Does 25 reps build strength?

Author: Prof. Felix Turcotte  |  Last update: Saturday, October 18, 2025

In 2016 a study at McMaster University in Ontario, USA found that lifting relatively light weights (about 50% of your one-rep max) for about 20–25 reps is just as efficient at building both strength and muscle size as lifting heavier weights (up to 90% of one-rep max) for 8-12 reps.

Can you build muscle with 25 reps?

Yes, you can build muscle by doing sets of 25 reps, but it depends on various factors, including your training goals, the weight used, and your overall workout program. Key Points: Rep Range and Muscle Growth: - Traditional hypertrophy training often emphasizes a rep range of 6-12 reps.

Can you build strength with 20 reps?

These are the three most common rep ranges and their most popular use: The low range (1-5 reps), typically employed to increase strength. The medium range (6-12 reps), also known as “the hypertrophy range”, usually recommended for muscle growth. The high range (15-20+ reps) for muscular endurance.

How many reps is enough to build strength?

1-5 Reps is where you want to be if you are looking specifically for strength gains. Stick to this rep range of top end strength is your goal. 5-8 Reps is used for what is known as functional hypertrophy. This is for people who are looking to gain some size, strength and speed, without too much muscular building.

What is the 25 rep rule?

Some of the most effective muscle- and strength-building programs share a common trait—the total number of reps for the main exercises usually add up to around 25. Shoot for that number over the next four weeks and your gains will add up fast, too.

What's So Special About 25 Reps?

Is 4 sets of 25 reps good?

Sets of anywhere from 4–40 reps will stimulate muscle growth quite well, but most research shows that doing 6–20 reps per set is the most efficient way to build muscle. Bodybuilders often use the middle of that range, favouring 8–12 reps per set.

Does a pump mean muscle growth?

"Muscle pump" is really just fitness slang for a phenomenon called transient hypertrophy. Hypertrophy refers to the growth of a muscle, and transient means it's only temporary.

Will high reps build strength?

Working with higher reps and lighter weights or lower reps with heavier weights will affect your body differently. According to the strength-endurance continuum, low rep counts are best for building muscular strength, moderate rep counts for building muscle mass, and high rep counts for building endurance.

Will 3 sets of 10 build muscle?

This holds that regardless of whether you're trying to build muscle, strength, power, or endurance, performing three sets of 10 reps per exercise is a good place to start. The scheme mostly works, especially if you're just starting out with strength training—because everything works in the beginning.

How many repetitions to build muscle memory?

Some researchers believe it takes between 1000 and 30,000 repetitions of an activity for it to become second nature to you. When building muscle memory, commit to it for the long haul. Your ability as a player will grow in leaps and bounds for it.

Why do bodybuilders do 20 reps?

If you're trying to build size, up it to 8-12 repetitions per set at a moderate intensity (around 65-85 per cent of one-rep max). To stimulate those slow-twitch fibres and build resistance, aim for 13-20 repetitions per set at a lower intensity (around 50-65 per cent of one-rep max).

How to progressive overload?

Progressive overload can be achieved through various methods:
  1. Increasing Weight: The most common method, where you gradually lift heavier weights.
  2. Increasing Repetitions: Performing more repetitions with the same weight.
  3. Increasing Sets: Adding more sets to your routine.

What rep range is best for muscle growth?

Train like a bodybuilder: If you're looking to maximize muscle size, target 8-12 reps per set (on average) and choose multijoint movements like the bench press, squat, overhead press, bent-over row, and deadlift, which recruit more total muscle mass than single-joint moves, thus allowing you to lift heavier weights.

What is the 6-12 25 rule?

The 6-12-25 Protocol is a powerhouse training protocol that harnesses the intensity of giant sets to pack high-volume work into a short period. By targeting one muscle group or body part per set, this method takes you through three different exercises with minimal rest, hitting 6, 12, and 25 reps in quick succession.

Is it better to lift heavy or more reps?

Workouts that use low weight with higher reps are also safer. If you try to lift weights that are too heavy, you are more likely to cause a muscle tear or strain. You can use signals from your body to figure out what size weights to use for your workout.

Is it harder to build muscle after 25?

As you age, it becomes more challenging to build muscle. After age 30, muscle mass naturally declines, making it harder to gain power and strength.

How many sets to get stronger?

For the development of maximal strength try 3-5 sets at 1-3 reps with 80% of your rep max. For explosive strength, 6-10 sets of 1-3 reps with between 60-70% of your rep max may be performed. The key in this instance is to perform the movement as fast as possible, while maintaining good form.

How long to rest between sets?

Rest between set durations should be based on sets/exercise (volume), and not load or training goal. General recommendations include moderate (2 min) rest between sets if performing 2 sets/exercise, long rest (3 min) if performing 3 sets/exercise, and very long rest (> 4 min) if performing 4 sets or more/exercise.

Is 3x10 squat enough?

Do 3 sets of 10 reps 2 or 3 times per week. The benefit of this approach is you are working the muscles more frequently, increasing the stress on the muscle to cause muscle burn and stimulate growth. This is not a conventional approach to muscle growth, but we have found it does work.

Is 30 reps too much?

Around 30 reps is a great place to start for most goals, building muscle (hypertrophy), gaining strength or increasing endurance. It's how they are broken up into sets and reps that make the difference. For building muscle, an ideal split of your 30 reps is 3 sets of 10.

Is it better to lift, heavy or light?

The study found that the muscle size results for both groups were similar. However, for strength gains, the subjects using higher weights and lower reps saw the most benefit. When it comes to gaining muscle, as long as you're working close to failure, the weight you choose becomes less important.

How to increase strength?

A strength exercise is any activity that makes your muscles work harder than usual. This increases your muscles' strength, size, power and endurance. The activities involve using your body weight or working against a resistance. You should try to do 2 sessions or more of muscle strengthening exercises a week.

What makes muscles grow faster?

Increase the intensity of your workouts instead of working out for long periods of time. Make sure you're getting enough calories and protein in your diet for muscle growth. Get plenty of sleep and give your muscles time for recovery. Try supplements for more strength, energy, and power, like creatine and HMB.

Why are my arms getting bigger but not toned?

Hormonal imbalances can lead to water retention, making your arms look inflated. Stagnation, or a lack of physical activity, can cause you to have extra weight in your arms as well as other areas. This is because you're not getting enough physical activity to tone your muscles.

How do you tell if your muscles are growing?

5 Secret Signs You're Building Muscles
  1. Increased Strength. Even without documented muscle growth, you're making gains if you're getting stronger. ...
  2. The Scale is Going Up. ...
  3. Your Workouts Feel Easier. ...
  4. Your Posture Is Better. ...
  5. You're Recovering Faster from Your Workouts. ...
  6. Summing It Up.

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