Leg Press (45° Sled) vs Seated Leg Curl Strength Standards

Leg Press vs Seated Leg Curl Strength Standards

The paired standards below show what the 45-degree leg press and seated leg curl each require at the same strength level. They are separate exercise targets rather than a prescribed difference between your lifts.

Select the appropriate sex table and nearest bodyweight, then choose a strength-level column. Values are ordered Leg Press / Seated Leg Curl in pounds with kilograms underneath. The calculator above handles exact bodyweight and set inputs.

Men’s Leg Press vs Seated Leg Curl Standards

How to read the table: Find the closest bodyweight, then use the labeled exercise row. Every strength-level entry shows one target with pounds first and kilograms beneath it.

Women’s Leg Press vs Seated Leg Curl Standards

How to read the table: Find the closest bodyweight, then use the labeled exercise row. Every strength-level entry shows one target with pounds first and kilograms beneath it.

How Your Leg Press vs Seated Leg Curl Result Is Calculated

The calculator estimates both one-rep maxes, rates each one against its exercise and bodyweight standards, and then compares the two ratings.

1. Estimate a one-rep max from each set

A one-rep set uses the entered weight. For 2–12 reps, both formulas are calculated and the lower estimate is retained.

• Epley: weight × (1 + reps ÷ 30)
• Brzycki: weight × 36 ÷ (37 − reps)

For the most useful Leg Press vs Seated Leg Curl comparison, enter clean, difficult sets performed with the same technique and range of motion you use in training. Lower-rep sets usually require less extrapolation.

2. Find the 45-degree leg press strength level

The 45-degree leg press rating uses its sex-specific exercise standards. Reference targets at 190 lb for men and 150 lb for women are scaled to the entered bodyweight by reference target × (user bodyweight ÷ reference bodyweight) to the two-thirds power.

The target rises more slowly than bodyweight so heavier lifters are expected to press more sled load without requiring strength to increase pound for pound.

3. Find the seated leg curl strength level

For seated leg curl, the individual exercise thresholds start from reference bodyweights of 190 lb for men and 150 lb for women. Exact-bodyweight targets use reference target × (user bodyweight ÷ reference bodyweight) to the two-thirds power.

Two-thirds scaling raises the target as bodyweight rises while limiting the size advantage that a direct one-to-one adjustment would create.

4. Compare the two results

The lift with the lower Beginner-to-Elite rating is the priority. If both ratings match, the calculator requires a 10-point difference in next-level progress before naming a priority; otherwise it reports Balanced.

Treat the result as a training comparison rather than an explanation of why one lift trails. Set quality, fatigue, skill, and training exposure all matter. Age range is recorded anonymously but does not change these standards.

The calculator above applies these steps to your exact entries and reports both lift ratings, both next targets, and the final comparison.

How Men’s Leg Press and Seated Leg Curl Standards Differ

How to read this chart: Choose a strength level and follow its line across bodyweight. Values show the Seated Leg Curl standard minus the Leg Press standard: zero means equal, above zero means the Seated Leg Curl standard is higher, and below zero means the Leg Press standard is higher. Swipe horizontally on mobile. Use the standards table for exact lb/kg targets.

How Women’s Leg Press and Seated Leg Curl Standards Differ

How to read this chart: Choose a strength level and follow its line across bodyweight. Values show the Seated Leg Curl standard minus the Leg Press standard: zero means equal, above zero means the Seated Leg Curl standard is higher, and below zero means the Leg Press standard is higher. Swipe horizontally on mobile. Use the standards table for exact lb/kg targets.

Leg Press and Seated Leg Curl Exercises Used by This Calculator

Compare like-for-like attempts by keeping the 45-degree leg press and seated leg curl setup consistent with their individual rules. Use strict, repeatable Leg Press and Seated Leg Curl tests that follow each exercise’s setup, range of motion, equipment, and load rules. Do not mix variations, assistance, partial range, momentum, or different load conventions.

Use a 45-degree plate-loaded sled leg press

Keep both feet flat and approximately shoulder-width, descend until the thighs reach at least parallel to the platform without lifting the hips or rounding the lower back, and press to controlled full knee extension. Do not enter a horizontal, vertical, selectorized, single-leg, high-foot, partial, bounced, or assisted press.

Use the Seated Leg Curl setup and load convention

Selected or loaded machine resistance is used. Enter total bilateral load, not per-leg load. Do not add bodyweight to the entered load. Strict seated bilateral machine leg curl. Thigh restraint and lower-leg pad stay consistent. Back, hips, pelvis, thighs, seat, and pad position stay stable. Controlled near-extended start position required. Controlled flexed-knee finish required. Controlled return required. Same machine, seat, thigh restraint, pad, and range for the full set. No partial pulses or shortened-range reps. No stack bounce or machine rebound. No hip lift, seat slide, pelvis rotation, torso heave, or aggressive handle-pulling. No unilateral, alternating-leg, or one-leg-assisted reps. No forced reps, partner assistance, or uncontrolled returns.

Enter one recent Leg Press result and one recent Seated Leg Curl result

First lift: total plates loaded on the 45-degree sled and 1–12 strict reps. Second lift: displayed machine or cable resistance and 1–12 strict reps. Pounds or kilograms.

Related Tools

• Leg Press (45° Sled) — View the individual Leg Press standards and next strength-level target.
• Seated Leg Curl — View the individual Seated Leg Curl standards and next strength-level target.
• Leg Extension — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Romanian Deadlift — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Barbell Stiff-Leg Deadlift — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Barbell Good Morning — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.