Barbell Bent-Over Row vs Seated One Arm Cable Row Strength Standards

Bent Over Row vs Seated One Arm Cable Row Strength Standards

The paired standards below show what the barbell bent-over row and seated one arm cable row 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 Bent-Over Row / Seated One Arm Cable Row in pounds with kilograms underneath. The calculator above handles exact bodyweight and set inputs.

Men’s Bent-Over Row vs Seated One Arm Cable Row 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 Bent-Over Row vs Seated One Arm Cable Row 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 Bent Over Row vs Seated One Arm Cable Row Result Is Calculated

The comparison starts by estimating each max separately. It then rates both lifts against their own standards before identifying the lower result.

1. Estimate a one-rep max from each set

The entered weight is used directly for one rep. With 2–12 reps, both estimates are compared and the lower value is used.

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

For the most useful Bent Over Row vs Seated One Arm Cable Row 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 barbell bent-over row strength level

The barbell bent-over row 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.

This adjustment expects larger lifters to move more weight, but it does not increase the target pound for pound with bodyweight.

3. Find the seated one arm cable row strength level

The standards use the sex-specific thresholds from the individual Seated One Arm Cable Row tool. Targets begin at 190 lb for men and 150 lb for women, then adjust to exact bodyweight with 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

Strength level decides the comparison first. Matching levels remain Balanced unless progress toward the next target differs by at least 10 points.

A priority result is a standards comparison, not a diagnosis. Differences in technique, fatigue, practice, or set effort may influence it. Age range is recorded anonymously and does not alter these standards.

Use the calculator above to view both estimated maxes, strength levels, next targets, and the resulting priority or Balanced verdict.

How Men’s Bent Over Row and Seated One Arm Cable Row Standards Differ

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

How Women’s Bent Over Row and Seated One Arm Cable Row Standards Differ

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

Bent Over Row and Seated One Arm Cable Row Exercises Used by This Calculator

Compare like-for-like attempts by keeping the barbell bent-over row and seated one arm cable row setup consistent with their individual rules. Use strict, repeatable Bent Over Row and Seated One Arm Cable Row 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 the Barbell Bent-Over Row setup and load convention

Barbell starts from a dead hang below the shoulders. Torso is hinged forward and remains roughly near-parallel to the floor. Knees are slightly bent, hips are hinged, and the spine stays neutral. Bar is pulled to the lower ribs or upper abdomen each rep. Arms extend fully at the bottom of each rep. No torso heaving, hip snap, or body English. Consistent torso angle and bar path are required across tests. No Pendlay rows, Yates rows, cheat rows, T-bar rows, Smith machine rows, machine rows, partial range variants, or equipped lifting standards. Estimated 1RM is calculated from the entered load and reps.

Use the Seated One Arm Cable Row setup and load convention

Movement is performed seated at a cable row station using one handle and one arm at a time. Load must be entered as the selected cable stack load used by the working arm. Load is not doubled for unilateral testing. The lifter sits with feet braced and hips square to the cable station. The torso must remain upright or slightly forward with a stable neutral spine throughout the set. The working arm begins each rep from full reach with the shoulder controlled and the elbow extended. The handle must travel in a consistent horizontal pulling path toward the lower ribs, waist, or side of the torso. The elbow must drive behind the torso without the shoulder dumping forward or shrugging upward. The shoulder blade must retract under control at the finish of each rep. The non-working arm may hold the station only for balance, not to twist, brace excessively, or assist the pull. Torso rotation must remain minimal and may not be used to initiate or finish the repetition. Seat position, foot placement, handle attachment, and cable height must remain consistent across the full test set. Full range of motion is required on every rep, from controlled arm extension to clear elbow drive behind the torso. Reps must be controlled through both the pulling and return phases. No deliberate layback, hip drive, leg drive, trunk rotation, shoulder shrugging, or jerking the handle allowed. No bouncing out of the stretched position or using cable recoil to start the next rep. No partial reps, shortened reach, shortened finish position, assisted reps, or grip-switching mid-set. The weaker side should define the valid test load if left and right sides differ. Allowed equipment: seated cable row station, single D-handle or similar one-hand cable handle, optional lifting straps, optional wrist wraps, and optional belt. Disallowed variation 1: bilateral seated cable row. Disallowed variation 2: chest-supported row, machine row, T-bar row, or plate-loaded row. Disallowed variation 3: one-arm dumbbell row, landmine row, barbell row, or bent-over row. Disallowed variation 4: standing one-arm cable row, kneeling cable row, or rotational cable row. Disallowed variation 5: lat pulldown, high-to-low cable row, face pull, or pullover variation. Disallowed variation 6: partial reps, torso-twist reps, layback reps, leg-drive reps, grip-assisted reps, or momentum-assisted reps. Rep is complete when the handle reaches the torso-side finish position under control with the elbow behind the body, scapula retracted, and torso stable without rotation or excessive layback.

Enter one recent Bent Over Row result and one recent Seated One Arm Cable Row result

First lift: total barbell weight and 1–12 strict reps. Second lift: displayed machine or cable resistance and 1–12 strict reps. Pounds or kilograms.

Related Tools

• Barbell Bent-Over Row — View the individual Bent-Over Row standards and next strength-level target.
• Seated One Arm Cable Row — View the individual Seated One Arm Cable Row standards and next strength-level target.
• Seated Cable Row — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Chest Supported Row — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Dumbbell Bent-Over Row — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Axle Row — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.