What is a good Nordic Hamstring Curl?
For a 180 lb male, an Intermediate Nordic Hamstring Curl is about 11 reps. Advanced starts around 24 reps. Enter your own bodyweight below to get the exact standard and FVCP rank.
How Many Nordic Hamstring Curl Should You Be Able to Do?
Nordic Hamstring Curl rep targets for a 180 lb man, by training level:
Nordic Hamstring Curl Standards by Bodyweight
Estimates from the FitnessVolt standards model. Updated March 28, 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 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 28 | 49 |
| 120 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 28 | 47 |
| 130 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 28 | 46 |
| 140 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 150 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 26 | 43 |
| 160 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 26 | 42 |
| 170 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 25 | 40 |
| 180 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 24 | 39 |
| 190 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 24 | 38 |
| 200 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 23 | 37 |
| 210 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 22 | 36 |
| 220 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 21 | 35 |
| 230 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 21 | 34 |
| 240 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 20 | 33 |
| 250 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 20 | 32 |
| 260 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 19 | 31 |
| 270 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 18 | 30 |
| 280 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 18 | 29 |
| 290 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 17 | 28 |
| 300 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 17 | 27 |
| 310 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 16 | 26 |
| 90 | < 1 | 2 | 16 | 34 | 54 |
| 100 | < 1 | 3 | 16 | 33 | 52 |
| 110 | < 1 | 4 | 16 | 32 | 50 |
| 120 | < 1 | 4 | 16 | 31 | 48 |
| 130 | < 1 | 4 | 16 | 30 | 46 |
| 140 | < 1 | 4 | 15 | 29 | 45 |
| 150 | < 1 | 4 | 15 | 28 | 43 |
| 160 | < 1 | 4 | 14 | 27 | 41 |
| 170 | < 1 | 4 | 14 | 26 | 40 |
| 180 | < 1 | 4 | 13 | 25 | 38 |
| 190 | < 1 | 4 | 13 | 25 | 37 |
| 200 | < 1 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 36 |
| 210 | < 1 | 3 | 12 | 23 | 34 |
| 220 | < 1 | 3 | 11 | 22 | 33 |
| 230 | < 1 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 32 |
| 240 | < 1 | 3 | 10 | 20 | 31 |
| 250 | < 1 | 2 | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| 260 | < 1 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 29 |
The Nordic Hamstring Curl standard at each level as bodyweight rises, for the sex selected above. Exact numbers in the table above.
Nordic Hamstring Curl Standards by Age
How the Nordic Hamstring Curl standards change with age, in reps. 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 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 18 | 33 |
| 20 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 25 | 42 |
| 25 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 30 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 35 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 40 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 45 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 24 | 40 |
| 50 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 20 | 36 |
| 55 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 17 | 31 |
| 60 | < 1 | < 1 | 2 | 13 | 26 |
| 65 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 21 |
| 70 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 15 |
| 75 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 80 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 |
| 85 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 15 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 22 | 37 |
| 20 | < 1 | 2 | 14 | 30 | 47 |
| 25 | < 1 | 3 | 15 | 32 | 49 |
| 30 | < 1 | 3 | 15 | 32 | 49 |
| 35 | < 1 | 3 | 15 | 32 | 49 |
| 40 | < 1 | 3 | 15 | 32 | 49 |
| 45 | < 1 | 1 | 13 | 28 | 45 |
| 50 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 25 | 41 |
| 55 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 21 | 35 |
| 60 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 16 | 30 |
| 65 | < 1 | < 1 | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| 70 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 18 |
| 75 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 13 |
| 80 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 85 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 |
The Nordic Hamstring Curl standard at each level as age rises, for the sex selected above. Exact numbers in the table above.
Check Your Nordic Hamstring Curl Level
What the Nordic Hamstring Curl Strength Levels Mean
You are working toward your first full-range reps. An easier version or a shorter range is the normal starting point.
You can do a few full-range reps in a row with control. Adding one rep to your best set every week or two is steady progress here.
You can do a solid set of clean reps without swinging, bouncing or cutting the range short. Two or three sessions a week with planned sets keep the number climbing.
Long sets with strict form are routine for you. Many lifters at this level add load with harder variations to keep progressing.
Rep counts this high for your bodyweight take years of focused training. Weighted or harder variations are usually the next challenge.
How to Progress Your Nordic Hamstring Curl
Tier-specific training recommendations to move your Nordic Hamstring Curl to the next level.
- Start with an easier version you can do for 8 to 12 clean reps.
- Move to the full version once 12 clean reps feel easy.
- End each set one or two reps before your form breaks.
- Train the movement 2 to 3 times a week with several sets, not one all-out set.
- Add one rep to one set each session, and keep the full range.
- Test your max reps every 3 to 4 weeks, not every session.
- Once you can do 12 to 15 strict reps, add weight and train in the 5 to 8 rep range.
- Slow the lowering phase or pause at the hardest point.
- Keep one high-rep day a week so your max set keeps growing.
- Run 4 to 6 week blocks that build volume, then ease off the week before a max test.
- Track your best set and your weighted reps: both show progress.
- Your bodyweight changes your rep count directly, so compare tests at a similar weight.
How to Perform Nordic Hamstring Curl
- Kneel on a padded surface with your legs secured under a fixed object or by a partner holding your ankles.
- Keep your body straight from head to knees and engage your core.
- Slowly lower your torso towards the ground by extending your knees, keeping your back straight and hips in line with your body.
- Once you can no longer control the descent, let your hands catch you lightly on the floor.
- Push off the ground slightly to assist in returning to the starting position or use your hamstrings to pull your body back up.
Tips
- Maintain a straight body line from head to knees throughout the movement.
- Focus on controlling the descent to maximize the eccentric load on the hamstrings.
- Avoid bending at the hips; the movement should come from the knees.
- If you're a beginner, use your hands to lightly push off the ground to assist in returning to the start position.
Where Do These Nordic Hamstring Curl Standards Come From?
The levels on this page are estimates from the FitnessVolt strength standards model. The Nordic Hamstring Curl table is an editorial FitnessVolt table, not a measured population. There is no competition or gym dataset for the Nordic Hamstring Curl itself. Reader-submitted benchmarks appear only after enough entries are logged for this lift.
Standards data last refreshed: March 28, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
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