Barbell Plate Calculator
Loading the bar should not need mental maths. Enter your target total weight and bar weight, pick kg or lb, and instantly see exactly which plates to load on each side — the standard big-to-small order used in gyms everywhere.
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How to use
- Select the unit — kg or lb.
- Enter the target total weight (including the bar).
- Enter the bar weight — an Olympic bar is usually 20 kg / 45 lb, a smaller bar 15 kg / 35 lb.
- The list of plates for each side will be shown.
Tips
- An Olympic bar is 20 kg (45 lb); always include it in your total.
- Load the heaviest plates first, closest to the bar collar.
- Collars usually add about 2.5 kg per pair — this tool does not count them.
- Write down your working sets so plate changes between sets stay quick.
Note: Plates are chosen from largest to smallest (greedy method), which is the common gym practice. Collar weight (usually 2.5 kg per pair) is not included.