According to various sources, on average: A man can do at least 8 pull-ups. A woman can do 1 to 3 pull-ups.
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!
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.
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.
Average Pull Up Counts for Different Fitness Levels
Those at an intermediate level can do around 14 pull-ups, showing good technique and strength. Advanced lifters can do about 25 pull-ups, and elite lifters can do 37 or more. These numbers help people know their level and set realistic goals for getting better.
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).
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.
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 minimum expectations are as follows: Male: 2 Pull Ups. 35 Sit Ups (2 Minutes)
A soldier is generally expected to lift objects weighing as much as 50 kg single-handedly, with heavier objects lifted by more than one individual. Most of the objects lifted do not have handles. In heavy lifting jobs, 85- to 200-pound objects may be lifted and carried up to 200 yards by a single individual.
Practicing pull-ups and other pulling movements will improve your tactical ability by being able to pull yourself over obstacles like walls and fences, as well as performing the rope climbs seen in many military obstacle courses.
According to the private healthcare provider, men should be able to achieve 28 push ups at one time and women should be able to do 20 to “show a good fitness level.”
The muscles of your upper trunk, your arms and back, have less mass. It takes a ton of effort to generate enough power against gravity to move all that posterior chain weight through space using only your upper body. Basically, you're heavy.
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.
To do a pull-up or chin-up you have to pull your entire body weight from a dead hang position to a chin above bar position. You are literally moving 100% of your weight up and against gravity, using just your upper body!
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.
Strength-training exercises, like pull-ups, are proven to increase muscle mass and even reverse age-related muscle loss.
Retired Navy seal. David Goggins is described as the toughest men on the planet, holding the pullup record 4,000 pullups in 17 hours is also an ultra-marathon runner with more than 60 races.
The idea is that when your mind tells you that you are done and can't go any further, you are only at about 40 percent of your actual capacity."Push for that extra 60% when your mind is telling you to quit, that you're "at your limit." Because you likely aren't.
How much does a Navy Seal make? As of Mar 14, 2025, the average annual pay for a Navy Seal in the United States is $98,176 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $47.20 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,888/week or $8,181/month.
But this does not mean that overtraining is not possible if you do pull-ups every day: If you feel exhausted after an extended period of intense exertion, in the form of a whole-body workout, and are having problems sleeping, the training plan must be interrupted!