Calculator
Plate Calculator
Quick answer
Enter the weight you want on the bar and the weight of the bar. The page splits the difference in half and loads the largest plates that fit, then the next, until the target is met or it runs out of sizes.
Turn a plate denomination off if your rack does not have it. If the target cannot be hit, the page shows the closest load under the target and how much is left.
Need a 1RM first? Use the one rep max calculator →
Estimates only. Testing a true max carries risk; use a spotter or safety arms. Not medical advice.
45 + 45 each side. Loaded 225 lb.
On this page
How does the plate calculator work?
Side load = (target − bar) / 2. Plates are taken largest first. Each plate is a pair: one on the left, one on the right. The drawing shows that pair.
Kilogram defaults are 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, and 1.25. Pound defaults are 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, and 2.5. The bar defaults to 20 kg or 45 lb. Change it for a 15 kg or 35 lb bar.
What inputs does it need?
Target weight, bar weight, unit, and which plates exist. The calculator assumes you have enough pairs of each plate you leave switched on.
Collars are not included. If you use collars, subtract them from the target or add them to the bar, and be consistent.
Worked example with sample numbers
Example only: 100 kg on a 20 kg bar. Each side needs 40 kg. With a full set that is a 25 and a 15. The drawing should show those two plates per side, not four 10s, because larger plates are used first.
225 lb on a 45 lb bar is 90 lb per side: two 45s. 185 lb is one 45 and two 10s if 25s are off, or a 45 and a 25 if both are on. Largest-first is the usual way a rack gets loaded.
Common mistakes
Forgetting the bar. A 20 kg bar is already on the needle before the first red plate. People who add plates until the math matches the plates, and forget the bar, are 20 kg light.
Loading one side from memory and the other from the screen. Read one side, copy it. The plate math guide is the same arithmetic in words.
FAQ
Which bar weight should I use?
20 kg or 45 lb for a standard men's bar. 15 kg or 35 lb for many women's bars. Technique bars and some specialty bars are different. Weigh it if you are unsure.
Why can't it hit my target?
The plates you left on do not divide the side load. Turn on a smaller plate, or accept the closest load underneath.
Does it count collars?
No. Add collar weight to the bar if you want them in the total.
Are 25 kg plates the same as 45 lb plates?
No. 25 kg is about 55.1 lb. Do not mix the colors from two systems and expect the number to match.
Can I load a dumbbell?
This is a barbell, two sides, one bar. A dumbbell is a different object.