Barbell plate calculator in kg and lb

How the plate calculator works

It takes the target weight, subtracts the bar and the collars, splits the rest in two and finds the combination with the fewest plates per side.

If your plates cannot make the exact number, for example because you turned off the small change plates, it shows the closest load below and above so you can pick one.

Unselect the plates your gym does not have. The calculator assumes you have as many pairs of each plate as you need.

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Plates per side for common loads

Loads people search for most often, solved with the full set of plates and no collars. The kg table uses a 20 kg bar, the lb table a 45 lb bar.

Plates per side for common loads (20 kg bar)

Total	Plates per side
40 kg	10
60 kg	20
80 kg	25 + 5
100 kg	25 + 15
120 kg	25 + 25
140 kg	25 + 25 + 10
160 kg	25 + 25 + 20
180 kg	25 + 25 + 25 + 5
200 kg	25 + 25 + 25 + 15
220 kg	25 + 25 + 25 + 25

Plates per side for common loads (45 lb bar)

Total	Plates per side
95 lb	25
135 lb	45
185 lb	45 + 25
225 lb	45 + 45
275 lb	45 + 45 + 25
315 lb	45 + 45 + 45
365 lb	45 + 45 + 45 + 25
405 lb	45 + 45 + 45 + 45
495 lb	45 + 45 + 45 + 45 + 45

Bars, plates and collars

A standard Olympic men's bar weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb), a women's bar 15 kg, and technique bars are often 10 kg. In pound gyms the usual bar is 45 lb, with 35 lb bars for women.

Spring clips weigh almost nothing, but competition collars are 2.5 kg each. If you use them, tick the collars box so they count toward the total.

Loading tips

Load the heaviest plates first, closest to the collar, and the small ones last.
Fewer, bigger plates are quicker to load and keep the bar balanced.
Fractional plates (1.25 kg, 0.5 kg, 2.5 lb) let you add small jumps on presses, where 5 kg at a time is too much.

Skip the math in your next session

In Straddly you log the weight on the bar and the app keeps your history, estimates your 1RM and flags every new personal record. After the session, the summary gives you one concrete thing to change next time.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?

A men's Olympic bar weighs 20 kg (44 lb) and a women's bar 15 kg (33 lb). Many US gyms use 45 lb bars. Some technique and fixed bars weigh less, so check if it is marked.

How do I load 100 kg on a barbell?

With a 20 kg bar you need 40 kg per side: one 25 kg and one 15 kg plate, or two 20 kg plates. With 2.5 kg collars it becomes 37.5 kg per side: 25 + 10 + 2.5.

What plates make 225 lb?

On a 45 lb bar, 225 lb is two 45 lb plates per side. 135 lb is one 45 per side and 315 lb is three.

Do collars count in the total weight?

Yes, everything on the bar counts. Spring clips are light enough to ignore, but competition collars add 5 kg in total, which matters for a max attempt.

Why does the calculator say the exact weight is not possible?

Each side must carry the same plates, so the load above the bar has to split evenly into plates you have. Add a smaller plate or pick the closest load it suggests.

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