How Buffro ranks strength across 1,102 exercises
A single bodyweight multiple does not work for every movement. Buffro uses exercise-specific tables and four calculation branches so a pull-up, cable row, weighted dip, and assisted dip are evaluated in a way that matches how each one is performed.
The nine ranks
Every rankable movement uses the same progression: Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, Veteran, Elite, Master, and Apex. The thresholds differ by exercise and sex. They are calibrated training benchmarks, not medical limits and not a promise that every lifter should chase the final tier.
Four calculation branches
| Movement branch | Rank input | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|
| External weight + reps | Estimated one-rep max divided by bodyweight | Squats, presses, rows, curls, and machine work |
| Bodyweight reps | Clean reps adjusted for bodyweight and movement difficulty | Pull-ups, push-ups, and bodyweight core work |
| Weighted bodyweight | Supported bodyweight plus rep-adjusted external load | Weighted pull-ups and weighted dips |
| Assisted bodyweight | Supported bodyweight after rep-adjusted assistance | Assisted pull-ups and assisted dips |
Why bodyweight matters
External-load movements compare estimated one-rep max with bodyweight. Bodyweight-rep movements use a softer bodyweight adjustment with reference values of 75 kg for men and 60 kg for women. Movement families such as push-ups and ab-wheel rollouts also account for leverage differences between variants.
The public exercise tables show the adult-under-40 baseline. Inside the app, age coefficients begin at 40 and are applied consistently to the same standards. Bilateral dumbbell movements use the combined external load, matching what Buffro records.
What is intentionally excluded
The source contains 1,102 exercise records. Of those, 997 are rankable. Buffro deliberately excludes 26 time-based movements, 65 trivial-rep movements, and 14 unsupported types rather than publishing a misleading number. A forward jump, for example, should not receive a strength rank from rep count alone.
See the standards in use
Quality-gated pages in the exercise library include an interactive table that scales the standards to bodyweight and sex. Start with the cable lat pulldown, pull-up, or barbell squat.