Plate calculator
Barbell plate calculator: what to load on each side
Enter the total you want on the bar to see which plates to load on each side. Choose kilograms or pounds, your bar and whether you use collars.
Load the bar
The calculator uses the largest plates first, which needs the fewest plates on standard sets.
Example: 100 kg on a 20 kg bar
On each side
40 kg
Plates per side
25 + 15
Common loads
| Total (20 kg bar) | Each side | Weight per side |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 20 | 20 kg |
| 80 kg | 25 + 5 | 30 kg |
| 100 kg | 25 + 15 | 40 kg |
| 120 kg | 25 + 25 | 50 kg |
| 140 kg | 25 + 25 + 10 | 60 kg |
| Total (45 lb bar) | Each side | Weight per side |
|---|---|---|
| 135 lb | 45 | 45 lb |
| 185 lb | 45 + 25 | 70 lb |
| 225 lb | 45 + 45 | 90 lb |
| 275 lb | 45 + 45 + 25 | 115 lb |
| 315 lb | 45 + 45 + 45 | 135 lb |
Plate colours
Competition plates follow a colour code set by the International Weightlifting Federation, which many gyms use for bumper plates too. Iron plates in commercial gyms are often all black, so read the number on the plate.
| Disc | Colour |
|---|---|
| 25 kg | Red |
| 20 kg | Blue |
| 15 kg | Yellow |
| 10 kg | Green |
| 5 kg | White |
| 2.5 kg | Red (small) |
| 2 kg | Blue (small) |
| 1.5 kg | Yellow (small) |
| 1 kg | Green (small) |
| 0.5 kg | White (small) |
Bars and collars
- Bars. A standard men’s Olympic bar weighs 20 kg and a women’s bar 15 kg. In pound gyms, bars are usually listed as 45 lb. Technique and fixed bars vary, so check the label.
- Collars. Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each. Spring clips weigh very little, so most people leave them out of the total.
- Odd totals. If the total can’t be made exactly, the calculator shows the nearest load below it. Fractional plates of 0.5 kg or 1.25 lb make small jumps possible.
Small jumps add up
Adding 2.5 kg a week to a lift is 130 kg in a year on paper, which is why progress stalls: it isn’t sustainable for long. Smaller plates let you keep adding load in steps you can recover from. How to plan those steps is in progressive overload, and the one-rep max calculator turns any set into a training load.
The Bodyvault workout tracker has a plate calculator built into every set, so the right plates are on screen while you rest.
Privacy
The calculation runs in this page. Nothing you type is sent to a server, saved in your browser or put into the address bar; reloading the page restores the example. The site’s usual behaviour is in the privacy policy.
Questions
How much does an Olympic bar weigh?
A men’s Olympic bar weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb) and a women’s bar 15 kg (about 33 lb). Many gyms in the US list their bars as 45 lb.
Do I count the collars?
Competition collars are 2.5 kg each and are counted. Light spring clips usually aren’t.
Why can’t my total be made exactly?
Each side needs the same plates, so the total minus the bar must split evenly into plates you have. The calculator shows the nearest load you can make.