# What barbell plates do I load?

Works out the plates to load on each side of a barbell for a target weight in pounds or kilograms, from the bar weight and the plate sizes you have, heaviest plates first.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/sports/barbell-plate-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/sports/barbell-plate-calculator.json
- Version: 095de420d940

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Units lb, Target weight (lb) 225, Bar weight (lb) 45, Plates you have (lb) [45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5]): Load 2 × 45 on each side, for 225 in total.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| unit | Units | Pounds or kilograms, for the target, the bar and the plates. |
| w | Target weight (lb) | The total weight to lift: the bar plus every plate. |
| bar | Bar weight (lb) | The weight of the empty bar (an Olympic bar is often 45 lb). |
| plb | Plates you have (lb) | The plate sizes you can load, in lb, separated by spaces. Each size is used in pairs, as many as needed. |
| wkg | Target weight (kg) | The total weight to lift: the bar plus every plate. |
| barkg | Bar weight (kg) | The weight of the empty bar (a men’s Olympic bar is 20 kg). |
| pkg | Plates you have (kg) | The plate sizes you can load, in kg, separated by spaces. Each size is used in pairs, as many as needed. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| plates | Plates on each side | The plates to load on each side, heaviest first; 2 × 45 means two 45s on each side. |
| perSide | Weight per side | (target − bar) ÷ 2. |
| count | Plates per side | How many plates go on each side. |
| loaded | Total loaded | The bar plus both sides as loaded: equal to the target unless the plates cannot make it exactly. |
| short | Short of target | Target − total loaded: 0 when the plates make the target exactly. |

## Method

Per side = (target − bar) ÷ 2. Going from the heaviest plate size to the lightest, load as many of each as fit in what is left of the side.

## Assumptions

- Each plate size can be used as many times as needed, and both sides are loaded the same.
- Plates are chosen heaviest first, the way lifters load a bar; this is not always the fewest plates (60 lb per side is 45, 10, 5 rather than 35, 25).
- Collars are not counted; add their weight to the bar weight if you use them.

## Worked examples

1. unit = lb, w = 225, bar = 45, plb = 45 or 35 gives plates = 2 × 45, perSide = 90, count = 2, loaded = 225, short = 0. Source: Wikipedia, Weight plate (Olympic plates: 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 35 and 45 lb; 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kg), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight_plate; IWF, Equipment (men’s bar 20 kg), https://iwf.sport/weightlifting_/equipment/.
2. unit = lb, w = 185, bar = 45, plb = 45 or 35 gives plates = 45, 25, perSide = 70, count = 2, short = 0. Source: Wikipedia, Weight plate (Olympic plates: 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 35 and 45 lb; 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kg), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight_plate; IWF, Equipment (men’s bar 20 kg), https://iwf.sport/weightlifting_/equipment/.
3. unit = lb, w = 137, bar = 45, plb = 45 or 35 gives plates = 45, perSide = 46, count = 1, loaded = 135, short = 2. Source: Wikipedia, Weight plate (Olympic plates: 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 35 and 45 lb; 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kg), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight_plate; IWF, Equipment (men’s bar 20 kg), https://iwf.sport/weightlifting_/equipment/.
4. unit = kg, wkg = 142.5, barkg = 20, pkg = 25 or 20 gives plates = 2 × 25, 10, 1.25, perSide = 61.25, count = 4, loaded = 142.5, short = 0. Source: Wikipedia, Weight plate (Olympic plates: 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 35 and 45 lb; 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kg), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight_plate; IWF, Equipment (men’s bar 20 kg), https://iwf.sport/weightlifting_/equipment/.
5. unit = kg, wkg = 20, barkg = 20, pkg = 25 or 20 gives plates = none (the empty bar), perSide = 0, count = 0, loaded = 20, short = 0.

## FAQ

### How do I work out the plates for each side?

Subtract the bar weight from the target and halve it: that is the weight on each side. For 225 lb on a 45 lb bar, (225 − 45) ÷ 2 = 90 lb per side, which is two 45 lb plates.

### How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?

A men’s Olympic weightlifting bar is 20 kg and a women’s bar is 15 kg (IWF). Gyms in the US often label their standard bar 45 lb. Check your bar, because training bars vary; type its weight in Bar weight.

### What if the plates cannot make the target exactly?

The calculator loads as much as fits without going over and shows how far short the bar is. With 2.5 lb as the smallest plate, totals go up in steps of 5 lb, so a 137 lb target loads 135 lb and is 2 lb short.

### Why does it not always use the fewest plates?

It loads the heaviest plate that fits first, then the next, the way most lifters load a bar. For 60 lb per side that gives 45, 10 and 5 rather than 35 and 25. Leave 35 out of your plate list if your gym has none.

### Do collars count?

Not unless you add them. Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each (IWF); spring clips weigh little. To count them, add both collars to the bar weight.

## Sources

- Wikipedia, Weight plate (Olympic plates: 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 35 and 45 lb; 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kg). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight_plate (retrieved 2026-10-19)
- International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), Equipment: discs of 25 to 0.5 kg, men’s bar 20 kg, women’s bar 15 kg, collars 2.5 kg each. https://iwf.sport/weightlifting_/equipment/ (retrieved 2026-10-19)