What is the best rep range for military press?

Author: Maxwell Spinka  |  Last update: Monday, September 8, 2025

For beginners—or if this is a new exercise for you—I recommend sets of 10 reps with a weight of about 25% of your bodyweight. If you weigh 150 lb., then start with about 35 to 40 lb. for 2 sets of 10 reps. If you are an experienced lifter, I recommend sets of 5 reps with a weight that you can do for only 5 reps.

How many reps of military press should I do?

Generally, a lower rep range of about 1–5 reps per set (>85% of 1RM) is most effective for strength gains, while a medium-high rep range of about 8–15 reps per set is the most effective and practical for muscle growth.

Should you do high or low reps for military press?

In conclusion, doing lower reps with overhead press exercises can be beneficial for building strength and size in the shoulders and upper body. Lower reps allow you to lift heavier weights, which can increase muscle activation and lead to greater gains over time.

What is a respectable military press?

What is the average Military Press? The average Military 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 the best rep range for shoulder press?

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.

The Benefits Of Low Rep Ranges On Major Lifts

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.

Do shoulders respond better to high reps?

The deltoids respond to all rep ranges, from low to high, and should be trained as such. For example, heavy overhead press variations can be performed in lower rep ranges (<8) to build size and strength (primarily in the anterior delts), while the medial and rear delts respond better to moderate to high reps (8-20).

Why is military press so hard for me?

The military press feels so challenging as it limits involvement from the other parts of the body, relying solely on shoulder and tricep strength. The narrow stance also creates a less stable base, meaning the core and shoulders have to work hard to remain stable and protect the back.

Is a 100 lb overhead press good?

What is the average overhead press? The average overhead press is 126 lb for men and 66 lb for women. This makes you an intermediate lifter and stronger than 50% of StrengthLog's users.

How much should a man press?

After one to two years of consistent training, the average guy should be able to lift the following weight on the four main barbell lifts: Squat: 1.75x bodyweight. Deadlift: 2x bodyweight. Press: 0.9x bodyweight.

What rep range is best for size?

Up to 30% of your muscle's size is attributed to the sarcoplasm, so focusing on this type of hypertrophy helps build overall size (i.e., increased cross-sectional area of the muscle). If you're looking to get bigger: Target a rep range of 6 – 12 reps per set. Aim for 3-5 sets.

How many reps to grow shoulders?

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.

How long to 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.

How many sets of bicep curls?

This depends on your starting point. Our beginner gym workout plan suggests starting with one set of 20 reps and then increasing the reps or weight each week. For people with some training experience, three to four sets of 10 to 12 reps is commonly prescribed for hypertrophy training (building muscle).

What is the best rep range for push press?

Sets of 1-6 reps can be used depending on the timing and the specific need. 4-6 reps will help more with hypertrophy and some strength; 3-5 reps will be generally the most effective for strength work and some hypertrophy; 1-2 reps will usually be used for testing maximum lifts but will also improve strength.

How many press ups at once is good?

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.”

What is a good military press weight?

For beginners—or if this is a new exercise for you—I recommend sets of 10 reps with a weight of about 25% of your bodyweight. If you weigh 150 lb., then start with about 35 to 40 lb. for 2 sets of 10 reps. If you are an experienced lifter, I recommend sets of 5 reps with a weight that you can do for only 5 reps.

Why is my OHP so bad?

Having a weak overhead press can be the result of many things, such as poor mobility, instability of the shoulders, previous injury, or simply lack of strength.

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.

Does military press stunt growth?

"There's no evidence that weightlifting stunts growth", she said. "In fact, resistance training can help build coordination and strength in young athletes, and there's a strong push right now for young female athletes to lift weights in the hope that it may offer more injury prevention.

What is the safest shoulder press?

The Safest Shoulder Press Ever: The Overhead Box Press

The overhead press is one of the most effective upper body exercises not only for building functional mass and strength but also for improving upper body mechanics.

Do pecs respond better to high or low reps?

The 10-20 range is productive for the chest, but many individuals report that they get their best results from something between the 5-10 and 10-20 ranges, perhaps sets of 8-12 reps and even a bit lower. This is especially true for compound presses like the barbell flat bench and incline.

What is the best rep range for shoulder muscle growth?

A moderate repetition scheme with moderate loads (from 8 to 12 repetitions per set with 60% to 80% of 1RM) optimizes hypertrophic gains. A high repetition scheme with light loads (15+ repetitions per set with loads below 60% of 1RM) optimizes local muscular endurance improvements.

Does high reps build size or strength?

Working with higher reps and lighter weights or lower reps with heavier weights will affect your body differently. According to the strength-endurance continuum, low rep counts are best for building muscular strength, moderate rep counts for building muscle mass, and high rep counts for building endurance.

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