RPE Chart & Percentage Table: The Complete Reference Guide
The complete RPE chart with percentage-to-1RM table for powerlifting. Includes the full RTS chart, how to read it, and how to use RPE percentages to calculate target weights.
Every RPE calculator in strength training runs on one specific engine: a chart. If you do not understand the rpe chart, you cannot understand why the numbers coming out of the calculator are what they are. We have all been there. You might punch in 5 reps at an RPE 8, see "77.5%" pop out, and just blindly load the bar. The problem is that blindness leads to mistakes. If you learn how to read an rpe percentage chart yourself, you take control of your programming. This is the complete weight lifting percentage chart guide—every cell explained, and every edge case covered. The math is actually pretty simple once you see the pattern.
The Reactive Training Systems (RTS) Chart
The rpe chart powerlifting standard we all use was developed by Mike Tuchscherer at Reactive Training Systems. It acts as an one rep max conversion chart. It cross-references the number of reps you performed with the RPE you felt, and outputs the exact percentage of your 1-Rep Max (1RM) that you lifted.
Think of it like a lift percentage chart from middle school, but instead of learning your times tables, you are learning your physiological capacity.
| Reps | RPE 10 | RPE 9 | RPE 8 | RPE 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100% | 96% | 92% | 89% |
| 2 | 96% | 92% | 89% | 86% |
| 3 | 92% | 89% | 86% | 84% |
| 4 | 89% | 86% | 84% | 81% |
| 5 | 86% | 84% | 81% | 79% |
The 3% Rule
Notice the pattern in the rpe table? Dropping an RPE point usually drops the percentage by roughly 3%. Adding a rep does the exact same thing.
How to Calculate Target Weights
Once you understand the rep chart, you can use an rpe chart calculator to reverse-engineer your target weights. Converting rpe to percentage is straightforward. If your program calls for a set of 4 at RPE 9, look at the pr chart. The intersection is 86%.
Target Weight = e1RM × Chart Percentage
If your e1RM is 400 lbs, you simply use an rpe percentage calculator to multiply 400 by 0.86. You need 344 lbs on the bar. Don't want to do the manual math? Use the rpe to percentage calculator below.
Quick e1RM Calculator
Edge Cases: Half Points and Fatigue
Not every set is a clean RPE 8 or RPE 9. Sometimes you land on an RPE 8.5. To find this rpe chart percentage, you simply split the difference between the percentages. If a given rpe to percentage chart says RPE 9 for 3 reps is 89% and RPE 8 is 86%, then RPE 8.5 sits right at 87.5%.
If you want to know how this specifically applies to the big three lifts, jump over to our powerlifting RPE calculator guide. Stop guessing your percentages. Let the math dictate the bar.
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