Barbell plate calculator
Tells you what to hang on each side of the bar for a target weight, and whether the number is reachable at all with standard plates.
Barbell Plate Calculator
To load a barbell, subtract the bar weight (20 kg or 45 lb for a standard Olympic bar), halve what remains and load that amount on each side. For 100 kg on a 20 kg bar you need 40 kg per side: one 20, one 15 and one 5. The smallest common plate is 1.25 kg, so the bar moves in 2.5 kg steps.
Defaults to 20 kg / 45 lb.
Exact match
Per side
Method notes (1)
- Load these plates on EACH side of the 20 kg bar to hit 100 kg.
runs the same code as the app · nothing is sent anywhere
How it works
Plates load in pairs, so the calculator subtracts the bar, halves what is left, and fills that per-side figure greedily from the heaviest plate down. Kilo gyms are assumed to stock 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25; pound gyms 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5.
When a target cannot be hit exactly it loads the closest weight below and tells you the shortfall, which is why some numbers that look round are not actually rackable.
Common questions
How much does the bar weigh?
A standard Olympic barbell is 20 kg or 45 lb. Women's Olympic bars are 15 kg, and many fixed or technique bars are lighter, so override the default if your gym's bar differs.
Why can't I hit my target exactly?
Because the smallest common plate is 1.25 kg per side, which moves the bar in 2.5 kg steps. Micro plates of 0.5 or 0.25 kg fill the gap if your gym has them.
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