1RM Formula Comparison
Epley, Brzycki and Lombardi are the three most common one rep max formulas. Here's how they compare across different rep ranges for the same 100 kg lift.
| Reps @ 100 kg | Epley | Brzycki | Lombardi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100.0 kg | 100.0 kg | 100.0 kg |
| 2 | 106.7 kg | 102.9 kg | 107.2 kg |
| 3 | 110.0 kg | 105.9 kg | 111.6 kg |
| 4 | 113.3 kg | 109.1 kg | 114.9 kg |
| 5 | 116.7 kg | 112.5 kg | 117.5 kg |
| 6 | 120.0 kg | 116.1 kg | 119.6 kg |
| 8 | 126.7 kg | 124.1 kg | 123.1 kg |
| 10 | 133.3 kg | 133.3 kg | 125.9 kg |
| 12 | 140.0 kg | 144.0 kg | 128.2 kg |
| 15 | 150.0 kg | 163.6 kg | 131.1 kg |
Note how Brzycki rises sharply above 10 reps while Epley and Lombardi grow more slowly — this is why we recommend testing with 10 reps or fewer.
The three formulas
Lombardi
w × r^0.10
More conservative at high reps; less common but useful as a cross-check.
Try all three at once
Enter your lift
Your estimated one rep max
Bench Press · estimated 1RM
115.0 kg
Raw estimate: 115.5 kg · 254.7 lb
Epley
116.7 kg
Brzycki
112.5 kg
Lombardi
117.5 kg
Training percentages
| % | Weight | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 115.5 kg | 1 rep |
| 95% | 109.8 kg | 1-2 reps |
| 90% | 104.0 kg | 2-3 reps |
| 85% | 98.2 kg | 3-5 reps |
| 80% | 92.4 kg | 4-6 reps |
| 75% | 86.7 kg | 6-8 reps |
| 70% | 80.9 kg | 8-10 reps |
| 65% | 75.1 kg | 10-12 reps |
| 60% | 69.3 kg | 12-15 reps |
| 50% | 57.8 kg | 15-20 reps |
| 40% | 46.2 kg | 20+ reps |
Estimated weight for 1–12 reps
1 rep
115.5 kg
2 reps
108.3 kg
3 reps
105.0 kg
4 reps
101.9 kg
5 reps
99.0 kg
6 reps
96.3 kg
7 reps
93.7 kg
8 reps
91.2 kg
9 reps
88.9 kg
10 reps
86.7 kg
11 reps
84.5 kg
12 reps
82.5 kg
Frequently asked questions
Why do these formulas give different answers?+
Each formula was derived from a different dataset and uses a different mathematical relationship between reps and load. They agree closely at low reps and diverge more as rep counts increase.
Which formula does MaxRep use by default?+
By default we average Epley, Brzycki and Lombardi so no single formula's bias dominates your estimate. You can switch to any single formula manually in every calculator on this site.
Is there a 'most accurate' formula?+
No formula is universally most accurate — individual differences in muscle fiber type, training history and fatigue tolerance affect how well any formula predicts your true max. Treat all estimates as a close approximation, not a guarantee.