Plate calculator (barbell loadout)

Enter the total target weight and your bar weight: the calculator returns the list of plates per side and a visual of the loaded bar.

Practical to prep a heavy set without mental math, or check that a competition total is reachable with available plates.

Standard plates

Algorithm uses calibrated IPF/IWF plates: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25 kg. For finer increments (0.5 or 1 kg in competition), micro plates (0.25 and 0.5 kg) are needed.

Olympic bars

• Olympic 20 kg: standard men's bar, 2.20 m, 50 mm sleeves.
• Olympic 15 kg: women's bar (IPF/IWF), 2.01 m, thinner.
• Short 10 kg: short bar (1.30 to 1.70 m), often for unilateral work or beginners.

How to use it

• Before a heavy set: enter target, verify you have the plates.
• In competition: validate opener / second / third weight.
• For your athlete: prepare the plate list to bring.

FAQ

Why does the calculator show "impossible" on some weights?

Target weight is unreachable with standard increments (e.g. 102 kg: 102 - 20 (bar) = 82 ÷ 2 = 41 per side, but 41 cannot be built with 25/20/15/10/5/2.5/1.25 plates). Use micro plates or adjust to 100 or 105 kg.

Are pound plates supported?

Not in this version. Calculator uses metric only. Convert before entering.