About the Plate Calculator
Loading a barbell is easy until you are tired and the numbers stop adding up. Type the weight you want on the bar, choose kilograms or pounds, pick your bar and the smallest plate you own, and this calculator shows exactly which plates to put on each side. It uses the heaviest plates first so you load as few as possible. If your exact weight cannot be made with the plates you have, it gives the closest weight below it and tells you how far short that is. It works well on a phone at the gym and needs no connection after the page has loaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Plate Calculator
- 1Type the total weight you want on the bar.
- 2Choose kilograms or pounds.
- 3Pick your bar: men's, women's, light or your own weight.
- 4Choose the smallest plate you have.
- 5Load the plates shown on each side and check the total.
The simple maths
Do not rely on guesswork when you lift near your limit. Write the plates down before the set, check that the collars are tight and that each sleeve holds the same stack, because a quick sanity check takes seconds and prevents awkward mistakes.
Total weight equals the bar plus two sides of plates. To load 100 kg on a 20 kg bar, you need 40 kg per side, which is a 25 kg plate and a 15 kg plate. In pounds, 225 lb on a 45 lb bar is 90 lb a side, which is two 45 lb plates.
Always load both sides evenly. An uneven bar twists under load and is unsafe. If you change a weight in the middle of a workout, take the plates off both sides in the same order.
Handy loads to remember
- 60 kg: one 20 kg plate each side.
- 100 kg: 25 and 15 kg each side.
- 140 kg: two 25 kg and one 10 kg each side.
- 135 lb: one 45 lb plate each side.
- 225 lb: two 45 lb plates each side.
- 315 lb: three 45 lb plates each side.
Related tools
To find how much you might lift in a single rep, try the One Rep Max Calculator, and to score a total against your body weight use the Wilks Score Calculator. Pair your training with the Protein Calculator and the Calorie Calculator for food targets,. Lift safely and use a spotter for heavy sets.
Features
- Kilograms and pounds
- Men's, women's, light and custom bars
- Heaviest plates first, fewest plates
- Closest loadable weight when yours cannot be made
- Choose your smallest plate
- Big readable result for the gym floor
- Private, no sign-up
Frequently asked questions
How do I know how many plates go on each side?
Subtract the bar from the total, then halve it. Each side holds that weight in plates. The calculator then picks the biggest plates that fit.
How much does a standard barbell weigh?
A men's Olympic bar is 20 kg or 45 lb. A women's bar is 15 kg or 35 lb. Some gym bars weigh less, so weigh yours or use the custom option.
What plates does it use for kilograms?
25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.5 and 0.25 kg. Choose your smallest plate so it only uses what you own.
What plates does it use for pounds?
45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 lb, with the smallest plate you select as the limit.
Why is the total less than I typed?
If your plates cannot make that exact weight, the closest weight below it is shown, with the difference. Add smaller plates to get closer.
Does it include collars?
No. Add the weight of competition collars, usually 2.5 kg each, to your target if you use them.
Can I use it to warm up?
Yes. Type each warm-up weight in turn, for example 60, 80 and 90, and load the plates shown.