Bench Press Ratio (Cooper DVR)

These norms describe 1-repetition maximum bench press performance on a Universal DVR (Dynamic Variable Resistance) machine, expressed as weight pressed divided by bodyweight. Data are from Physical Fitness Assessments and Norms for Adults and Law Enforcement (Cooper Institute, Dallas TX, 2013), a reference library of about ten fitness test norm charts. The bench press ratio chart in that monograph is labelled as drawn from Cooper Institute data, meaning Cooper Clinic patients rather than the Law Enforcement Studies cohort. Because the Cooper Clinic population is self-selected for preventive-health assessment and is typically fitter than the general public, these norms may be higher than population-wide averages. This is a machine-based protocol and is not directly comparable to the site's barbell bench press norms from competitive powerlifters. Note: this source is an institutional monograph (not a peer-reviewed journal article); male sample sizes are shown in the table, but female bracket sizes are not disclosed.

Data source: Cooper Institute (2013 Monograph) (2013) About this study

Bench Press Ratio (Cooper DVR) Strength

Bench Press Ratio (Cooper DVR) Norms by Age and Sex

Age Sex Percentile
5th 25th 50th 75th 95th
20-29 Male 0.72 0.9 1.06 1.26 1.63
Female 0.44 0.53 0.65 0.77 1.01
30-39 Male 0.65 0.81 0.93 1.08 1.35
Female 0.39 0.49 0.57 0.65 0.82
40-49 Male 0.59 0.74 0.84 0.96 1.2
Female 0.35 0.45 0.52 0.6 0.77
50-59 Male 0.53 0.66 0.75 0.87 1.05
Female 0.31 0.41 0.46 0.53 0.68
60+ Male 0.49 0.6 0.68 0.79 0.94
Female 0.26 0.39 0.45 0.53 0.72

What to expect by age group

Typical range (25th to 75th percentile) by age group
Age MalesFemales
20-29 0.9 to 1.260.53 to 0.77
30-39 0.81 to 1.080.49 to 0.65
40-49 0.74 to 0.960.45 to 0.6
50-59 0.66 to 0.870.41 to 0.53
60+ 0.6 to 0.790.39 to 0.53

Detailed Breakdowns

Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.

Males
20-2930-3940-4950-5960+
Females
20-2930-3940-4950-5960+
Age trend (percentiles)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this differ from the barbell bench press norms on this site?

These values come from a Universal DVR machine protocol in Cooper Clinic patients, whereas the site's other bench press page uses free-weight competition barbell data from powerlifters. The population and equipment are both different, so the numbers are not directly comparable.

What is a DVR bench press machine?

DVR stands for Dynamic Variable Resistance. The Cooper monograph identifies the equipment as a Universal DVR bench press machine, but does not provide a full step-by-step protocol. The key point for interpretation is that this is a machine test, not a free-weight barbell bench press.

Why are these values lower than the powerlifter norms?

Two factors matter. First, the Cooper Clinic population is fitter than average but not made up of competitive strength athletes. Second, the Universal DVR machine protocol is mechanically different from free-weight barbell pressing, so the resulting ratios should not be compared as if they were the same test.

How reliable is the source data?

The Cooper Institute monograph is widely cited and remains an industry-standard reference for these tests, but it is an institutional publication rather than a peer-reviewed journal article. Male sample sizes are shown in the bench press table; female age-bracket sample sizes are not disclosed.

Why does the female 60+ P95 value appear higher than the 50-59 P95?

The source table reports a female 60+ P95 of 0.72, slightly above the 50-59 P95 of 0.68. That small upward jump is most likely a sample-size artifact in the oldest female bracket and should not be interpreted as evidence that bench press performance improves after age 60.

Related Metrics

Cooper Institute Fitness Norms

This test is one of about ten norm charts in the Cooper Institute's 2013 monograph. Law enforcement academies pick five to six of these tests to build their own field batteries.