Barbell plate calculator
Enter your target weight and bar, untick any plates your gym doesn’t have, and see exactly what to load on each side.
Gymex shows the plates to load next to every set while you train.
Get the appHow to load a barbell
Subtract the bar from your target, halve it, and fill each side with the heaviest plates first. For 100 kg on a 20 kg bar that leaves 40 kg per side: one 25 and one 15, or two 20s if your gym doesn’t have 15s. Untick plates above to match what your gym stocks.
Common loads
| Target | Bar | Plates per side |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 20 kg | 1 × 20 |
| 100 kg | 20 kg | 1 × 25 + 1 × 15 |
| 140 kg | 20 kg | 2 × 25 + 1 × 10 |
| 180 kg | 20 kg | 3 × 25 + 1 × 5 |
| 135 lb | 45 lb | 1 × 45 |
| 225 lb | 45 lb | 2 × 45 |
| 315 lb | 45 lb | 3 × 45 |
| 405 lb | 45 lb | 4 × 45 |
Bar weights
- Men’s Olympic bar: 20 kg (about 44 lb). In the US the standard bar is 45 lb.
- Women’s Olympic bar: 15 kg (about 33 lb).
- Technique, EZ and fixed bars: usually 5–12 kg. Check the end cap or weigh it once.
- Smith machine: the effective weight varies with counterbalancing, so log it the same way every time instead of guessing.
Tips
- Load the heaviest plates closest to the sleeve’s inside collar, and always use clips.
- If you can’t hit a weight exactly, the calculator shows the closest load you can make. Small jumps of 1–2.5 kg are fine for upper-body lifts.
- Calibrated competition plates are accurate. Cheap gym plates can be several percent off, so use the same bar and plates for your test sets.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?
A men’s Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb) and a women’s weighs 15 kg. Most US gyms treat the standard bar as 45 lb.
What plates do I need for 100 kg?
On a 20 kg bar, 100 kg needs 40 kg per side, for example one 25 kg and one 15 kg plate, or two 20 kg plates.
What plates do I need for 225 lb?
On a 45 lb bar, 225 lb needs 90 lb per side: two 45 lb plates.
Does the plate calculator include collars?
No. Standard spring clips weigh almost nothing, but competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each. If you use those, add 5 kg to the bar weight.
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These calculators give estimates for healthy adults. They are not medical advice. If you have an injury or a health condition, speak to a qualified professional before changing your training or diet.