Barbell Plate Calculator
Plates per side
Choose target weight, bar and the plates you have.
To get the weight per side, subtract the bar and collars from the target weight and divide by two. According to the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) rules, the competition bar and collars weigh 25 kg together, with each collar weighing 2.5 kg.
How the plate calculator works
The calculation follows a simple formula: (target − bar − collars) ÷ 2 gives the weight per side. That weight is then filled with the largest available plates first. If the target cannot be reached exactly with the selected plates, the calculator shows the closest lower weight.
Which plates exist?
The IPF rules specify competition plates of 1.25 kg, 2.5 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, 15 kg, 20 kg and 25 kg. The three heaviest plates also have a mandatory colour.
| Plate | Colour per IPF |
|---|---|
| 25 kg | Red |
| 20 kg | Blue |
| 15 kg | Yellow |
| 10 kg and lighter | any colour |
In which order are plates loaded?
According to the IPF, the heaviest plates go on the inside, followed by lighter plates in descending order. Gym bars and plates often differ from the competition standard, which is why bar and available plates can be chosen freely in the calculator, in kilograms or pounds.
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- International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) (2021). Technical Rules Book. powerlifting.sport (PDF)