Barbell Plate Calculator

Type a weight, see exactly which plates go on each side.

lb
Plates you have

How it works

Subtract the bar, split what's left in half, and fill each side with the biggest plates that fit: that's all a plate calculator does, but it's easy to get wrong between sets when you're tired. This one also lets you untick plates your gym doesn't have, and tells you the closest weight you can load when your target isn't possible.

The drawing shows the bar as you'd load it, heaviest plates closest to the center. In kilograms, plates use the standard competition colors.

Quick reference

Common pound totals on a 45 lb bar

Common kilogram totals on a 20 kg bar

Plan your weights first

Working from percentages or RPE? Get your numbers from the one-rep max calculator, which rounds to your plate increment, then load them here. And if you'd rather not do any of this math mid-workout, GymGod shows your last weights for every exercise as you log.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?

A standard men's Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (44 lb), usually rounded to 45 lb in US gyms. A women's Olympic bar weighs 15 kg (33 lb, often called 35). Technique bars and EZ bars are lighter, usually 15–25 lb. If you're not sure, ask your gym or check the end cap.

Why can't I load my exact target weight?

You need to add the same weight to both sides, so the smallest jump is two of your smallest plate. With 2.5 lb plates, you can only load in 5 lb steps. The calculator shows the closest weight you can load and how far off it is. Fractional plates (1.25 lb or 0.5 kg) let you make smaller jumps.

What do the plate colors mean?

In kilograms, competition plates follow a color code: 25 kg red, 20 kg blue, 15 kg yellow, 10 kg green, 5 kg white, 2.5 kg black and 1.25 kg silver. Pound plates in most gyms are plain iron or black bumpers, so they're drawn in one color here.

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