Barbell Plate Calculator
To load a barbell, subtract the bar weight from your target total, divide by two, and fill that per-side weight with the largest plates first. This calculator does it instantly: enter your target and bar weight and see the exact plates for each side, in kg or lb.
Stop doing bar math between sets. Enter your target total and bar weight and this free calculator shows exactly which plates to load on each side — in kilograms or pounds — plus the closest achievable weight when your target doesn't divide evenly into your plates.
Plates per side
- 1 × 25 kg
- 1 × 15 kg
How plate loading works
A loaded barbell is the bar plus the plates on both ends. Because you load each side equally, the plates you need per side are:
per side = (target total − bar weight) ÷ 2 Load heaviest plates first, then work down: 25 → 20 → 15 → 10 → 5 → 2.5 → 1.25 kg
Worked example
To load 100 kg on a 20 kg bar, you have 80 kg of plates to split — 40 kg per side. That's one 25 kg, one 10 kg and one 5 kg plate on each end (25 + 10 + 5 = 40). The calculator lays this out visually so you can load fast and get back to lifting.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a barbell weigh?
A standard Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (about 45 lb). Women's Olympic bars weigh 15 kg, and shorter or specialty bars vary. This calculator defaults to 20 kg / 45 lb but you can set any bar weight.
How do I calculate plates per side?
Subtract the bar weight from your target total, then divide by two because plates are loaded evenly on both sides. Load the heaviest plates first, then work down. This calculator does that automatically.
What plates does the calculator assume?
In kilograms it uses 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg plates. In pounds it uses 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 lb plates — the standard sets found in most gyms.
What if my target can't be made exactly?
If the available plates can't hit your exact target, the calculator loads the closest weight it can reach and tells you how far short it is, so you can decide whether to round up or down.
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