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%.
For the average person, 10 or more is good. Even 6+, if done in clean form, is ok. If you want to say you're actually good at them, you're looking at at least 20--30 reps.
Estimates: Some estimates suggest that only about 10-15% of the general population can perform 10 or more pull-ups. However, this percentage can vary depending on the demographic and fitness level of the group being considered.
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.
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.
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.
It's a pretty common statement that if you can do 10 pull ups, you should to be able to do the muscle up. But is this really true? In most cases, unfortunately it's not.
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.
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.
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.
As a general practice, doing a 3 sets of 8 reps routine with 60-90 seconds rest between sets is a good place to start to stimulate the muscles to grow. You can then progress to 3 sets of 9 reps, 3 sets of 10, and building up all the way to 3 sets of 15 repetitions.
The minimum expectations are as follows: Male: 2 Pull Ups. 35 Sit Ups (2 Minutes)
There remains a sense of ambiguity surrounding the question, “can pull-ups increase height?” To be clear, engaging in pull-ups does not directly lead to a growth in stature. However, this exercise aids greatly in refining your posture and creating the illusory effect of increased height.
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).
Final Tip: If you can do 20 or more pull-ups without any trouble, you can include them in your daily workout, as a warm-up exercise. But hold back consciously, and never keep going until your muscles fail.
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.
How Many Reps and Sets? Beginners: Start with 2-3 sets of 5-8 reps. Intermediate/Advanced: Aim for 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps. There are two ways to increase intensity: increasing weight, or increasing volume.
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.
Hang off the bar completely straight in a dead hang. Next tighten your abs and get into the hollow position. Un-shrug your shoulders. Pull your elbows down until your chest touches the bar. Lower back down, under control and in the hollow position.
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.