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Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) - Glossary Term Illustration

Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)

The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) is a scale used to assign a number to a participant’s perceived level of exertion. The scale is a subjective and qualitative (as opposed to objective and quantitative) measure; however, several studies have demonstrated validity, sensitivity, and reliability

Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)

Rate of Perceived Exertion: The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) is a scale used to assign a number to a participant’s perceived level of exertion. The scale is a subjective and qualitative (as opposed to objective and quantitative) measure; however, several studies have demonstrated validity, sensitivity, and reliability (1-3). This scale, sometimes referred to as the Borg scale or Borg’s scale, was introduced by Gunnar Borg (4) in 1982, with levels of exertion rated from 6-20. The intent of the scale was to match exertion to the participant’s approximate heart rate (rating x 10 = approximate heart rate for young adults). Later, Borg would construct the category ratio scale (CR) with a 0-10 rating. The level of exertion assigned to each
numerical rating for the original and CR scales is depicted below.The Borg scale is similar to other linear scales of perception or sensation, including Likert scales or visual analog scales.

Original Borg Scale (6-20)

  • 6 – no exertion at all, relaxed

  • 7 – extremely light

  • 8

  • 9 – very light

  • 10

  • 11 – light

  • 12 – moderate

  • 13 – somewhat hard

  • 14

  • 15 – hard

  • 16

  • 17 – very hard

  • 18

  • 19 – extremely hard

  • 20 – maximal exertion

Borg CR Scale (1-10)

  • 0 – Nothing at all

  • 0.5 – Just noticeable

  • 1 – Very light

  • 2 – Light

  • 3 – Moderate

  • 4 – Somewhat heavy

  • 5 – Heavy

  • 6

  • 7 – Very heavy

  • 8

  • 9

  • 10 – Very, very heavy

1.Coquart, J., Tabben, M., Farooq, A., Tourny, C., & Eston, R. (2016). Submaximal, perceptually
regulated exercise testing predicts maximal oxygen uptake: a meta-analysis study. Sports
Medicine, 46, 885-897.
2.Lea, J. W., O’Driscoll, J. M., Hulbert, S., Scales, J., & Wiles, J. D. (2022). Convergent validity of
ratings of perceived exertion during resistance exercise in healthy participants: a systematic
review and meta-analysis. Sports medicine-open, 8(1), 1-19.
3.Yu, H., Sun, C., Sun, B., Chen, X., & Tan, Z. (2021). Systematic review and meta-analysis of the
relationship between actual exercise intensity and rating of perceived exertion in the overweight
and obese population. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public
Health, 18(24), 12912.
4.Borg G. A category scale with ratio properties for intermodal and interindividual comparisons. In: Geissler HG, Petzold P, eds. Psychophysical judgement and the process of perception.
Berlin: VEB Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, 1982, pp. 25–34

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