Barbell Plate Calculator (kg and lb)
Enter the weight you want on the bar, the bar weight and how many pairs of each plate you own. You get the plates for each side and the nearest weight you can really load. Use it for questions like what plates go on a barbell for 225 lb or 140 kg.
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Formula
weight per side = (target − bar) ÷ 2- Find the combination of plates, using no more pairs of each size than you own, whose total is nearest to that weight per side. Ties go to the lighter load, then to fewer and larger plates.
loaded weight = bar + 2 × weight per side
Plate sets: kg 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25. lb 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25. Collars and bar sleeves are not counted.
Worked example
Target 100 kg on a 20 kg bar: (100 − 20) ÷ 2 = 40 kg per side. With plates available, 25 + 15 = 40, so each side carries one 25 kg and one 15 kg plate, 4 plates in total, and the loaded weight is exactly 100 kg.
Target 101 kg: 40.5 kg per side is not possible; 40 kg is nearest, so the bar carries 100 kg, 1 kg under target.
When to use it
Use it in the gym or when programming percentages. Work out the weight you need on the bar, set the bar weight and the plates you own, and read off the plates for each side, nearest loadable weight and how far off the target it is.
Typical values (rules of thumb)
- A standard men's Olympic barbell is 20 kg (45 lb) and a women's bar is 15 kg.
- Kilogram plates usually come in 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg. Pound plates come in 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 lb, plus small change plates.
Common mistakes
- Entering the weight per side instead of the total including the bar.
- Forgetting the bar weight. A 100 kg target on a 20 kg bar means 40 kg on each side.
How it differs from nearby tools
The rep max percentage calculator tells you what weight to lift, and the training volume calculator totals sets, reps and load. This page tells you how to load the bar.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out which plates to put on a barbell?
Subtract the bar from the target and halve it, because the plates are loaded evenly on both sides. For 100 kg on a 20 kg bar, (100 − 20) ÷ 2 = 40 kg per side, which is a 25 kg plate plus a 15 kg plate.
What are the standard plate sizes?
Metric gyms use 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg plates on a 20 kg bar. US gyms commonly use 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 lb plates, often with 1.25 lb change plates, on a 45 lb bar. Each input row pairs the kg size with its lb counterpart, so 25 kg / 45 lb is the largest plate in either system.
What if I cannot make the exact weight?
The calculator searches every combination of the plates you own and picks the nearest total, going lighter if two totals are equally close. With only 25 kg, 20 kg and 1.25 kg plates, 101 kg is not possible; the nearest loadable weight is shown with the difference.
Does it use the fewest plates?
Yes. Among loads that reach the same weight it picks the fewest plates, preferring bigger plates. For 80 kg with only one pair of 25 kg plates and two pairs of 15 kg plates, it finds 2 × 15 kg per side, which a simple largest-first method would miss. Collars are not included in the weight.
What plates do I need for 225 lb on a barbell?
With a standard 45 lb bar, (225 - 45) / 2 = 90 lb per side, which is two 45 lb plates on each side, four plates in total.
What plates do I need to load 140 kg?
With a 20 kg bar, (140 - 20) / 2 = 60 kg per side. One way is two 25 kg plates and one 10 kg plate on each side, six plates in total.
Do I include the weight of the bar?
Yes. Subtract the bar from the target and divide the rest by two to get the weight per side. Collars are not counted here, so add them separately if you use them.