Plate calculator

How it loads the bar

Take the bar’s weight off, split the rest in two, and fill each side with the heaviest plates that fit: 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 lb, or 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg. If a weight can’t be made exactly with standard plates, it shows the closest load under it and what’s left over.

Which bar?

The usual men’s bar is 45 lb (20 kg) and the women’s bar is 35 lb (15 kg). A 15 lb (10 kg) training bar is common for beginners and technique work. Pick the one you’re actually lifting with, because it changes every plate.

Plate colors

Kilo bumpers follow the competition colors: red 25, blue 20, yellow 15, green 10. Pound plates vary by gym; the colors here are the common ones and only there to make the picture easy to read.