Pull-up standards work differently from a barbell lift, because the load is your own bodyweight and the measure is reps, not pounds. How many pull-ups you should be able to do depends on your bodyweight and training, and the honest answer is that a single clean rep already puts you ahead of most untrained adults.
Reps, not pounds
A pull-up standard is read in reps at your bodyweight, because a heavier person lifts more absolute weight per rep. That is why a lighter trained person often out-reps a heavier one who is objectively stronger: the standard accounts for it by reading reps against bodyweight, so both are judged fairly.
How many is good
One strict pull-up is already beyond most untrained adults; a handful of clean reps is a solid intermediate marker, and double figures is advanced for most bodyweights. Chin-ups, with the palms facing you, are slightly easier and read on their own scale, so how many chin-ups you should be able to do is a different, slightly higher number.
Building the first rep
If you cannot yet do one, the standard still applies: you sit at the bottom band, and the path up is assisted reps, negatives and rows. How many pull-ups the average man can do is often zero without training, which is exactly why a single strict rep is a meaningful first standard to clear.
Questions people ask about pull up standards
How many pull-ups should I be able to do?
One strict pull-up already beats most untrained adults; a handful of clean reps is a good intermediate marker and double figures is advanced for most bodyweights.
How many pull-ups can the average man do?
Without training, often zero or one, which is why a single strict rep is a meaningful standard; with training, a handful of clean reps is common.
Are chin-ups easier than pull-ups?
Slightly, because the palms-facing grip recruits more biceps, so how many chin-ups you should be able to do is usually a little higher than your pull-up number.