- The median squat for raw men at 74 kg is 364 lb (165 kg). Beat that and you out-lift half the class.
- Top 20%: 430 lb (195 kg). Top 10%: 463 lb (210 kg). Top 1%: 551 lb (250 kg).
- A 1.5× bodyweight squat is a solid intermediate milestone; 2× bodyweight is genuinely strong; 2.5× is competitive at most local meets.
Squat Percentiles — 74 kg Raw Men
The 74 kg class covers men weighing 66–74 kg (146–163 lb). These percentiles are computed from 87,891 raw (belt, sleeves, and wrist wraps only — no knee wraps, no supportive suits or shirts) competition results in the OpenPowerlifting database. Remember that everyone in this dataset trained hard enough to enter a meet, so the 20th percentile here is already well above the average gym-goer.
| Percentile | Lbs | Kg | Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th percentile | 220 lb | 100 kg | Novice |
| 10th percentile | 254 lb | 115 kg | Novice |
| 20th percentile | 292 lb | 132.5 kg | Intermediate |
| 30th percentile | 320 lb | 145 kg | Intermediate |
| 40th percentile | 342 lb | 155 kg | Intermediate |
| 50th percentile | 364 lb | 165 kg | Advanced |
| 60th percentile | 386 lb | 175 kg | Advanced |
| 70th percentile | 408 lb | 185 kg | Advanced |
| 80th percentile | 430 lb | 195 kg | Elite |
| 85th percentile | 446 lb | 202.5 kg | Elite |
| 90th percentile | 463 lb | 210 kg | Elite |
| 95th percentile | 496 lb | 225 kg | World Class |
| 97.5th percentile | 524 lb | 237.5 kg | World Class |
| 99th percentile | 551 lb | 250 kg | World Class |
Novice = below the 20th percentile of competitors. Intermediate = 20th–50th. Advanced = 50th–80th. Elite = 80th–95th. World Class = top 5%. Percentiles are calculated on the best squat from each meet entry, so a lifter with ten meets appears ten times; this weights the data toward experienced competitors.
How to Improve Your Squat
Squat strength is built on consistent volume in the 70–85% range with two to three squat sessions per week. Most stalls come from one of three places: getting folded over out of the hole (build the upper back and add paused squats), knees caving (tempo squats and adductor work), or simply not squatting heavy often enough. Competition-style low-bar squatting with a belt typically adds 5–10% over a beltless high-bar max once the technique is grooved. See the accessory selection guide for weak-point work and the program generator for a periodized plan.
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Frequently Asked
What is a good squat for men in the 74 kg raw class?
The median competition squat in this class is 364 lb (165 kg). Anything above that beats half of all raw men who have competed at 74 kg. 430 lb (195 kg) puts you in the top 20%, and 496 lb (225 kg) in the top 5%.
What squat do you need to be elite at 74 kg?
Using the top-10% line as the elite threshold, that is 463 lb (210 kg) for raw men at 74 kg. The top 1% of the class has lifted 551 lb (250 kg) or more.
Where does this data come from?
Every number on this page is computed from 87,891 competition results in the OpenPowerlifting database for raw men in the 74 kg class, and is regenerated automatically as new meets are added (last update 2026-09-02). These are lifts done in competition under referees, not gym numbers or self-reported maxes.