Barbell plate calculator
Enter the total weight you want on the bar and see exactly which plates to load on each side.
How to load a barbell
Subtract the bar (and collars, if you use them) from your target, then split what is left evenly between the two sides. The calculator fills each side with the largest plates first, which keeps the number of plates on the bar as low as possible.
Example: 100 kg on a 20 kg bar leaves 80 kg, which is 40 kg per side: one 25 kg and one 15 kg plate. In pounds, 225 lb on a 45 lb bar is two 45 lb plates per side.
Load the heaviest plates closest to the centre of the bar, and use collars when you can.
Questions
How much does a barbell weigh?
A standard men's Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb); in pound gyms it is usually counted as 45 lb. Women's Olympic bars weigh 15 kg (35 lb). Technique and training bars are often 10 kg or 15 lb.
Should I count the collars?
Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each. Spring clips weigh very little and are usually ignored. Tick the collars box if yours add real weight.
What if my gym doesn't have every plate?
Untick the plates you don't have. The calculator then uses only what's left and tells you if the exact weight can't be made.
Know your one rep max
The 1RM Calculator app estimates your max from any set and ranks it against strength standards.