RPE · reps in reserve · e1RM
RPE calculator
Tell it what you lifted, for how many reps, and how hard it felt. It estimates your 1RM and tells you what to load for your next set.
Estimated 1RM (e1RM)
277lb
5 reps at RPE 8 = 81.1% of your max
Next set: 3 reps @ RPE 9
245 lb
How to rate a set
| RPE | Reps left (RIR) | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0 | Maximal — no more reps possible |
| 9.5 | 0–1 | Could maybe add a little weight, not a rep |
| 9 | 1 | One more rep was possible |
| 8.5 | 1–2 | Definitely one more, maybe two |
| 8 | 2 | Two reps left |
| 7 | 3 | Fast and controlled, three reps left |
| 6.5 and below | 4+ | Warm-up or speed work |
Rate the set right after you rack the bar, before the effort fades from memory. If you are new to RPE, film a few sets taken to failure — it calibrates your sense of how many reps you really had left.
RPE chart: percentage of 1RM
Find the reps you did along the top and the RPE down the side. The number is the percentage of your 1RM that set represents.
| RPE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 100.0% | 95.5% | 92.2% | 89.2% | 86.3% | 83.7% | 81.1% | 78.6% | 76.2% | 73.9% | 70.7% | 68.0% |
| 9.5 | 97.8% | 93.9% | 90.7% | 87.8% | 85.0% | 82.4% | 79.9% | 77.4% | 75.1% | 72.3% | 69.4% | 66.7% |
| 9 | 95.5% | 92.2% | 89.2% | 86.3% | 83.7% | 81.1% | 78.6% | 76.2% | 73.9% | 70.7% | 68.0% | 65.3% |
| 8.5 | 93.9% | 90.7% | 87.8% | 85.0% | 82.4% | 79.9% | 77.4% | 75.1% | 72.3% | 69.4% | 66.7% | 64.0% |
| 8 | 92.2% | 89.2% | 86.3% | 83.7% | 81.1% | 78.6% | 76.2% | 73.9% | 70.7% | 68.0% | 65.3% | 62.6% |
| 7.5 | 90.7% | 87.8% | 85.0% | 82.4% | 79.9% | 77.4% | 75.1% | 72.3% | 69.4% | 66.7% | 64.0% | 61.3% |
| 7 | 89.2% | 86.3% | 83.7% | 81.1% | 78.6% | 76.2% | 73.9% | 70.7% | 68.0% | 65.3% | 62.6% | 59.9% |
| 6.5 | 87.8% | 85.0% | 82.4% | 79.9% | 77.4% | 75.1% | 72.3% | 69.4% | 66.7% | 64.0% | 61.3% | 58.6% |
Training with RPE
RPE-based programs prescribe sets like "3 × 5 @ RPE 8" instead of a fixed weight. On a good day you'll load more; on a tired day, less. That autoregulation is the main reason coaches like it.
A practical routine: work up to a top set at the prescribed RPE, use this calculator to get your e1RM for the day, then use Plan your next set to choose the weight for your back-off sets.
Questions lifters ask
What does RPE mean in lifting?
RPE stands for rate of perceived exertion. On the lifting scale, RPE 10 means you could not have done another rep, RPE 9 means one rep left in the tank, RPE 8 means two left, and so on.
How is e1RM calculated from RPE?
Each combination of reps and RPE corresponds to a percentage of your max — 5 reps at RPE 8 is about 81% of 1RM. Dividing the weight by that percentage gives your estimated 1RM. 225 lb × 5 @ RPE 8 works out to about 277 lb.
Is RPE more accurate than a normal 1RM calculator?
It can be, because it accounts for sets that were not taken to failure. Its accuracy depends on how well you judge reps in reserve — most lifters get better at it with practice, especially above RPE 7.
What is the difference between RPE and RIR?
RIR (reps in reserve) counts the reps you had left; RPE expresses the same thing on a 1–10 scale. RPE 8 = 2 RIR, RPE 9 = 1 RIR, RPE 10 = 0 RIR.