Which one-rep max formula does Mekimeki use, and can I change it?
Mekimeki offers three: Brzycki, Epley, and a hybrid of the two, which is the default. The hybrid uses Brzycki at 10 reps or fewer and Epley above that, because Brzycki is the better fit in low rep ranges and becomes unstable as the rep count climbs. You can change the formula in settings at any time, and every estimate on your history is recalculated with the new one — nothing is stored pre-computed.
The formulas, exactly
| Brzycki | weight × 36 ÷ (37 − reps). Defined for 1 to 36 reps. At 1 rep it returns the weight itself. |
|---|---|
| Epley | weight × (1 + reps ÷ 30). At 1 rep it returns 1.033 × the weight, which is slightly above what you lifted. |
| Hybrid (default) | Brzycki at 10 reps or fewer, Epley at 11 reps or more. |
| Out of range | Above 36 reps Brzycki is undefined, and the estimate falls back to Epley. |
| Zero cases | A set with zero weight estimates as zero. Rep counts are held between 1 and 999, so there is no zero-rep set. |
| Recalculation | Estimates are computed on demand from your logged sets, so changing the formula updates your whole history at once. |
Why the hybrid switches at ten reps
Brzycki fits the low rep ranges well but its denominator shrinks as reps climb, so the estimate accelerates and eventually becomes unusable. Epley is flatter and stays sensible in higher rep ranges, but it is slightly generous at very low reps — it estimates above the weight even for a single rep, which cannot be right for a set that already was a one-rep max.
The hybrid takes the better half of each: Brzycki up to ten reps, Epley from eleven. If you prefer one model throughout, choose it in settings and it is used everywhere without exception.
What the estimate is for
An estimated one-rep max is a way to compare sets that are not directly comparable — 100 kg for 5 and 90 kg for 8 — on a single scale. It is at its most useful as a trend across weeks, and at its least useful as a target to attempt.
Mekimeki does not apply your RPE to the estimate when detecting records or reporting volume, so those figures depend only on the weight and reps you logged. Two sessions are compared on the same basis regardless of how each one felt.
What this does not do
The boundaries of the behaviour above, stated so you do not have to infer them.
- The estimate is not a tested max and should not be loaded onto a bar on that basis.
- There is no upper cap on the result. A very high rep count produces a very high estimate, which is a property of the formulas rather than a judgement about the set.
- Under the Epley setting a single rep estimates about 3% above the weight you lifted. This is the formula behaving as defined, not a rounding error.
- The formula choice applies to the whole app. There is no per-exercise formula.
Related questions
Which formula is the default?
The hybrid: Brzycki at 10 reps or fewer, Epley above that. It is used unless you choose otherwise in settings.
If I change the formula, do my old records change?
Yes, and that is intended. Estimates are recalculated from your sets whenever they are shown, so your whole history moves to the new formula together and stays internally consistent.
Does my RPE affect the estimate?
Not in the figures that matter for records and volume. Those are calculated from weight and reps alone, so sessions stay comparable.
See the product page for this feature →
Other articles
- Do warm-up sets count toward my personal records and training volume?
- How is estimated 1RM calculated for assisted pull-ups and dips?
- How does Mekimeki decide that a set is a personal record?
- What does each set type actually change?
Documentation checked against the shipping app on 2026-08-15.
Every behaviour on this page, free
No PRO tier, no trial, no account. iPhone, iOS 17 or later.
Download on the App StoreFree · Every feature included · No subscriptions · No paywalls · iOS 17+
Scan with your iPhone camera