Load the Bar
Plate Calculator
Work out exactly which plates to slide onto each side of the bar. Enter the total weight you want on the bar and the weight of the bar itself, and this calculator shows the plates to load per side, in pounds or kilograms.
How Plate Loading Works
The bar is loaded evenly on both ends.
A loaded barbell is the bar plus the plates on both sides, so the weight to add with plates is your target minus the bar, split evenly across the two ends. This calculator takes the weight over the bar, halves it, and fills each side from the heaviest standard plate down, so you rack the fewest plates possible.
Standard plates are 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 lb, or 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg. If your target cannot be hit exactly with those plates, the calculator tells you how far short the closest loadable weight falls.
Common Bar Weights
Set the bar weight to match yours.
A standard men's Olympic barbell weighs 45 lb, or 20 kg. A women's Olympic bar weighs 35 lb, or 15 kg, and many training and technique bars weigh 15 lb or less. Fixed and specialty bars vary, so weigh yours if you are not sure and enter that number as the bar weight above.
Related Calculators
Estimate a max, then load the bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about loading the barbell.
How do I calculate what plates to load?
Subtract the bar weight from your target, then split the rest evenly between the two ends. Load each side from the heaviest plate down. For 225 lb on a 45 lb bar, that leaves 180 lb, or 90 lb per side, which is a 45 and a 45.
How much does the barbell weigh?
A standard men's Olympic barbell weighs 45 lb, or 20 kg. A women's Olympic bar weighs 35 lb, or 15 kg. Training, technique and fixed bars vary, so weigh yours if you are unsure and enter that as the bar weight.
What plates go on each side for 315 lb?
On a 45 lb bar, 315 lb leaves 270 lb, or 135 lb per side. That is a 45, a 45, a 45 on each side, or three 45s per side. The calculator shows the exact stack for any target.
What are the standard plate sizes?
In pounds, the common plates are 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5. In kilograms they are 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25. Gyms may also stock fractional change plates for small jumps.
Why can't I hit some weights exactly?
Because plates come in fixed sizes, some totals fall between what the plates allow. When that happens the calculator loads the closest weight it can and tells you how many pounds or kilos short it is, so you can round to a loadable number.
Does it work in kilograms?
Yes. Switch the unit toggle to kg and both the target and bar convert, and the plate math uses standard kilogram plates.