① The Deadlift: Typically Your Strongest Lift

Biomechanical reason:

• The deadlift is a hip-dominant movement that uses the largest muscle groups (glutes, hamstrings, spinal erectors, lats).

• You start the lift from a mechanical advantage — the bar is stationary on the floor, and there’s no eccentric “lowering” phase that can fatigue you first (unlike a squat).

• Most people’s limb proportions (long arms relative to torso) favor good leverage for pulling.

Typical strength hierarchy:For raw, drug-free lifters, the deadlift tends to be the heaviest absolute load lifted. Numbers vary by sex, training age, and weight class, but for context:

These ranges are approximate “intermediate-advanced” strength standards, not beginner levels.

② The Squat: Usually Second Heaviest

Biomechanical reason:

• The squat distributes load between hips, quads, back, and core.

• However, it requires greater mobility and has a longer range of motion.

• The bar must be balanced through the whole movement, which limits load vs. a deadlift.

Comparison to deadlift:

• Squats often run ~10–25% lower than your deadlift.

• Lifters with very strong quads or shorter femurs might squat closer to their deadlift.

• Exception: some lifters with very long torsos and short arms might deadlift less than they squat, but this is less common.

③ The Bench Press: Usually Lightest of the Big Three

Biomechanical reason:

• Uses a smaller muscle mass overall (pecs, delts, triceps).

• Lifters’ leverages (arm length, rib cage size) influence potential greatly.

Typical pattern:

• Bench press is commonly ~60–80% of your squat weight in intermediate-advanced lifters.

• Males typically bench more (proportionally) than females, due to greater upper-body mass and strength.

So, Your Impression Is Generally Correct!

• Deadlift: strongest

• Squat: second strongest

• Bench press: lightest of the big three

This ordering holds for most powerlifters, general gym-goers, and strength athletes who do not specialize in Olympic lifts.

Exceptions & Individual Differences

➤ Body Proportions

• People with long arms may deadlift more easily but struggle on bench press.

• Shorter legs → easier squat mechanics, possibly higher squat numbers.

➤ Training History

• Lifters who train squat more frequently might close the gap with deadlift strength.

• Those with shoulder injuries may lag in bench press.

➤ Gear & Technique

• Equipped powerlifters (wearing squat suits or deadlift suits) sometimes squat more than they deadlift because the gear provides significant rebound.

➤ Fatigue Factor

In a powerlifting meet, the squat comes first. Heavy squats can fatigue you for your deadlift. Sometimes this makes the deadlift appear closer to your squat on the same day.

Conclusion

This rank order—deadlift > squat > bench—is spot-on for the majority of lifters not performing Olympic lifts. The actual differences depend on biomechanics, training focus, and individual genetics.

You can find more detailed standards here at ExRx.net