Barbell Plate Loading Calculator

How to use the plate loading calculator

Enter your target total weight (bar included), select your bar weight (45 lb Olympic bar is standard), and check off the plates you have available. The calculator works out the most efficient plate combination for each side instantly.

Loading a barbell sounds simple, but it's surprisingly easy to miscalculate when you're mid-warm-up or chasing a specific total. This takes the mental arithmetic out of it so you can focus on lifting.

Standard plate colors

Olympic plates follow an international color standard used in powerlifting and weightlifting competitions. The diagram mirrors these colors:

• Red — 25 kg / 45 lb
• Blue — 20 kg / 35 lb
• Yellow — 15 kg / 25 lb
• Green — 10 kg
• White — 5 kg
• Black or gray — 2.5 kg and smaller

Tips for loading accurately

• Always load the same plates on both sides. An unbalanced bar is dangerous and will skew your lift mechanics.
• Collars keep plates from sliding, so always use them, especially at higher weights.
• When in doubt, load lighter and add plates. It's faster to add than to strip and recount.