How much should you do for shoulder press?

Author: Kylee Hermiston  |  Last update: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Each minute, do three shoulder presses and rest for whatever time remains. Start with 40 to 50 percent of your body weight (20 to 25 percent in each hand) and add 5 pounds per dumbbell each minute thereafter. Go for 10 minutes or until your form falters.

What is a good amount of reps for shoulder press?

If you're new to the movement, start with a lighter weight in each hand. Once you've nailed proper form and it starts to feel easy, you can progress to heavier weights. In terms of volume, a safe target for general exercisers is three sets of 8 to 12 repetitions, Williams says. This rep range will help build muscle.

Should I go heavy on shoulder press?

  • It all comes down to what is your goal and what level of training you are right.
  • If you are a beginner you should start with light weight with high reps.
  • And if you have been in working out for more than an year and want to build bold shoulder, use heavy weight for 6--8 reps .

Is a 135 lb shoulder press good?

It turns out that if you can lift 135 pounds overhead, you're stronger than most guys who have been lifting all their lives. A 225-pound overhead press is even more impressive.

Is a 225 shoulder press good?

How is 225 only a respectable weight for the average gym user... what gym are you going to that you see people doing this on a regular basis? Like in a strongman gym I could see it but definitely not the average gym goer. 225 is a great weight for overhead pressing, definitely not average.

5 Tips To Fix Shoulder Pain With Pressing Overhead

Is 70 pound shoulder press good?

The average Dumbbell Shoulder Press weight for a male lifter is 71 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift. What is a good Dumbbell Shoulder Press? Male beginners should aim to lift 29 lb (1RM) which is still impressive compared to the general population.

Should I shoulder press at 90 degrees?

Adjusting the bench to a 75-degree angle (instead of 90 degrees) reduces strain on your rotator cuff, making it safer and more shoulder friendly. This angle allows for better mobility, less joint compression, and greater engagement of your delts.

How much weight should I lift shoulder press?

Each minute, do three shoulder presses and rest for whatever time remains. Start with 40 to 50 percent of your body weight (20 to 25 percent in each hand) and add 5 pounds per dumbbell each minute thereafter. Go for 10 minutes or until your form falters.

Why is overhead press so hard?

The overhead press is commonly associated as a harder exercise to perform because you aren't pushing against a mass that doesn't move (as you would in a bench press for example), it requires using multiple muscles at one time where deficiencies can become more prominent, the primary muscles are relatively smaller ...

Is benching 135 impressive?

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. If you want a more impressive bench press, aim for at least a few casual reps with 225 pounds.

What are the disadvantages of shoulder press?

Disadvantages of the Smith Machine Shoulder Press

This could place unnecessary stress on your shoulders and elbows, increasing the risk of injury over time. Reduced Core Activation: Free weight exercises require significant core engagement to stabilize the body.

Do shoulders need high reps?

Generally, you should start with the big, compound exercises before moving on to isolation movements. Assuming that growing big shoulders is your goal, you'll want to stick mainly between the hypertrophy (muscle growth) rep range, which is 8-12 reps at around 70-80% of your one-rep max.

What is the average bench press?

What is the Average Bench Press? The average bench press varies depending on several factors. Men aged 20-29 typically bench press around 160 lbs. For women in the same age group, the average is 70 lbs.

Is 3 sets of shoulder press enough?

Three studies demonstrate that high-volume and very high-volume routines are likely to result in similar increases in strength and hypertrophy. Specifically, these studies suggest that 3 - 12 sets/muscle group/session (3-27 sets/muscle group/week) may result in similar increases in strength, hypertrophy, and power .

Should you lift heavy for shoulders?

When it comes to deltoid training, that old adage of 'lift big, get big' doesn't ring true. To build strong beefy shoulders, you're going to have to pick up the light dumbbells. The heavy weights will still have their place in your shoulder development, but light weights are where it's at for developing bigger delts.

Why am I so weak on shoulder press?

Lack of shoulder mobility, which are generally caused by tight lats and triceps, poor shoulder joint range of motion, and/or poor thoracic mobility are all issues that need to be addressed prior to loading up heavy overhead presses.

Where should I feel shoulder press?

What Muscles Does a Shoulder Press Work? As its name indicates, the shoulder press focuses on the muscles in your shoulders and upper chest. From deltoids to triceps, the shoulder press is one of the most impactful exercises you can do for your shoulders.

Does shoulder press work all three heads?

Using the shoulder press will target all 3 heads, however, the anterior and lateral heads will be used most. During the upward pressing movement, the anterior head will take most of the weight while the load is focused in front of your centre of gravity.

Is a 100 lb shoulder press good?

The average Shoulder Press weight for a male lifter is 142 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift. What is a good Shoulder Press? Male beginners should aim to lift 66 lb (1RM) which is still impressive compared to the general population.

How long should you rest between sets?

Rest between set durations should be based on sets/exercise (volume), and not load or training goal. General recommendations include moderate (2 min) rest between sets if performing 2 sets/exercise, long rest (3 min) if performing 3 sets/exercise, and very long rest (> 4 min) if performing 4 sets or more/exercise.

Why are my shoulders so weak?

Weakness of the shoulder can come from deficits in coordination nerve muscle or tendon. Often weak shoulders will respond to a gradually progressive strengthening program. If shoulder weakness does not respond to these exercises it may be due to a rotator cuff problem or a nerve injury.

How often should you shoulder press?

To build bigger, stronger shoulder muscles, we recommend performing dedicated shoulder press workouts at least twice per week. The deltoids are complex and require frequent stimulation to grow. Be sure to allow at least 48 hours of recovery time between heavy shoulder press sessions to avoid overtraining and injury.

Is 45 degree bench good for shoulder press?

A 45-degree angle is typically easier to set up and targets the upper chest and deltoids more so than a traditional flat bench. However, Dr. John Rusin notes that slight angles of 10-15 degrees is super beneficial because it puts the shoulders in the most optimal, pain-free position for pressing.

Should you fully lock out on shoulder press?

When you get to the top of the shoulder press, you do not want to fully lock your elbows out. This can put a lot of unnecessary strain on your elbows. Be sure to extend your arms at the top, but stop just shy of full lockout with your elbows.

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