Barbell Plate Weight Calculator
Welcome to the ultimate Barbell Plate Weight Calculator, designed for lifters who want to spend more time training and less time figuring out how to load the bar. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or seasoned athlete, this tool helps you determine exactly which plates to add to each side of your barbell to reach your target lift weight—fast and with precision.
Table of Contents
Why Use a Barbell Plate Calculator?
The calculator takes three primary inputs:
Target Total Weight – The total weight you want to lift.
Barbell Weight – The weight of your barbell (typically 20 kg for Olympic bars).
Available Plate Sizes – Select which weight plates are accessible to you.
With this data, the tool calculates the exact combination of plates to load on each side of the bar. It even accounts for whether the exact target can be achieved with your available plates and flags any remaining difference.
How the Calculator Works
The calculator takes three primary inputs:
Target Total Weight – The total weight you want to lift.
Barbell Weight – The weight of your barbell (typically 20 kg for Olympic bars).
Available Plate Sizes – Select which weight plates are accessible to you.
With this data, the tool calculates the exact combination of plates to load on each side of the bar. It even accounts for whether the exact target can be achieved with your available plates and flags any remaining difference.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Enter your desired total weight.
Specify your barbell’s weight (commonly 20 kg).
Check or uncheck the available plate sizes in your gym.
Click “Calculate Plates” to instantly see how to load each side.
The output will list each plate size and quantity needed per side, along with a summary of total loaded weight and any unmatched remainder.
Available Plate Sizes
By default, the calculator includes a full set of metric plate sizes:
25 kg
20 kg
15 kg
12.5 kg
10 kg
7.5 kg
5 kg
2.5 kg
2 kg
1.5 kg
1 kg
0.5 kg
0.25 kg
You can uncheck any unavailable sizes to ensure the results reflect your actual gym setup.
Benefits for Athletes and Coaches
Save time between sets or sessions
Avoid plate-loading errors
Optimize training efficiency
Educate beginners with real-time visual feedback
Ideal for group training setups
Coaches and gym owners can even embed or display this calculator at training stations to streamline member experience.
Try the Calculator Now
Ready to lift smarter? Scroll up and try the Barbell Plate Weight Calculator. Just input your target, bar weight, and available plates—then let the tool do the rest. It’s fast, accurate, and totally free.
Optimize your gym time. Minimize math. Maximize gains.
If you found this calculator useful, consider bookmarking the page or sharing it with your training partners or gym community!