RPE Chart
The full RPE to percent-of-1RM chart in the style Mike Tuchscherer built at Reactive Training Systems, with a converter that turns any rated set into an estimated max and a percentage for planning.
Percent of 1RM for every RPE and rep combination. Read across your rep count, down to your RPE.
| RPE | 1 rep | 2 reps | 3 reps | 4 reps | 5 reps | 6 reps | 7 reps | 8 reps | 9 reps | 10 reps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 100.0 | 95.5 | 92.2 | 89.2 | 86.3 | 83.7 | 81.1 | 78.6 | 76.2 | 73.9 |
| 9.5 | 97.8 | 93.9 | 90.7 | 87.8 | 85.0 | 82.4 | 79.9 | 77.4 | 75.1 | 72.3 |
| 9 | 95.5 | 92.2 | 89.2 | 86.3 | 83.7 | 81.1 | 78.6 | 76.2 | 73.9 | 70.7 |
| 8.5 | 93.9 | 90.7 | 87.8 | 85.0 | 82.4 | 79.9 | 77.4 | 75.1 | 72.3 | 69.4 |
| 8 | 92.2 | 89.2 | 86.3 | 83.7 | 81.1 | 78.6 | 76.2 | 73.9 | 70.7 | 68.0 |
| 7.5 | 90.7 | 87.8 | 85.0 | 82.4 | 79.9 | 77.4 | 75.1 | 72.3 | 69.4 | 66.7 |
| 7 | 89.2 | 86.3 | 83.7 | 81.1 | 78.6 | 76.2 | 73.9 | 70.7 | 68.0 | 65.3 |
| 6.5 | 87.8 | 85.0 | 82.4 | 79.9 | 77.4 | 75.1 | 72.3 | 69.4 | 66.7 | 64.0 |
Members: the Phorme app recalculates this automatically as you log.
Effort as a programming variable.
RPE, rating of perceived exertion, was adapted for barbell training by Mike Tuchscherer at Reactive Training Systems. His version anchors the 10-point scale to reps in reserve, which turns a subjective feeling into something you can verify: if you called RPE 9 and then ground out two more reps, the rating was wrong, and you can calibrate.
The chart maps every RPE and rep combination to a percent of 1RM. A set of 5 at RPE 8 sits near 78.6 percent; the same 5 at RPE 10 is about 86.3. That mapping runs both directions: rate a set to estimate your current max, or start from a percent-based program and find what each prescription should feel like today.
The practical payoff is autoregulation. Strength moves a few percent day to day with sleep, stress, and fatigue. Working to a target RPE keeps the stimulus constant while the barbell weight floats with your actual readiness.
- 1. Enter the weight and reps from a set you rated.
- 2. Pick the RPE: 10 means nothing left, 9 means one rep left, 8 means two.
- 3. Press Calculate to get the percent of 1RM that set represents and your estimated max.
- 4. Read the full chart below to plan loads for any RPE and rep combination.
Chart: RPE (6.5 to 10) by reps (1 to 10) to percent of 1RM, in the Tuchscherer / Reactive Training Systems style.
Estimated 1RM: Set weight divided by the chart percentage for its RPE and rep count.
RPE and RIR: RPE = 10 minus reps in reserve; the two scales describe the same set.
Questions we hear a lot.
What does RPE mean in lifting?
Rating of perceived exertion on a 10-point scale anchored to reps in reserve: RPE 10 is nothing left, RPE 9 is one rep left, RPE 8 is two. Mike Tuchscherer adapted the scale for barbell training and built the chart that maps RPE and reps to a percent of 1RM.
What is the difference between RPE and RIR?
They are two views of the same measurement. RIR counts reps in reserve; RPE is 10 minus RIR. A set of 5 at RPE 8 and a set of 5 with 2 in reserve describe the same set.
How accurate are RPE ratings?
Trained lifters rate within about one rep of reality when sets are close to failure. Accuracy drops for beginners and for easy sets far from failure. It sharpens quickly if you occasionally take a set to failure and compare what you predicted against what actually happened.
Why use RPE instead of straight percentages?
Percentages assume today is an average day. Strength swings a few percent day to day with sleep, stress, and accumulated fatigue. RPE lets the load float with actual readiness while keeping the intended stimulus fixed.
Why does the chart stop at 10 reps and RPE 6.5?
Below RPE 6.5, lifters cannot rate effort reliably, and past 10 reps the percent relationship varies too much between individuals for one chart to stay honest. Outside those bounds, use a rep-max formula instead.
One plan. Training and recovery in one system.
Phorme builds the plan from what you log and how you recover. No spreadsheets. No guessing.