Barbell Plate Calculator
Enter the weight you want to lift and see exactly which plates to load on each side of the bar.
What does a plate calculator do?
A plate calculator takes the weight you want on the bar and works out which plates to load on each side. It saves you doing mental math between sets, and it catches weights you can't load exactly with the plates your gym actually has.
How the plates are worked out
First the calculator subtracts the bar and splits what's left evenly between the two sides:
Weight per side = (target weight − bar weight) ÷ 2
It then searches for the combination of your selected plates that matches that per-side weight using the fewest plates, preferring heavier plates when two options use the same number. If the exact weight isn't possible — for example, when the smallest plate you have is too big — it shows the closest lighter load and the next heavier one.
How to use this calculator
Pick kg or lb, enter your target weight, and set the bar weight (or tap a common bar). Turn off any plate sizes your gym doesn't have, then press Calculate plates. You'll get the plates for one side, a diagram of how to load them, and the total number of each plate you'll need for both sides.
Common bar weights and loading tips
A standard men's Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg, and a women's Olympic bar weighs 15 kg. In US gyms, a standard barbell is usually 45 lb. Technique bars, EZ curl bars, and trap bars vary widely, so check the label or weigh the bar if you're unsure. Load the heaviest plates first, closest to the center of the bar, and put a collar on each side. Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each, while spring clips are light enough that most people ignore them — to include collars, add their weight to the bar weight.
Limitations
The calculator assumes you have as many of each selected plate as you need. Real plates are made to a tolerance — competition powerlifting plates must be within 0.25% or 10 g of their label, and everyday gym plates are often less precise. The diagram uses the competition colors for 25, 20, and 15 kg plates (red, blue, and yellow); your gym's plates may look different. Lift within your ability and use safeties or a spotter for heavy sets. For more strength and fitness tools, see all Tools.
Barbell lifts with 3D form guides
Read the science
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References
The formulas and figures on this page come from these sources. Our Editorial Policy explains how they're chosen and checked.
- Bar, collar, and plate weights, colors, and tolerances: International Powerlifting Federation. (2026). Technical rulebook (effective 1 March 2026). Link
- 20 kg men's and 15 kg women's Olympic bars (rules 3.3.3.3–3.3.3.4): International Weightlifting Federation. (2019). Technical and competition rules & regulations. Link