Chin Ups shows strong back engagement with minimal momentum. You use RPE to regulate pulling intensity and train strategically to balance horizontal and vertical pull volume.
Stronger than 80% of lifters. You have built substantial back development through the Chin Ups with refined technique and heavy loads. Your grip is no longer a limiting factor, and you manage rowing and pulling fatigue across training blocks.
Stronger than 95% of lifters. Your Chin Ups strength is exceptional. You can handle loads that most lifters cannot move with strict form, and your back development reflects years of high-volume, periodized pulling work.
How to Progress Your Chin Ups
Tier-specific training recommendations to move your Chin Ups to the next level.
- Train the Chin Ups 2x per week, focusing on initiating the pull from your back, not your arms.
- Use linear progression with strict form - no swinging or excessive body English.
- Pause briefly at peak contraction to build the mind-muscle connection.
- Develop grip strength in parallel to avoid it becoming a bottleneck.
- Add a pull variation (different grip width, underhand, or single-arm) for balanced development.
- Increase pulling volume to 10-15 sets per week across all back movements.
- Program the Chin Ups at RPE 7-8, saving RPE 9 work for top sets only.
- Balance horizontal pulls (rows) with vertical pulls (pulldowns/pull-ups).
- Run 4-6 week blocks with progressive overload on the Chin Ups.
- Use RPE 8-9 for heavy sets with calculated backoff work at RPE 6-7.
- Add controlled eccentrics and paused reps to break through plateaus.
- Total back volume of 15-22 sets per week, distributed across pull patterns.
- Maximize the Chin Ups through advanced intensity techniques and precise volume management.
- Use periodized blocks with planned overreaching and supercompensation phases.
- Refine execution: squeeze at contraction, controlled stretch, zero momentum.
- Your back development should reflect years of disciplined, high-volume pulling.
How to Perform Chin Ups
- Start by standing under a pull-up bar and reach up to grasp it with an underhand (supinated) grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
- Hang from the bar with your arms fully extended and your body straight. This is your starting position.
- Engage your core and pull your body upward by bending your elbows and driving them down towards your sides.
- Continue pulling until your chin is above the bar.
- Pause briefly at the top, then slowly lower yourself back to the starting position with control.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Tips for Chin Ups
- Ensure your grip is secure before beginning each repetition.
- Keep your body as straight as possible to avoid swinging.
- Engage your core to maintain stability throughout the movement.
- Avoid using momentum to pull yourself up; focus on controlled, deliberate movements.
- If you're a beginner, use resistance bands for assistance or perform negative chin-ups to build strength.
Where Do These Chin Ups Standards Come From?
These Chin Ups standards are based on 2.5M+ verified competition results from powerlifting, weightlifting, and strongman federations worldwide. Every number comes from a sanctioned meet with certified judges - not self-reported gym lifts. Data is sourced from OpenPowerlifting and other verified competition databases, ensuring accuracy you can trust.
Last Updated: March 30, 2026
Reviewed by the Fitness Volt Editorial Team, certified strength training analysts.
Is Your Chin Ups Good for Your Weight?
Strength standards help you objectively measure your Chin Ups performance relative to other lifters of the same bodyweight and sex. Here is how to interpret them:
- Find your bodyweight in the left column of the table above.
- Look across the row to find which strength level your 1RM falls into.
- Use the age tab to see how your strength compares within your age group.
- Switch between Male and Female standards using the toggle - each has its own dataset.
If you do not know your 1RM, use the E1RM Calculator to estimate it from any rep set. For example, if you can Chin Ups 185 lbs for 5 reps, the calculator will estimate your max.
These standards are derived from 2.5M+ competition results across powerlifting, weightlifting, and strongman federations worldwide, combined with community training data.