Barbell Plate Calculator
Enter your target weight and bar weight to see exactly which plates to load on each side.
How to use this tool
- Enter target weight and bar weight in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your weight per side and the full breakdown beneath it.
Enter your target lift weight and barbell weight to instantly see how many plates to load on each side. Uses standard plate sizes: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, and 1.25 kg.
Formula
Weight per side = (Target weight − Bar weight) ÷ 2
Plates are selected greedily from largest to smallest: [25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25] kg. For each plate size, n = floor(remaining ÷ plate) plates are used, and the remainder is updated.
How it works
The calculator subtracts the bar weight from your target, divides by two to find the load needed on each side, then applies a greedy algorithm working down through standard plate denominations (25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25 kg) to cover that load with the fewest plates possible.
Any remainder smaller than 0.01 kg is ignored; a larger remainder is flagged so you know the exact target is not achievable with standard plates alone. Results assume a symmetric two-sided load and a bar of the weight you specify.
Worked example
Worked example
- Target = 100 kg, bar = 20 kg.
- Weight per side = (100 − 20) ÷ 2 = 40 kg.
- Largest plate 25 kg: floor(40 ÷ 25) = 1. Remainder = 40 − 25 = 15 kg.
- Next plate 20 kg: floor(15 ÷ 20) = 0. Skip.
- Next plate 15 kg: floor(15 ÷ 15) = 1. Remainder = 15 − 15 = 0 kg. Done.
40 kg per side, loaded as 1 × 25 kg + 1 × 15 kg per side.
Key terms
- Bar weight
- The weight of the barbell itself before any plates are added; a standard Olympic bar is typically 20 kg.
- Per-side load
- The total plate weight added to one end of the bar; both sides must be equal to keep the bar balanced.
- Greedy algorithm
- A plate-selection method that always picks the largest fitting plate first, minimising the total number of plates used.
- Remainder
- Any fractional weight left after all standard plates have been assigned; indicates the target cannot be hit exactly with available denominations.
- Standard plate set
- The conventional set of Olympic bumper or iron plate sizes: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, and 1.25 kg.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a standard Olympic barbell weigh?
- A standard men's Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (44 lb). Women's Olympic bars weigh 15 kg (33 lb). Technique bars and hex bars vary — check the label.
- How are plates loaded?
- Plates are always loaded symmetrically — identical weight on each side. Heaviest plates go on first, closest to the collar.