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Barbell Plate Calculator

Calculate which plates to load on each side of the barbell

Target Weight

Bar weight: 20 kg (standard Olympic bar)

Available Plates:

25 kg20 kg15 kg10 kg5 kg2.5 kg1.25 kg
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Enter your target weight to see which plates to load

How It Works

How Plates Are Selected

The calculator subtracts the bar weight from your target, then divides the remainder by 2 (for each side). It starts with the largest available plates and works down, using the fewest plates possible to reach your target weight.

Standard Plate Sizes

Uses Olympic standard plate sizes: 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5 lbs (or 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25 kg). Standard Olympic barbell weight is 45 lbs (20 kg).

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Pro Tip

Always load plates evenly on both sides. Start with the heaviest plates closest to the collar, then add lighter plates toward the outside. Use collars to secure the plates before lifting.