How do you compare strength between people of different bodyweights?

By dividing each lift by bodyweight and comparing the result against published strength standards. Heavier people lift more in absolute terms, so raw kilos favor them. The bodyweight multiple asks a fairer question: how strong is each lifter for the body they carry. This tool places that multiple on a 0 to 100 scale from untrained to elite.

Why not use Wilks or DOTS?

Wilks and DOTS are powerlifting formulas built to rank competitors on a full squat, bench and deadlift total. Most gym mates do not have a meet total, and many do not train all three lifts. Scoring each lift against the same strength standards used on our strength standards page works with any subset of lifts and is easier to read.

What is a good squat for my bodyweight?

For men, a back squat of about 1.5 times bodyweight is intermediate and 2 times is advanced. For women the approximate lines are 1 and 1.3 times. Enter your numbers above to see your score, or open the strength standards page for the full table at your bodyweight across eight lifts.

Are the women's standards the same as the men's?

No. The women's standards here are an approximation set at 65 percent of the men's multipliers, a common rule of thumb rather than a measured population table. That makes a woman's score comparable with a man's, but treat mixed comparisons as a bit of fun rather than a precise ranking.

Can I compare three or more people?

Not on one screen yet. The tool compares two lifters at a time. To run a group, compare each person with the same reference lifter and line up the relative strength scores, which are on the same 0 to 100 scale for everyone.

How accurate is this comparison?

It is as accurate as the lifts you enter and the standards behind it. Use real, recent best singles with full range of motion. Estimated maxes from a set of five are close enough. The standards themselves are widely published averages, so a gap of a few points is a close call, not a clear win.

Free strength comparison

Who is stronger,
pound for pound?

Settle it with your gym mate. Enter both lifters' bodyweight and best lifts and see who is stronger for their size, lift by lift. Free, instant, nothing sent anywhere.

Units

Lifter 1

Name

Sex

Bodyweightkg

Best lifts

Your best single rep. Leave any lift blank.

Back squatkgBench presskgDeadliftkgOverhead presskg

Lifter 2

Name

Sex

Bodyweightkg

Best lifts

Your best single rep. Leave any lift blank.

Back squatkgBench presskgDeadliftkgOverhead presskg

The verdict

You

Relative strength · Intermediate

Gym mate

Relative strength · Intermediate

You are stronger for your bodyweight, by 7 points.

Lift by lift

Back squat · You
Bench press · You
Deadlift · You

Scores are relative to bodyweight on a 0 to 100 scale, from untrained to elite. A heavier lifter can move more weight and still lose here.

Want your level on its own? See the strength standards. Only know a set of five? Estimate your best single with the one-rep max calculator.

How to compare strength with a gym mate

Enter both lifters' bodyweight and best lifts, then read who is stronger for their size and where each one leads.

1
Enter both lifters
Add a name, sex and bodyweight for you and your gym mate. Names are optional.
2
Add your best lifts
Type your best single for any of squat, bench press, deadlift and overhead press. Leave a lift blank if you do not train it.
3
Read and share the result
See each lifter's relative strength score, the winner, the margin and who leads on each lift, then share the card or the link.

How it works

Strength for your size, not just the number on the bar.

Bodyweight multiple

Each lift is divided by the lifter's bodyweight. A 70 kg lifter benching 100 kg is lifting more for their size than a 110 kg lifter benching 120 kg.

Placed on the standards

That multiple is placed between the five strength-standards levels, untrained to elite, for the lifter's sex, and scored from 0 to 100 in between.

Averaged and compared

A lifter's score is the average of the lifts they entered. The higher score wins; gaps under one point count as a tie, because the standards are not that precise.

Questions, answered

Comparing strength, explained.

How do you compare strength between people of different bodyweights?: By dividing each lift by bodyweight and comparing the result against published strength standards. Heavier people lift more in absolute terms, so raw kilos favor them. The bodyweight multiple asks a fairer question: how strong is each lifter for the body they carry. This tool places that multiple on a 0 to 100 scale from untrained to elite.
Why not use Wilks or DOTS?: Wilks and DOTS are powerlifting formulas built to rank competitors on a full squat, bench and deadlift total. Most gym mates do not have a meet total, and many do not train all three lifts. Scoring each lift against the same strength standards used on our strength standards page works with any subset of lifts and is easier to read.
What is a good squat for my bodyweight?: For men, a back squat of about 1.5 times bodyweight is intermediate and 2 times is advanced. For women the approximate lines are 1 and 1.3 times. Enter your numbers above to see your score, or open the strength standards page for the full table at your bodyweight across eight lifts.
Are the women's standards the same as the men's?: No. The women's standards here are an approximation set at 65 percent of the men's multipliers, a common rule of thumb rather than a measured population table. That makes a woman's score comparable with a man's, but treat mixed comparisons as a bit of fun rather than a precise ranking.
Can I compare three or more people?: Not on one screen yet. The tool compares two lifters at a time. To run a group, compare each person with the same reference lifter and line up the relative strength scores, which are on the same 0 to 100 scale for everyone.
How accurate is this comparison?: It is as accurate as the lifts you enter and the standards behind it. Use real, recent best singles with full range of motion. Estimated maxes from a set of five are close enough. The standards themselves are widely published averages, so a gap of a few points is a close call, not a clear win.

Strength is half the story.

See how your physique matches your lifts. Rate your physique from photos and get a plan built around it.

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Who is stronger,pound for pound?