When it comes to pull ups, the number considered impressive can vary greatly depending on a person’s age, gender, and fitness level. However, there are some general guidelines for what number of pull ups is seen as an achievement for most people.
Pull Up Counts for Average People
For the average untrained man, being able to complete 5-6 pull ups is considered decent, while 10+ pull ups is seen as very good. For the average untrained woman, 3-4 pull ups is respectable, while 7+ is excellent.
Here are some example pull up count achievements for average people:
| Pull Ups | Achievement Level |
|---|---|
| 1 | First pull up completed |
| 3-5 | Decent strength for an untrained male |
| 7-10 | Very good for an untrained male |
| 3-4 | Respectable for an untrained female |
| 7+ | Excellent for an untrained female |
For people who are relatively fit and exercise regularly, the pull up counts to impress increase. Here are some examples:
| Pull Ups | Achievement Level |
|---|---|
| 10+ | Solid strength for a fit male |
| 15+ | Very impressive for a fit male |
| 7-10 | Great work for a fit female |
| 12+ | Extremely impressive for a fit female |
Pull Up Counts for Athletes
For athletic individuals who strength train regularly, the bar is raised even higher when it comes to an impressive number of pull ups. Here are some general guidelines:
| Pull Ups | Achievement Level |
|---|---|
| 15+ | Solid for an athletic male |
| 20+ | Very impressive for an athletic male |
| 25+ | Extremely impressive for most athletic males |
| 10-15 | Great work for an athletic female |
| 18+ | Extremely impressive for an athletic female |
For elite athletes who specialize in strength-based sports like climbing or gymnastics, the numbers are world-class:
| Pull Ups | Achievement Level |
|---|---|
| 30+ | Elite for a male athlete |
| 40+ | World-class for a male athlete |
| 20+ | Elite for a female athlete |
| 30+ | World-class for a female athlete |
Pull Up Counts Based on Body Weight
In addition to gender and fitness level, body weight also impacts pull up counts. Heavier individuals often find pull ups more challenging. As a general rule of thumb:
- For men weighing less than 180 lbs, 15+ pull ups is excellent.
- For men over 180 lbs, 10+ pull ups is very impressive.
- For women under 150 lbs, 10+ pull ups is very good.
- For women over 150 lbs, 7+ pull ups is great work.
So while a lower number of pull ups may be impressive for a heavier person, people with very low body fat percentages can complete higher repetitions.
World Records
The highest official number of pull ups ever recorded was:
- Male: 101 pull ups in one set
- Female: 46 pull ups in one set
These world records demonstrate the amazing potential of the human body. However, for most everyday fitness enthusiasts, hitting even 20-30 pull ups would be considered extremely impressive.
Most Impressive Pull Up Styles
When determining an impressive number of pull ups, it also depends on the style:
- Normal grip pull ups are the standard palms facing away style. Slightly easier.
- Chin ups use a close reverse grip, palms facing in. More challenging.
- Wide grip pull ups use a wide overhand grip. Harder for most people.
- Commando pull ups are done with no swinging or kipping. Hardest strict style.
So while a higher number of kipping pull ups may be achieved, strict commando pull ups are considered more impressive by most fitness experts.
Common Mistakes
When tallying pull up counts, it’s important not to cheat with poor form:
- No swinging or kicking the legs – controlled motion only.
- Start from a dead hang, arms extended fully.
- Chin must clearly pass over the bar on each rep.
- No resting at the top or bottom – continual motion.
Proper form is key for an accurate and impress pull up count.
How Many Pull Ups Should You Be Able to Do?
So how many pull ups should you personally strive for? A good general goal is:
- Untrained male: Work up to 10 clean pull ups.
- Untrained female: Work up to 5 clean pull ups.
- Athletic male: Sets of 15-20 clean pull ups.
- Athletic female: Sets of 10-15 clean pull ups.
But everyone progresses at different rates. Focus on gradual improvement while maintaining strict form.
Tips to Increase Your Pull Up Count
Here are some tips to safely build up your pull up count:
- Start with negatives – slowly lower yourself down from the top position.
- Use resistance bands to reduce body weight until strong enough.
- Strengthen your back and arms with rows, pulldowns, curls.
- Practice frequently – 2-3x per week.
- Eat in a calorie surplus to gain muscle.
With smart programming and consistency, your max pull up count will steadily improve.
Conclusion
How many pull ups someone can complete depends greatly on gender, body weight, strength training background, and pull up technique. But for most average people, hitting 10+ strict pull ups is very respectable. With dedicated training, 20-30+ pull ups is possible for very fit males, and 15-20+ for very fit females.
Keep working on proper form as you gradually build up volume. Pull ups are a challenging bodyweight exercise, but also extremely effective for building upper body and grip strength. Strive for steady measured progress, not quick fixes. With consistency, your pull up count achievements will continue to impress!