How Buffro evaluates exercise strength
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.
What the public dataset covers
As of July 31, 2026, the public web library contains 1,084 exercise guides. Of those, 994 have a rankable standard. An exercise can still have a useful form guide without receiving a rank. For example, a forward jump should not be scored from rep count alone.
The July 31, 2026 app source snapshot contains 1,102 records: 998 rankable movements and 104 deliberate movement-type exclusions. The public web subset is smaller because a guide must also pass its instruction and media publishing checks. This page reports both scopes so the numbers are not presented as interchangeable.
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 | Published standards | Rank input | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| External weight + reps | 791 | Estimated one-rep max divided by bodyweight | Squats, presses, rows, curls, and machine work |
| Bodyweight reps | 178 | Clean reps adjusted for bodyweight and movement difficulty | Pull-ups, push-ups, and bodyweight core work |
| Weighted bodyweight | 15 | Supported bodyweight plus rep-adjusted external load | Weighted pull-ups and weighted dips |
| Assisted bodyweight | 10 | Supported bodyweight after rep-adjusted assistance | Assisted pull-ups and assisted dips |
How a logged set becomes a rank
- Buffro selects the exercise's calculation branch and threshold table.
- The logged load and reps are normalized for that branch. External-load lifts use an estimated one-rep max; bodyweight variants account for supported or assisted bodyweight.
- The normalized result is compared with the exercise- and sex-specific thresholds, then assigned the highest tier it meets.
For example, cable lat pulldown uses the external-weight branch, while a pull-up uses the bodyweight-repetition branch. Treating the same rep count as equivalent across those movements would produce a misleading comparison.
Why bodyweight matters
The current 2026-07-29-v2 calibration scales each tier from a sex-specific reference bodyweight. Lift- and tier-specific allometric exponents avoid applying one bodyweight ratio to every lifter and every rank. The modeled range is 50-140 kg for men and 40-120 kg for women; values outside those ranges continue from the boundary with the exercise's final-tier exponent instead of stopping abruptly.
Bodyweight-rep movements use the same contextual scaling from reference values of 75 kg for men and 60 kg for women. Movement families such as push-ups and ab-wheel rollouts can also apply a calibrated difficulty multiplier 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
In the app source snapshot, the 104 exclusions are 26 time-based movements, 64 trivial-repetition movements, and 14 unsupported types. Buffro leaves these unranked rather than assigning a precise-looking number that the logged measurement cannot support.
Limits and interpretation
These are Buffro's proprietary, calibrated training benchmarks. They have not been independently peer reviewed, do not measure technique or range of motion, and should not be used to compare injury risk or health. Equipment geometry also varies between machines. Use ranks as a consistent progress reference alongside clean form and your own training history, not as a diagnosis or universal definition of strength.
Our editorial policy explains how exercise instructions, product claims, sources, and corrections are reviewed.
Dataset license
Buffro's exercise strength standards and underlying database are proprietary. You may view and use the published standards for personal fitness tracking under Buffro's Terms of Service. Scraping, resale, reverse engineering, or commercial exploitation is not permitted except where applicable law expressly permits or Buffro gives written permission. No other rights are granted.
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.