Per-side load
Per side = (target − bar) ÷ 2. The calculator then fills the largest available plates first (45/35/25/10/5/2.5 lb or 25/20/15/10/5/2.5/1.25 kg).
Work out exactly which plates to load per side for any target barbell weight in lbs or kg. Free, instant, no signup.
Enter any target barbell weight and get the exact plates to load on each side — in pounds or kilograms. No mental math at the rack.
Quick answer. To load a barbell, subtract the bar weight (45 lb / 20 kg) from your target, divide by two, and load that amount on each side — largest plates first. This calculator does it instantly for any weight in lbs or kg.
A plate calculator removes the arithmetic from loading a barbell. You set a target weight; it subtracts the bar, halves the remainder, and greedily fills the largest standard plates first so you load the fewest plates possible. It's especially useful for percentage-based programs where every working set is a different, often awkward, number.
Per side = (target − bar) ÷ 2. The calculator then fills the largest available plates first (45/35/25/10/5/2.5 lb or 25/20/15/10/5/2.5/1.25 kg).
Standard plates can't hit every number. When a target isn't loadable exactly, the tool reports how far under the nearest combination lands.
A standard Olympic barbell is 45 lb (20 kg). Women's Olympic bars are 33 lb (15 kg), and many training bars are lighter — set the bar weight field to match yours.
Standard plates step in fixed increments, so some weights aren't loadable without fractional plates. The tool shows the closest achievable load below your target.
Yes. The plates shown are per side; the total includes both sides plus the bar.
Yes — switch the unit toggle to kg and the bar defaults to 20 kg with a standard kg plate set.