Plate Calculator
Enter your target weight and see which plates to load on each side of the bar.
How Plate Loading Works
A standard Olympic barbell weighs 20kg (45lbs). To reach your target weight, you add equal plates to each side. This calculator does the maths for you — enter any weight and it shows exactly which plates go on each end.
Standard Olympic Plate Colours
Olympic plates follow the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) colour coding:
- Red — 25kg
- Blue — 20kg
- Yellow — 15kg
- Green — 10kg
- White — 5kg
- Grey — 2.5kg and 1.25kg
The calculator uses these colours in the visual barbell display so you can quickly identify each plate.
Olympic vs Standard Barbells
Most commercial gyms use Olympic barbells (20kg/45lbs). Women's Olympic bars weigh 15kg (33lbs) and are slightly thinner. Standard (home gym) bars vary between 5-15kg. You can adjust the bar weight in the calculator to match whatever you're using.
Tips for Loading Plates
- Always load plates evenly — same weight on both sides
- Place the heaviest plates closest to the centre
- Use clips or collars to secure plates
- If your gym doesn't have small plates (1.25kg/2.5lbs), consider buying a set for micro-loading
- Use the plate filter to match what's available at your gym
Get this calculator on the go
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