Barbell Plate Calculator

Target weight

Bar weight

Units

Collar weight, pair

Result

Plates on one side1 × 25 kg 1 × 15 kg
Weight a side40
Actual bar weight100
Loading accuracythe weight loads exactly
Plates in total4
Gap to the target0

This result is informational only and is not professional advice.

Doing this in your head between sets is no fun

Works out which plates to load on each side of the bar for a target weight, and whether that weight loads exactly.

The arithmetic is simple but tiresome: subtract the bar, halve the remainder, break it into available denominations. Fresh, it takes a second. Between sets on a heavy day it is a source of mistakes you discover under the bar.

The second recurring problem is weights that cannot be loaded at all. With an ordinary set of plates the step is 2.5 kg on the bar, and anything in between needs micro-plates or a willingness to work at the nearest possible number.

What this calculator shows

The plates for one side and the total plate count
The actual bar weight and the gap to your target
Whether the target loads exactly

What to keep in mind

The standard gym set is assumed: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25 and 0.5 kilograms; in pounds 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5.
Loading is greedy, heaviest plate first. That gives the fewest plates, which is convenient, though not always the tidiest-looking bar.

FAQs

How much does an Olympic bar weigh?

The men's bar is 20 kg at 2.2 metres, the women's 15 kg at 2.01 metres. Training and short bars run from 7 to 15.

What is the smallest step on a barbell?

With 1.25 kg plates it is 2.5 kg on the bar. Micro-plates of 0.25 and 0.5 bring that down to 500 grams.

Do collars count?

Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg a pair and must be counted. Ordinary spring clips weigh grams and are ignored.

Why will my target not load?

Because the remainder after halving does not break into the denominations you have. The calculator shows the nearest loadable weight and how far short it falls.

Worked example

A hundred on an Olympic bar

Input: Target 100 kg, 20 kg bar

Output: 25 and 15 a side, loading exactly

Note: Two plates a side rather than four twenties — less fiddling with collars. With no 25s available, the same 40 comes from 20 + 15 + 5.

Useful links

All tools in Health calculators for weight, lab values and training

Barbell Plate Calculator

Result

Related tools

Training Max Calculator

Wilks Coefficient Calculator

One Rep Max Calculator

Useful links