There are no definitive guidelines, but the number of pull-ups that are generally considered strong is 12+ for men and 8+ for women. If you can do this many, you're considered an advanced athlete. However, you are still considered an above-average athlete if you can do more than 8 (for men) or more than 3 (for women).
While novices may only be able to do a handful at first, the average man should be able to do 6 and the average woman can do up to 3. Experienced athletes can go far beyond this, though—up to 39 for men or 22 for women!
Pull Up Standards Based on Bodyweight and Age
For example, the U.S. Marines want men to do at least 3 pull-ups. The Army Rangers need 6 pull-ups, aiming for 12 for the best performance. The Navy SEALs require 8 pull-ups, aiming for 15 to 20. For kids, pull up standards vary by age.
I came to realize after all these years training bodyweight that one's ability to do 20 pull-ups in a row stands for impressive upper body strength and endurance. At first sight, there is nothing unusual in doing 20 perfect pull-ups except that only a handful of people can.
Strength to bodyweight ratio
The lighter guy will have a higher strength to body weight ratio, BUT the standard would be lower (ratio wise) for the bigger guy. So if 30 pullups is considered excellent for a guy who weights 150lbs, 22 pullups would be considered excellent for a 250lb guy.
The minimum expectations are as follows: Male: 2 Pull Ups. 35 Sit Ups (2 Minutes)
In 2013, David Goggins broke the Guinness World Records title for most pull-ups in a 24 hour period. 4030 pull-ups in 17 hours, 16 minutes.
It's been said that 95% of the world can't do 10 full strict pull-ups! Let's look at the numbers. 35% of the US is overweight and therefore we will assume that they can't do a pull-up. That leaves 65%.
However, fit and active men should be able to do at least 4 to 8 pull-ups in one set. Fit and active women should be able to do at least 1 to 3 pull-ups in one set. Any number above 8 for men and 3 for women is very good. You are in the highest percentile if you can do 12 to 15 pull-ups or more with good form.
Achieving a full set of 20 pull-ups isn't something everyone can do when starting out. Only doing a couple of “ugly” reps, say 5 or 10 isn't going to get your muscles going too much either. Doing around 20 reps per set sounds like you'd be taking things seriously though.
Yes, it is easier for short people to do pull-ups!
Not only that, but the work required to do a pull-up increases faster than the size of the person. It becomes increasingly more difficult the larger you are!
According to ExRx.net, the 50th percentile for pull-ups for males at age 10 is just one repetition. This number increases to three repetitions at age 13 and seven repetitions at age 17 and older. In order to hit the 95th percentile at age 17, a young man would need to perform 15 pull-ups.
The number of push-ups is often used as a yardstick to measure oneself against other (strength) athletes. The "magic limit" is 100 - anyone who achieves this number of repetitions is "super athletic and well-trained. However, you can't simply achieve this physical feat off the cuff.
Above-average strength and fitness are indicated by being able to do: 13 to 17 pull-up reps or 18 consecutive pull-ups for men. 5 to 9 pull-up reps or 7 consecutive pull-ups for women.
The cons of doing pull-ups every day outweigh the pros
If you have orthopaedic issues with your shoulders or elbow joints, you should not do pull-ups every day. These body structures need sufficient regeneration time after every workout.
The most pull ups in 24 hours (male) is 10,001, and was achieved by Truett Hanes (USA) in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, from 1 to 2 February 2025.
How did David Goggins get so strong? David Goggins is seriously strong because he's a pro at long-term conditioning. He's always running ultra-long races, doing tons of high-rep bodyweight exercises, and lifting weights.
In 2005, David Goggins decided to take on an ultramarathon challenge which involved running over 3100 miles (5000 km) across the United States from San Francisco to New York City without taking any days off – a feat that no one had ever achieved before.
What are the pull up standards for men in military fitness tests? For tests like the Navy SEALs, men must do at least 10 pull ups. Top performers can do 15-20, showing their high fitness level.
Marine Corps: They are widely regarded as having the most stringent and challenging physical requirements. The Marines focus intensively on physical conditioning and combat, requiring more from their recruits in terms of strength and stamina.