Tools
Barbell plate calculator
Type the weight you want on the bar and see which plates go on each side, in kg or lb, for any bar. Tick the plates your gym has. If a weight cannot be built, you get what is left over and the nearest loadable weights below and above.
How the plates are worked out
Take the bar's weight off the total and halve what is left. That is the load for each side. Then put on the heaviest plate that fits, and keep going down the sizes until the side is made.
With a full set this is all there is to it, and it is the same rule the Masheen app uses under every barbell set. With a set that has gaps, or only one pair of a size, the heaviest plate is not always the right start: 100 kg on a 20 kg bar with only 25s and 10s is four 10s a side, not a 25 and a 15. The calculator checks every way to build the side and keeps the one with the heaviest plates.
If no combination makes the weight, you see how much is left over, and the nearest weights below and above that your plates can make. The arrows beside the weight step through those loads one at a time.
Load the heaviest plates nearest the middle and the smallest on the outside, the order powerlifting rules ask for. Collars are not counted here. Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each; if yours are heavy, add both to the bar weight.
Plates for common weights
Each row is a link that draws the load. Kilograms are on a 20 kg bar, pounds on a 45 lb bar, both with a full set of plates.
| On the bar | Each side | Plates per side |
|---|---|---|
| 40 kg | 10 kg | 10 |
| 60 kg | 20 kg | 20 |
| 80 kg | 30 kg | 25 + 5 |
| 100 kg | 40 kg | 25 + 15 |
| 120 kg | 50 kg | 2 × 25 |
| 140 kg | 60 kg | 2 × 25 + 10 |
| 160 kg | 70 kg | 2 × 25 + 20 |
| 180 kg | 80 kg | 3 × 25 + 5 |
| 200 kg | 90 kg | 3 × 25 + 15 |
| On the bar | Each side | Plates per side |
|---|---|---|
| 95 lb | 25 lb | 25 |
| 135 lb | 45 lb | 45 |
| 185 lb | 70 lb | 45 + 25 |
| 225 lb | 90 lb | 2 × 45 |
| 275 lb | 115 lb | 2 × 45 + 25 |
| 315 lb | 135 lb | 3 × 45 |
| 365 lb | 160 lb | 3 × 45 + 25 |
| 405 lb | 180 lb | 4 × 45 |
| 495 lb | 225 lb | 5 × 45 |
How much the bar weighs
The bar is part of the lift, so the calculator needs its true weight. These are the figures in the rule books and on the makers' own pages. Specialty bars differ from model to model: where a row says so, use the number on your own bar.
| Bar | Weight | What to know | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's competition bar (weightlifting) | 20 kg (44.1 lb) | 2.2 m long with 50 mm sleeves. Load this bar | [2] |
| Powerlifting competition bar | 20 kg (44.1 lb) | The rule is 25 kg for the bar with its two 2.5 kg collars, and no longer than 2.2 m. Load this bar | [1] |
| Women's bar | 15 kg (33.1 lb) | 2.01 m long. One maker lists its women's bars at 33 lb. Load this bar | [3] [8] |
| Seven-foot bar sold in pounds | 45 lb (20.4 kg) | About 0.9 lb heavier than a 20 kg bar. Load this bar | [7] |
| Technique bar | 10 kg (22 lb) | Full length and light, for learning the lifts. This one is rated for 40 kg of plates. Load this bar | [5] |
| EZ curl bar | 12 kg (26.5 lb) | One maker's figure. Curl bars vary, so check yours. Load this bar | [4] |
| Trap bar or hex bar | 45 lb, 25 kg (55.1 lb) or 77 lb | Three models, three weights. Use the number on your own bar. Load this bar | [9] [6] [10] |
| Smith machine bar | 11 lb or 30 lb | Two machines, two starting weights. Read the label on the frame. Load this bar | [12] [11] |
Plates in kg and lb
One kilogram is 2.2046 pounds, so a kg plate is never quite a round number in pounds, and the other way round. Powerlifting rules allow plates of 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg, each within 0.25 percent or 10 grams of its marked weight, with 25 kg plates red, 20 kg blue and 15 kg yellow. [1]
| kg plate | In pounds | A pair adds | Colour in powerlifting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 kg | 55.12 lb | 110.2 lb | Red |
| 20 kg | 44.09 lb | 88.2 lb | Blue |
| 15 kg | 33.07 lb | 66.1 lb | Yellow |
| 10 kg | 22.05 lb | 44.1 lb | Any |
| 5 kg | 11.02 lb | 22.0 lb | Any |
| 2.5 kg | 5.51 lb | 11.0 lb | Any |
| 1.25 kg | 2.76 lb | 5.5 lb | Any |
| lb plate | In kilograms | A pair adds |
|---|---|---|
| 45 lb | 20.41 kg | 40.8 kg |
| 35 lb | 15.88 kg | 31.8 kg |
| 25 lb | 11.34 kg | 22.7 kg |
| 10 lb | 4.54 kg | 9.1 kg |
| 5 lb | 2.27 kg | 4.5 kg |
| 2.5 lb | 1.13 kg | 2.3 kg |
A loading chart for the wall
The chart lists every load for your bar and your plates on one page, each row with its plates drawn. It prints on A4 or Letter.
Sources
- International Powerlifting Federation, Technical Rulebook, effective 1 March 2026, sections 2.3 and 2.4 read 12 November 2026
- Eleiko, IWF Weightlifting Competition Bar, 20 kg, men: product sheet read 12 November 2026
- Eleiko, IWF Weightlifting Training Bar, 15 kg, women: product sheet read 12 November 2026
- Eleiko, Curl Bar, 50 mm, 12 kg: product sheet read 12 November 2026
- Eleiko, Powerlifting Technique Bar, 10 kg: product sheet read 12 November 2026
- Eleiko, Öppen Bar (open trap bar), 25 kg: product sheet read 12 November 2026
- York Barbell, 7 ft International Chrome Olympic Bar, 30 mm: product page read 12 November 2026
- York Barbell, Women's International Chrome Olympic Training Weight Bar: product page read 12 November 2026
- York Barbell, Olympic Hex Weight Bar, 45 lb: product page read 12 November 2026
- York Barbell, Multi Hex Deadlift / Shrug Bar: product page read 12 November 2026
- Hammer Strength, Vertical Smith Machine (HSSMV): product page read 12 November 2026
- Precor, Vitality Smith Machine (VBR6802): product page read 12 November 2026
Questions
How much does a barbell weigh?
A men's competition bar weighs 20 kg, which is 44.1 lb. A women's bar weighs 15 kg, which is 33.1 lb. Some bars sold in pounds weigh 45 lb. The table on this page lists the bars we checked, each with the maker's or the federation's own figure.
How much does a Smith machine bar weigh?
There is no standard. On the two makers' specification sheets we read, the bar starts at 11 lb on one machine and 30 lb on another. Look for the label on the frame, then enter that number as your bar weight.
How much does a trap bar or hex bar weigh?
It depends on the model. The three we checked weigh 45 lb, 25 kg (55.1 lb) and 77 lb. Use the weight stamped on yours, or weigh it, and enter it as your bar weight.
How much does an EZ curl bar weigh?
Curl bars vary by maker. The one specification sheet we read lists 12 kg, which is 26.5 lb. Enter your own bar's weight to get the right plates.
What plates make 100 kg, or 225 lb?
On a 20 kg bar, 100 kg is 40 kg a side: a 25 and a 15. On a 45 lb bar, 225 lb is 90 lb a side: two 45s.
What if my gym does not have the plates for a weight?
Untick the sizes you lack. If the weight cannot be built from what is left, the calculator shows how much is left over and the nearest weights below and above that can be loaded. It is free to use and needs no account.