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Home » RPE Program » Page 4

Powerlifting Programs that use RPE

Below you'll find powerlifting programs that use RPE to calculate a significant amount of the programmed lifts.

If you didn't find the RPE-based powerlifting program you're looking for, try using the Lift Vault Program Library. It lets you search through all Lift Vault programs using lots of different criteria, including how weights are calculated and various program types.

Related: powerlifting programs, powerbuilding programs, bodybuilding programs, strength training programs

The Bridge by Barbell Medicine Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated March 24, 2024

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Beginner

Weeks: 8

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Created by Jordan Feigenbaum and Austin Baraki at Barbell Medicine, the Bridge is a strength program designed for athletes that are finishing a novice program like Starting Strength or Strong Lifts 5×5 and are ready for a “bridge” to intermediate level programming.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: 8 Week Programs, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 3 Day Workout Plan, 8 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 3
Bench press frequency: 2
Deadlift frequency: 2
Overhead press frequency: 1

Weightrainer Peaking Programs #1 and #2 Spreadsheets

By Kyle Risley
Last updated October 1, 2019

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 11, 12

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Weightrainer.net published these two peaking programs: one designed especially for the bench press (#1) and another program (#2) for squat, bench, or deadlift.

The two programs are pretty similar, but here are some key differences: [Read more…]

Filed Under: 11 Week Programs, 12 Week Bench Press Programs, 12 Week Programs, Bench Press Workout Program, Deadlift Program, Lift Specific Program, Peaking Program, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Squat Program

Squat frequency: 1
Bench press frequency: 1
Deadlift frequency: 1

Gene Bell Jr.’s 12 Week Squat Peaking Program

By Kyle Risley
Last updated October 2, 2019

Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: 12

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Used by Gene Bell Jr. to prepare for a powerlifting meet, this program consists of one weekly squat workout over the course of 12 weeks to increase the 1 rep max by over 6%.

Format:

  • Squat 1x weekly
  • 12 weeks in length
  • Most work is done in 60-80% range, with final 4 weeks starting at 92.5% and working up

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Programs, 12 Week Squat Programs, Lift Specific Program, Peaking Program, Programs, Squat Program

Squat frequency: 1


Kizen 16 Week Powerbuilding Program (4 Week Preview + PDF)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated September 6, 2021

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 4

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Hypertrophy, Strength

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Hot on the heels of the immensely popular Kizen 6 Week Bench Peaking Program spreadsheet, Silent Mikke, Bart Kwan, and Omar Isuf have teamed up yet again to release the first 4 weeks of their 16 week Powerbuilding Program for free, including a PDF that explains the theory behind the program!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 16 Week Programs, 4 Week Programs, Bodybuilding Program, Powerbuilding Program, Powerlifting Program
Tagged With: 4 Week Workout Plan, 6 Day Bodybuilding Program, 6 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 3
Bench press frequency: 3
Deadlift frequency: 2
Overhead press frequency: 2

GZCL Method Spreadsheets: General Gainz, UHF, Jacked and Tan 2.0, The Rippler & More [Complete]

By Kyle Risley
Last updated June 29, 2026

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate

Weeks: 11, 12, 13, 15, 5

Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Updates:

  • May 18, 2020
    • Added a section for “Key GZCL Concepts & Program Differences” which is a great overview of the different GZCL program options.
  • I removed the spreadsheet previews for most of the spreadsheets because of negative impact to page load speed, especially for mobile users. All of the spreadsheets are still there, you will just need to click on the Google Sheets link with the green icon.
  • In depth post on GZCLP programs added to new post

Bred from the popular Reddit user /u/gzcl (also check out his blog and personal subreddit), these easy to use spreadsheets and calculators are based on the general “GZCL Method” for powerlifting.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 11 Week Programs, 12 Week Programs, 13 Week Programs, 15 Week Programs, 5 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs
Tagged With: 3 Day Workout Plan, 4 Day Split, 4 Day Workout Plan, 5 Day Workout Plan, 6 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2, 3
Bench press frequency: 2, 4
Deadlift frequency: 1, 2
Overhead press frequency: 1, 2

Bulgarian Method Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated February 14, 2022

Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: 5, 7, Indefinite

Periodization: Autoregulated, Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: High Volume, Powerlifting

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Renowned for its specificity, frequency, and intensity, the Bulgarian Method has long been a curiosity in the weightlifting and powerlifting world.

It is an advanced form of training and is not recommended for beginners or early intermediates. It requires a solid understanding of knowing your capabilities and autoregulating your lift intensity.

Traditionally structured as 2 to 3 workouts per day, this particular spreadsheet is based on Greg Nuckols’ Bulgarian Manual, which thankfully only calls for no more than one workout per day.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 5 Week Programs, 6 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs
Tagged With: 5 Day Workout Plan, 6 Day Workout Plan, 6 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 5, 6
Bench press frequency: 5, 6
Deadlift frequency: 5, 6

Strong Curves Spreadsheets + PDF: Beginner and Advanced Workouts

By Kyle Risley
Last updated June 26, 2026

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Beginner

Weeks: 12

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Glute hypertrophy, Hypertrophy, Strength

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): No


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Strong Curves is a system of separate 12-week programs created by Bret Contreras and Kellie Davis. You pick the program that matches your experience and equipment, run it for the full 12 weeks, then move up to the next one when you’re ready. Each program opens sessions with hip thrusts and glute bridges as the primary work, then moves into legs, upper body, and core. Bootyful Beginnings, the beginner program, runs 3 days per week.

The training idea is glute-focused hypertrophy with progressive overload. You start with bodyweight and band work, then add barbells as you get more experienced. Rep ranges shift each program so the weight goes up and the reps come down as you progress. It’s not a powerlifting program and it won’t build your squat and deadlift the way a strength-focused template would.

Strong Curves is a good fit for women and anyone focused on glute development at the novice to intermediate level. If you want a program built around the big-four lifts with linear progression, you’d get more out of something like Starting Strength first. Come back to Strong Curves when glute and lower body hypertrophy is the goal.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Programs, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 12 Week Workout Plan, 3 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1, 2
Bench press frequency: 2
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

New Rules of Lifting for Women Workout Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Weeks: Idefinite

Periodization: Block Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Hypertrophy, Strength

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): No


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

While men and women’s bodies respond in very similar ways to weight training (provided in the spreadsheet), the New Rules of Lifting for Women by Lou Schuler, Cassandra Forsythe, and Alwyn Cosgrove also provides nutrition advice and descriptions of the exercises, which may be useful for novice lifters or those looking to refamiliarize themselves with the movements. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 3 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1, 2

Deadlift frequency: 1, 2
Overhead press frequency: 1

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