Plate Calculator
Enter the total weight you want to lift and pick your bar. You will see the plates for each side, largest first, and a picture of the loaded bar.
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- Updated 16 October 2026
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Fill in your details and your answer appears here as you type.
Plates per side on a 20 kg bar
| Total | Each side |
|---|---|
| 40 kg | 10 |
| 60 kg | 20 |
| 70 kg | 25 |
| 80 kg | 25 + 5 |
| 100 kg | 25 + 15 |
| 120 kg | 25 + 25 |
| 140 kg | 25 + 25 + 10 |
| 160 kg | 25 + 25 + 20 |
| 180 kg | 25 + 25 + 25 + 5 |
| 200 kg | 25 + 25 + 25 + 15 |
| 220 kg | 25 + 25 + 25 + 25 |
Plates per side on a 45 lb bar
| Total | Each side |
|---|---|
| 95 lb | 25 |
| 135 lb | 45 |
| 155 lb | 45 + 10 |
| 185 lb | 45 + 25 |
| 225 lb | 45 + 45 |
| 275 lb | 45 + 45 + 25 |
| 315 lb | 45 + 45 + 45 |
| 365 lb | 45 + 45 + 45 + 25 |
| 405 lb | 45 + 45 + 45 + 45 |
Lifters often name these by plates: 135 is "one plate", 225 "two plates", 315 "three" and 405 "four".
Plate colours
Competition plates follow the weightlifting federation's colours, which many gyms use too: 25 kg red, 20 kg blue, 15 kg yellow, 10 kg green, 5 kg white, and the same colours again for the small plates. Powerlifting plates can differ slightly, and many gym plates are plain black.
How we got it
Plates per side = (total - bar - collars) / 2, loaded largest first from the plates in the set you pick. If the exact weight cannot be made, we show the nearest weight you can load. Competition bars weigh 20 kg for men and 15 kg for women, with 2.5 kg collars; in pounds we use the usual 45, 35 and 25 lb bars.
Updated .
The evidence
Every recommendation on this page links here. The badge shows what kind of source it is, so you can judge how strong it is.
- Guideline
The competition bar weighs 20 kg for men and 15 kg for women, with two 2.5 kg collars. Discs are colour coded: 25 kg red, 20 kg blue, 15 kg yellow, 10 kg green and 5 kg white, then the same colours again for the smaller discs.
International Weightlifting Federation, Equipment: Weightlifting equipment: barbell, discs and collars
Our own rules of thumb
These are our choices, not findings from a study. We list them so you know which parts are judgement calls.
- US bars are counted as 45, 35 and 25 lb, the usual rounded weights of 20, 15 and 10 kg bars.
- The three plate sets (full gym, home, basic) are our own typical sets.
- When the exact weight cannot be loaded, we show the nearest you can, the lighter one on a tie.
Questions
How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?
A men's Olympic bar weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb, sold as 45 lb in the US) and a women's bar 15 kg (about 33 lb, often sold as 35 lb). Many gyms also have lighter technique bars.
What plates do I need for 100 kg?
On a 20 kg bar, a 25 kg and a 15 kg plate on each side. Without 15s, use 25 + 10 + 5.
What plates make 225 lb?
Two 45 lb plates on each side of a 45 lb bar.
What plates make 135 lb?
One 45 lb plate on each side of a 45 lb bar.
What plates make 60 kg?
One 20 kg plate on each side of a 20 kg bar, or a 15 and a 5 if you have no 20s.
Do collars count toward the weight?
Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each, so they add 5 kg. Light spring clips are usually ignored.
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