Plate + Wilks Calculator
Load any barbell without the mental math — see the plates per side, the closest weight you can actually make, and your Wilks relative-strength score.
How a plate calculator works
Tell it your target weight, the bar and the plates you have, and it loads symmetric pairs from the heaviest plate down until it reaches the target — then shows exactly what goes on each side. No more counting 20s and 2.5s under the bar.
Why achievable weight can differ from your target
Not every weight is loadable with a given plate set. The calculator tells you when your target isn't exactly reachable and, in closest mode, rounds to the nearest weight you can actually make — so you're never left one small plate short mid-session.
How to choose bar and collar weight
A standard Olympic bar is 20 kg, a women's bar 15 kg, and you can enter a custom bar for specialty or home setups. If you train with heavy competition collars, add their combined weight so the total on the bar is right.
What a Wilks score means
The Wilks score normalises your total for bodyweight and sex so lifters of different sizes can be compared fairly. A higher score is a stronger lift relative to your weight — it's how powerlifting ranks performances across weight classes.
How to use relative strength in training
Tracking Wilks over a training block tells you whether you're getting stronger for your bodyweight, not just heavier. Pair it with your plate loading and a structured plan to keep your total — and your score — climbing.
Frequently asked questions
- How does the plate calculator handle odd weights?
- If your target can't be loaded exactly with your plates, it says so and — in closest mode — gives the nearest achievable weight instead of silently rounding.
- What bar weight should I use?
- 20 kg for a standard Olympic bar, 15 kg for a women's bar, or enter a custom weight for a specialty or home bar. Add collar weight if you use heavy collars.
- What is a good Wilks score?
- Recreational lifters often sit around 200–300, competitive lifters 300–400+, and elite totals push higher. It's most useful tracked over time for yourself.
- Which Wilks formula is this?
- It uses the Wilks-2 (2020) coefficients, the revised version that better balances bodyweight classes and sexes.
Track your strength and plan your next block
Use your loaded bar, total and relative strength score to build a structured progression plan.