How deep do you have to be to bench press with dumbbells?

Author: Ms. Trisha Jacobi I  |  Last update: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Lower until your elbows are below your shoulders—don't worry about touching your chest with the dumbbells.

How deep should bench press go?

Ideally the bar should be touching your chest about an inch below the nipple line. If you go too high, you risk shoulder impingement. Some form degradation is normal on your heaviest lifts but if the bar doesn't touch your chest, it's not a bench press. Example of heavy bench:

How much should a 170 lb man bench press?

How Much Should I Bench Press for My Weight? Men should aim to bench press their body weight as a starting point. Women should aim for half to three-quarters of their body weight. A man weighing 170 lbs should aim for a 170 lbs bench press.

How much should you be able to bench with dumbbells?

The average Dumbbell Bench Press weight for a male lifter is 90 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift. What is a good Dumbbell Bench Press? Male beginners should aim to lift 35 lb (1RM) which is still impressive compared to the general population.

Is a 40 lb dumbbell press good?

The average Incline Dumbbell Bench Press weight for a male lifter is 87 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift. What is a good Incline Dumbbell Bench Press? Male beginners should aim to lift 41 lb (1RM) which is still impressive compared to the general population.

Secrets to Lifting Heavier Dumbbells

Is benching 225 good?

Since most men are lower-than-intermediate lifters, a 225-pound bench press is above average. For advanced and elite lifters, a 225-pound bench press is expected for all but the lightest male lifters. At the higher levels, experience is significantly more important than body weight.

Is it OK to bench press with dumbbells?

Squeezing your pectoral muscles while bench-pressing may help to increase muscle hypertrophy in the chest region, he added. Finally, dumbbells can enable you to strength train with both arms equally, eliminating the risk that you'll overcompensate with one side like you could with a barbell.

Will floor press build chest?

Performing the floor press improves strength in the chest, shoulders, deltoids, and triceps. Although the floor press doesn't involve much of the lower body, and is a partial range of motion lift, it is still a multi-jointed exercise that recruits several different muscles.

Can you lay on the floor for bench press?

How to Do the Floor Press. Sit on the floor, holding a set of dumbbells in your propped on your hips. Rock back and lie down, hiking the weight up to shoulder height, with your upper arms on the floor at a 45 degree angle relative to your torso.

Is 135 a respectable bench?

After a year or two, you should be doing those sets with at least 135 pounds on the bar. That's a totally normal bench press, and that's a fine rate of progress. You'll fit in just fine at any casual commercial gym. Most experienced lifters do their working sets with 135–200 pounds on the bar.

How far down to go dumbbell bench press?

Lower the dumbbells in line with your mid chest, stopping when the back of your arms touch the floor. As you lower the dumbbells, keep the elbows tucked to prevent the elbows from flaring.

What is the most comfortable bench depth?

What Is the Standard Bench Depth? The standard bench depth is between 15" and 20". A dining room bench tends to fall around 17.5" deep. A bench that is deeper than 20" might cause discomfort when sitting.

What was Ronnie Coleman's Max bench?

Deadlift: 373.21 kilograms (822.8 pounds) Squat: 373.21 kilograms (822.8 pounds) Bench: 255.24 kilograms (562.5 pounds)

Can I build chest without pressing?

1. Dips. A bodyweight movement that should be a staple in any gym-goers arsenal and an exercise to take seriously as a bench press alternative. Dips also pump up the triceps, and by using a weight belt or weight vest to add extra load, can easily rival the bench press as a heavy-hitting chest builder.

Do press ups give you a big chest?

Yes, push-ups can get you a chiseled chest. More on what muscles push-ups work. Few exercises pack the punch that push-ups do. They provide a great workout, can conveniently be done anytime and from anywhere and deliver real results if done properly and with consistency.

Is it OK to do bench press on the floor?

While the floor press is a fine choice, it's not without its drawbacks. The exercise forces a limited range of motion since the elbows can't travel past the body. The floor press also elicits less leg drive and reduced core activation compared to a traditional bench press.

Why do I only feel my arms when I bench press?

If you're feeling your biceps while doing bench presses, it's likely due to improper technique. This can be a common mistake, especially if you're new to weightlifting or haven't had proper coaching. Your elbows may be flaring out too much, which shifts the emphasis from your chest to your arms.

How to activate pecs?

Key functions include horizontal adduction (moving the arm across the body), shoulder flexion (raising the arm upwards), and medial rotation (rotating the arm towards the body's center). One of the best exercises to activate the middle pecs is Regular Push-Ups.

How impressive is a 315 squat?

Generally, a 315 squat means you're no longer intermediate and you've entered the world of advanced lifters. It's a substantial weight, to say the least, and for many people, it's a big milestone.

Is it true that 1% of people can bench 225?

What Percentage of Men Can Bench 225? A two-plate bench is relatively uncommon. Only 17% of men who completed my survey had ever benched 225 pounds, and only 1% had reached the next milestone of 315 pounds.

How many people can bench 300 pounds?

Most men are physically inactive and couldn't bench bar itself. There are some that workout regularly, but 315 lbs is no easy task - it takes a lot of time and commitment and even those working-out will not became pro in most cases. So it's like 1% out of 20 % of physically active popoulation.

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