Rate of perceived exertion

RPE
calculator

Turn one honest set into an estimated max, then read off the weight for any reps at any RPE.

Units

Weight lifted

kg

Reps

RPE of the set2 reps left

RPE 10 means you had nothing left. RPE 8 means two more reps were there. Half points mean “maybe one more”.

Estimated 1RM

185kg

160 kg × 3 @ RPE 8 is about 86.3% of your max. Unrounded: 185.4 kg.

Single @ 8

170

Triple @ 8

160

Five @ 7

145

Your estimated max on the bar

Your weights by reps and RPE

kg, rounded to 2.5

Weight for each rep count at each RPE, from your estimated max.
RPE \ reps	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
10	185	177.5	170	165	160	155	150	145	142.5	137.5
9.5	182.5	175	167.5	162.5	157.5	152.5	147.5	142.5	140	135
9	177.5	170	165	160	155	150	145	142.5	137.5	130
8.5	175	167.5	162.5	157.5	152.5	147.5	142.5	140	135	127.5
8	170	165	160	155	150	145	142.5	137.5	130	125
7.5	167.5	162.5	157.5	152.5	147.5	142.5	140	135	127.5	122.5
7	165	160	155	150	145	142.5	137.5	130	125	120
6.5	162.5	157.5	152.5	147.5	142.5	140	135	127.5	122.5	117.5
6	160	155	150	145	142.5	137.5	130	125	120	115

Percentages follow Mike Tuchscherer’s Reactive Training Systems (RTS) RPE chart. They are averages; your own numbers may run a little high or low.

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How it works

Reps in reserve, turned into kilos.

RPE rates a set by how many reps you had left. A triple at RPE 8 means you could have done five. The chart maps every reps-and-RPE pair to a percentage of your max, so one set gives you an estimate without testing a true single.

The estimate is weight ÷ percentage. 160 kg for a triple at RPE 8 is 86.3% of max, so your estimated 1RM is about 185 kg.

Where RPE goes wrong

Newer lifters tend to rate sets too easy, and high-rep sets are harder to judge than heavy triples. Use sets of 1–5 for the estimate, and re-check it every few weeks.

FAQ

RPE questions lifters ask

Is RPE the same as RIR?

Close. RIR counts reps in reserve directly; RPE 10 = 0 RIR, RPE 9 = 1 RIR, RPE 8 = 2 RIR. Half points of RPE mean you might have had one more.

Which RPE chart does this use?

Mike Tuchscherer’s Reactive Training Systems (RTS) chart, the one most powerlifting coaches start from.

How accurate is an e1RM?

It is an average-based estimate. Expect it to be within a few percent for most lifters on sets of 1–5 reps, and less reliable on high-rep sets.

Sources

Where the numbers come from

Last reviewed November 6, 2026 by the PowerliftMath team. How we build and check these tools.

Reactive Training Systems
Mike Tuchscherer’s coaching company, which popularised the RPE chart this calculator follows.

Calculators

RPEcalculator