Plate loading calculator
Enter the weight you want on the bar and the weight of the empty bar. The calculator splits the rest into two equal sides and picks the heaviest plates first, so you load the fewest plates possible.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Choose kilograms or pounds.
- Enter the total weight you want to lift and the weight of the empty bar.
- Read how many plates of each size go on each side. Sizes you do not need are hidden.
How it works
The weight to add is the target minus the bar. Half of it goes on each side. Plates are picked from the heaviest down: take as many 25 kg plates as fit, then 20 kg, and so on. This greedy method gives the smallest number of plates for these plate sets. The work is done in hundredths of a unit so that 1.25 and 2.5 kg plates add up exactly.
Worked example
You want 143 kg on a 20 kg bar. (143 − 20) ÷ 2 = 61.5 kg per side. That is 25 + 25 + 10 + 1.25 = 61.25 kg, leaving 0.25 kg per side. The load on the bar is 142.5 kg, short of the target by 0.5 kg.
Tips
- Weigh a plate you rely on. Plates in gyms can be a little off, and competition plates are calibrated while training plates may not be.
- Start with the plates you need heavy and put the small ones last, so you can add change plates between sets.
- Check the bar weight. A women’s, technique or trap bar weighs differently from a standard bar.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a standard barbell weigh?
A men's Olympic barbell is 20 kg, which is the bar used in IWF and IPF competition, and a women's bar is 15 kg. In pounds, a gym Olympic bar is usually listed as 45 lb, which is 20.4 kg. Bars differ, so check the label or weigh yours.
Why does the result say I am short of the target?
Plates only come in fixed sizes. If half of the extra weight is not a multiple of the smallest plate in the set, the closest lighter load is shown and the gap is listed. With 1.25 kg plates the load changes in steps of 2.5 kg.
Which plates does the calculator assume?
Metric loading uses 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg plates. Pound loading uses 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 lb plates. It assumes you own as many of each as needed. Collars are not counted, so add them if you want an exact total.
Do I need to load both sides evenly?
Yes, balance matters for safety. The calculator always puts identical plates on both sides and puts the heaviest ones closest to the lifter's hands, which is the usual way to load.