What is the term for the maximum weight a person can lift for one repetition of an exercise?

The maximum weight a person can lift for one repetition is called the one-repetition maximum, commonly abbreviated 1RM. It is a measure of maximal dynamic strength for a particular exercise.

A 1RM is exercise-specific: someone may have one value for the bench press, another for the squat and another for the deadlift. The lift must normally be completed through the exercise’s agreed range of motion and with acceptable technique. A failed attempt at a heavier load does not count as a completed repetition.

Coaches use 1RM testing to compare strength and prescribe training loads. For example, a program might call for sets at 70% or 80% of an athlete’s 1RM. Direct testing involves gradually increasing the weight, with rest between attempts, until the heaviest successful single is identified.

Because maximal attempts can be fatiguing or risky without experience and supervision, many people estimate 1RM from a submaximal set. Formulas such as the Epley and Brzycki equations provide useful estimates, but they can differ from the true maximum by exercise, repetition count and individual technique.