Fuel & Forge / Free tools / Plate Calculator
Plate Calculator
Enter the total weight you want on the bar and the bar you are using. You’ll get the plates for each side, using standard gym plates.
Fill in the fields to see your result.
How it's calculated
The bar's weight is taken off your target and the rest is split evenly between the two sides. Each side is filled with the heaviest plates first: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg, or 45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 lb.
If your target can't be made exactly, you'll see the closest weight you can load.
Questions
How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?
A standard men’s Olympic bar weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb). A women’s Olympic bar is 15 kg. Many gyms also have lighter technique bars.
Should I count collars?
Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each, but standard spring clips weigh almost nothing. Only count them if you use competition collars.
Why load the heaviest plates first?
Fewer plates on the bar is quicker to load and keeps the bar balanced. It is also how gyms and competitions load bars.
Let a coach do this every week
A calculator gives you a starting point. Fuel & Forge sets your calories, macros and training, then adjusts them every week from your check-ins, so you never have to recalculate.
Start free for 14 days