Leg Press (45° Sled) vs Car Squat Strength Standards

Leg Press vs Car Squat Strength Standards

These bodyweight tables place the 45-degree leg press and car squat targets side by side from Novice through Elite. Use them to compare standards, not to force a particular ratio between the lifts.

Find the closest row in the men’s or women’s table. Every target lists Leg Press / Car Squat, pounds first and kilograms second. Enter your own sets above for exact ratings without testing a true one-rep max.

Men’s Leg Press vs Car Squat 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 Car Squat 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 Car Squat Result Is Calculated

Each set is converted to an estimated max before the calculator assigns exercise-specific strength levels and compares them.

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 Car Squat 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.

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

3. Find the car squat strength level

The car squat 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.

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

Each max receives a level from Beginner through Elite. The lower-level lift becomes the priority. At matching levels, a priority appears only when one lift is at least 10 points farther from its next level; otherwise the result is Balanced.

The result identifies the lower standards rating, not its cause. Technique, fatigue, training history, and set quality can all affect the comparison. Age range is recorded anonymously but does not change these standards.

Enter both sets above to see the estimated maxes, assigned levels, next-level targets, and comparison result.

How Men’s Leg Press and Car Squat Standards Differ

How to read this chart: Choose a strength level and follow its line across bodyweight. Values show the Car Squat standard minus the Leg Press standard: zero means equal, above zero means the Car Squat 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 Car Squat Standards Differ

How to read this chart: Choose a strength level and follow its line across bodyweight. Values show the Car Squat standard minus the Leg Press standard: zero means equal, above zero means the Car Squat 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 Car Squat Exercises Used by This Calculator

Valid results depend on using the specified 45-degree leg press and car squat technique and load convention. Use strict, repeatable Leg Press and Car Squat 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 Car Squat setup and load convention

Use a stationary brand-neutral apparatus with two rigid parallel lever arms rotating about fixed, aligned pivots. The arms must be mechanically synchronized by one rigid crossmember carrying a centered padded upper-trap yoke and two symmetric hand grips. A vehicle or equivalent weight is secured symmetrically to the distal arms. Record pivot, weight-point, yoke-point, arm-length, grip, stance-platform, and safety geometry. With the apparatus unloaded from the lifter and using calibrated weight cells/force gauges, measure the combined vertical upward force required at the yoke/handle assembly at the standing start and at intervals no greater than 1.00 cm of vertical yoke travel through the valid bottom. Repeat calibration after any setup/weight change. Enter and display start resistance, bottom resistance, peak resistance, resistance direction/curve, sampled positions, apparatus geometry, and calibration date/device. Scoring weight is peak calibrated vertical resistance. Vehicle, platform, plate, or lever mass alone is invalid and must never be presented as experienced resistance. Adjust standing yoke height to the lifter. Set independent safeties at least 2.00 cm below the yoke position corresponding to valid depth. Begin motionless with yoke across upper trapezius, both hands on grips, feet planted, hips/knees extended. Descend until hip crease is below top of knee without contacting safeties; ascend to motionless full extension. Same stance and setup for all 1–10 reps. Belt, sleeves, wrist wraps, chalk, shoes, and a non-supportive grip shirt allowed. Suit, briefs, rebound wraps, external assistance, safety contact, steps, or walking prohibited.

Enter one recent Leg Press result and one recent Car Squat result

First lift: total plates loaded on the 45-degree sled and 1–12 strict reps. Second lift: weight used 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.
• Car Squat — View the individual Car Squat standards and next strength-level target.
• Barbell Deadlift — 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.
• Trap Bar Deadlift — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Trap Bar High Handle Deadlift — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.