Barbell Plate Calculator
Enter the total weight you want on the bar and we'll show exactly which plates to load on each side. Works in pounds or kilograms.
Load each side with 90 lb:
- 2 × 45 lb
Frequently asked
- How does a barbell plate calculator work?
- It subtracts the bar weight from your target total, divides the remainder in half (since plates load evenly on both sides), then works down from the heaviest plate to show the fewest plates needed per side.
- How much does a barbell weigh?
- A standard Olympic men’s barbell weighs 45 lb (20 kg), a women’s bar weighs 35 lb (15 kg), and many training bars are 15 lb. Always include the bar in your total — it’s part of the weight you lift.
Need plates? See our weight plates and barbells.