Plate Calculator: What Plates to Load on Each Side of the Bar
Type your target weight and pick your bar. The plate calculator shows which plates go on each side, with a drawing of the loaded bar. In kg or lb.
How the plate math works
The weight on each side of the bar is (target weight − bar weight) ÷ 2. The calculator then fills each side starting with the heaviest plate that still fits and works down to the smallest one:
- kg plates: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25
- lb plates: 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5
If the target can't be matched exactly with those plates, it loads the closest weight below your target and shows you that number. The drawing uses the usual competition colours for kg plates, so you can match it to the plates on the floor.
Examples
Target | Bar | Each side |
|---|---|---|
60 kg | 20 kg | 20 |
102.5 kg | 20 kg | 25 + 15 + 1.25 |
135 lb | 45 lb | 45 |
185 lb | 45 lb | 45 + 25 |
225 lb | 45 lb | 45 + 45 |
Take 102.5 kg on a 20 kg bar: 102.5 − 20 = 82.5, and half of that is 41.25 kg per side. The heaviest plate that fits is 25, then 15, then 1.25.
Check which bar you are using
A standard Olympic bar weighs 20 kg, or 45 lb in pound gyms. The calculator also lets you pick 15 kg and 10 kg bars (or 35 lb and 15 lb), which you find as women's bars and lighter technique bars. Many gyms also have fixed or EZ bars with other weights. If the weight isn't stamped on the bar, ask staff or weigh it once.
A 45 lb bar is about 20.4 kg, so a kg bar and a lb bar are close but not the same. If you train in more than one gym, check before you compare numbers. Collars also add a little weight: spring clips weigh almost nothing, heavier lockjaw or competition collars weigh more.
Loading the bar safely
- Put the heaviest plates on first, closest to the sleeve's inner collar.
- Load both sides with the same plates in the same order, so the bar stays balanced.
- Use collars on every working set.
- For heavy squats and bench presses, set the safety arms or use a spotter, and warm up with lighter sets on the way to your working weight.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?
A standard Olympic bar weighs 20 kg, which pound gyms list as 45 lb. Women's bars are usually 15 kg (35 lb), and technique bars can be lighter.
Do you count the bar when you say how much you lift?
Yes. The weight of a lift is the bar plus all the plates (and collars, if you want to be exact). That is why the calculator subtracts the bar before splitting the plates.
How do you calculate the plates on a barbell?
Subtract the bar from the target and divide by two to get the weight per side. Then add plates from heaviest to lightest until you reach that number.
What plates do I need for 225 lb?
With a 45 lb bar, 225 lb is 90 lb per side, so two 45 lb plates on each side.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a professional about your own situation.