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Clean strength standards

What is a good Clean?

For a 180 lb male, an Intermediate Clean is about 211 lb (1.17x bodyweight). Advanced starts around 265 lb. Enter your own bodyweight below to get the exact standard and FVCP rank.

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Clean Standards by Bodyweight

Estimates from the FitnessVolt standards model. Updated March 29, 2026. Find the row closest to your bodyweight. Beginner is a first target for a new lifter, Novice a few months in, Intermediate about one to two years of structured training, Advanced several years, Elite the top of the table.

BW (lbs) Beginner Novice Intermediate Advanced Elite
110 68 98 136 180 227
120 77 109 148 194 243
130 85 119 160 207 257
140 93 128 171 219 272
150 101 138 182 232 285
160 109 147 192 243 298
170 117 155 202 254 310
180 124 164 211 265 322
190 131 172 221 276 334
200 138 180 230 286 345
210 145 188 239 295 355
220 151 195 247 305 366
230 158 203 255 314 376
240 164 210 263 323 386
250 170 217 271 332 395
260 177 224 279 340 404
270 182 230 286 348 413
280 188 237 293 356 422
290 194 243 301 364 430
300 199 249 307 372 439
310 205 255 314 379 447

The Clean standard at each level as bodyweight rises, for the sex selected above. Exact numbers in the table above.

Clean Standards by Age

How the Clean standards change with age, as a 1RM in lb. This table is not tied to one bodyweight, so read it for the trend and use the bodyweight table above for your own number.

Age Beginner Novice Intermediate Advanced Elite
15 95 131 176 227 281
20 108 150 201 259 322
25 111 154 206 266 330
30 111 154 206 266 330
35 111 154 206 266 330
40 111 154 206 266 330
45 106 146 196 253 313
50 99 137 184 237 294
55 92 127 170 219 272
60 84 116 155 200 248
65 76 105 140 181 224
70 68 94 126 162 201
75 61 84 112 145 180
80 54 75 101 130 161
85 49 67 90 116 144
90 44 61 81 105 130

The Clean standard at each level as age rises, for the sex selected above. Exact numbers in the table above.

Check Your Clean Level

Intermediate
Level score: 50 of 100
Level score on the FitnessVolt standards: Beginner 5, Novice 20, Intermediate 50, Advanced 80, Elite 95
A 180 lb male lifting 211 lbs (1.17x bodyweight) on the Clean is at the Intermediate standard for his bodyweight. Enter your own numbers above to see where you stand.

Over 40? Add your age and the calculator also shows an age-adjusted level and an age-30 equivalent, using the McCulloch age factor to scale your lift to peak age. Every age band is in the standards by age table above.

Level score:
Level score on the FitnessVolt standards: Beginner 5, Novice 20, Intermediate 50, Advanced 80, Elite 95
Age-adjusted score
lb Age-30 equivalent 1RM

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What the Clean Strength Levels Mean

Beginner

You are learning the bar path and loading on the Clean, building the shoulder stability and pressing coordination needed to handle heavier loads safely.

Novice

You can press with a consistent path and controlled tempo on the Clean. You are progressing linearly and building the chest, shoulder, and tricep base needed for intermediate strength.

Intermediate

Your Clean technique is efficient under heavy loads. You use programmed variations, understand how to manage pressing fatigue, and can grind through the mid-range sticking point.

Advanced

You have optimized your Clean setup for maximal force production - arch, leg drive, and grip width are dialed in. You train with periodized intensity blocks and accessory work targeting weak points.

Elite

Your Clean is at a competitive standard. You have refined every aspect of the lift through years of structured peaking and can produce maximal force with technical precision.

How to Progress Your Clean

Tier-specific training recommendations to move your Clean to the next level.

Beginner → Novice Building Your Foundation
  • Train the Clean 2-3x per week to build pressing strength and shoulder stability.
  • Use linear progression: add 2.5-5 lbs per session.
  • Practice controlled eccentrics (3-second lowering) to build tendon strength.
  • Keep working sets at RPE 6-7 to accumulate quality volume.
Track progress with the one rep max calculator →
Novice → Intermediate Structured Progression
  • Add a pressing variation (close-grip, incline, or paused) for weak-point development.
  • Increase frequency to 2-3 sessions per week with varied rep ranges.
  • Program most sets at RPE 7-8 with one heavy session including RPE 9 work.
  • Build tricep and shoulder accessory volume to support the Clean.
Plan your RPE-based sessions →
Intermediate → Advanced Periodized Training Blocks
  • Run 4-6 week blocks with planned volume and intensity progression.
  • Use RPE 8-9 for competition-style sets, RPE 7 for volume backoffs.
  • Target your sticking point with specific accessory work (board press, pin press, bands).
  • Manage total weekly pressing volume (12-20 sets) across all push movements.
Program your backoff sets →
Advanced → Elite Competition-Level Peaking
  • Peak with structured 8-12 week cycles targeting a competition or max attempt.
  • Refine your setup: arch, leg drive, grip width, and bar path for maximal efficiency.
  • Use the RPE chart for precise percentage work during peaking phases.
  • Test your Clean under competition-style commands and judging.
View RPE-to-percentage chart →

How to Perform Clean

Clean demonstration
Equipment Barbell, Weight Plates
Difficulty Advanced
Type Compound
  1. Stand with feet hip-width apart, barbell over mid-foot.
  2. Bend at hips and knees to grasp barbell with a shoulder-width grip.
  3. Keep chest up, back straight, and arms fully extended.
  4. Drive through heels, extend hips and knees to lift the bar.
  5. When bar reaches mid-thigh, explosively extend hips and shrug shoulders.
  6. Pull yourself under the bar, rotating elbows forward to catch it on shoulders.
  7. Stand up fully with barbell resting on shoulders.
  8. Lower barbell back to the floor under control.

Tips

  • Keep the bar close to your body throughout the lift.
  • Focus on a powerful hip extension to generate momentum.
  • Ensure a strong and stable catch position by rotating elbows quickly.

Read the complete Clean guide on FitnessVolt →

Where Do These Clean Standards Come From?

The levels on this page are estimates from the FitnessVolt strength standards model. The Clean table is an editorial FitnessVolt table, not a measured population. There is no competition or gym dataset for the Clean itself. Reader-submitted benchmarks appear only after enough entries are logged for this lift.

Standards data last refreshed: March 29, 2026

  • Level tables: the FitnessVolt strength standards model, not meet data.
  • Method: Strength standards methodology - how the level tables are built and where each data source on the site comes from.
Cite this Fitness Volt strength standards model, 2026. Beginner to Elite levels are model values, not competition percentiles. https://fitnessvolt.com/strength-standards/methodology/

Frequently Asked Questions

A "good" Clean depends on your bodyweight, sex, and training background. The Intermediate tier is a useful first serious target, while Advanced and Elite represent much harder standards. Use the table above for the number closest to your bodyweight.
Many lifters can reach the Intermediate tier on the Clean after steady training, but the timeline depends on starting point, technique, programming, recovery, and bodyweight changes. Treat the tier as a benchmark, not a deadline.
They are estimates from the FitnessVolt strength standards model. The Clean table is an editorial FitnessVolt table, not a measured population. Treat the levels as targets.
For weighted lifts, enter a clean raw 1RM or an estimated 1RM from a recent hard set. For rep-based movements, enter controlled full-range reps. Avoid equipped lifts, partial reps, or bounced reps unless you are comparing against the same style every time.

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Written by Tom Miller, CSCS · Reviewed by Editorial Team
Tom Miller, CSCS, is a Sr. Editor & Content Strategist with 10 years of experience in Powerlifting and Personal Training. As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, he is dedicated to delivering informative, engaging, and reliable health and fitness content. His work has been featured on websites including the-sun.com, Well+Good, Bleacher Report, Muscle and Fitness, UpJourney, Business Insider, NewsBreak and more.