How to work out plates per side
Every barbell calculator does the same three steps. Once you know them you can check any load in your head:
- Take off the bar. Subtract the bar weight from your target. A standard Olympic bar is 45 lb (20 kg).
- Halve what's left. That's the weight that goes on each side.
- Load heaviest first. Use the biggest plates you can, then fill the gap with smaller ones.
For 315 lb: 315 − 45 = 270, and 270 ÷ 2 = 135 per side, which is three 45 lb plates. The calculator above does the same thing, but it also handles bars that aren't 45 lb, collars, kilo plates, and gyms that are missing a plate size.
Common barbell weights in pounds
On a 45 lb bar with standard plates (45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 lb):
| Total | Plates on each side | In kg |
|---|---|---|
| 135 lb | 45 | 61.2 kg |
| 185 lb | 45 + 25 | 83.9 kg |
| 225 lb | 2 × 45 | 102.1 kg |
| 275 lb | 2 × 45 + 25 | 124.7 kg |
| 315 lb | 3 × 45 | 142.9 kg |
| 365 lb | 3 × 45 + 25 | 165.6 kg |
| 405 lb | 4 × 45 | 183.7 kg |
| 495 lb | 5 × 45 | 224.5 kg |
Common barbell weights in kilograms
On a 20 kg bar with standard kilo plates (25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg):
| Total | Plates on each side | In lb |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 20 | 132.3 lb |
| 80 kg | 25 + 5 | 176.4 lb |
| 100 kg | 25 + 15 | 220.5 lb |
| 120 kg | 2 × 25 | 264.6 lb |
| 140 kg | 2 × 25 + 10 | 308.7 lb |
| 160 kg | 2 × 25 + 20 | 352.7 lb |
| 180 kg | 3 × 25 + 5 | 396.8 lb |
| 200 kg | 3 × 25 + 15 | 440.9 lb |
See the full barbell plate chart for every weight from the empty bar up to 600 lb and 270 kg.
What this calculator does that most don't
- It uses the plates you really have. Turn off sizes your gym doesn't stock, or set exact pairs for a home gym. A plain "biggest plate first" calculator can tell you to load a combination you can't make; this one checks every combination.
- It never rounds behind your back. If a weight can't be made, it says so and shows the closest load under and over, so you choose.
- It knows your bar. Women's bars, trap bars, safety squat bars, EZ bars, or any weight you type.
- Collars count. Competition collars add 5 kg to the bar; turn them on and the math includes them.
- Warm-ups and percentages. Switch tabs for a warm-up ramp or a 1RM percentage chart, every set rounded to real plates.
- It remembers your setup on your phone and works offline once it has loaded, which helps in basement gyms with no signal.
Questions
How do you calculate how many plates go on each side of a barbell?
Subtract the bar weight from the total you want, then divide by two. That's the weight per side. Load it with the heaviest plates first. Example: 225 lb − 45 lb bar = 180 lb, ÷ 2 = 90 lb per side, which is two 45 lb plates.
Does the bar count in the total weight?
Yes. Lifting totals always include the bar. A standard Olympic bar is 45 lb or 20 kg, so a bar with one 45 lb plate on each side is 135 lb, not 90 lb.
What if my gym doesn't have the plates to make a weight?
Open My plates and switch off the sizes you don't have. The calculator then only uses what's available, and if the exact weight can't be made it shows the closest load below and above.
Can I use it for a home gym with only a few plates?
Yes. In My plates, set how many pairs of each size you own (for example two pairs of 45s and one pair of 25s). The calculator will only suggest loads you can build from your own rack.
Does it work in kilograms?
Yes. Switch the unit to kg and it uses kilo plates on a 20 kg bar. Your plate setup is saved separately for lb and kg.
Do I need an app?
No. It runs in the browser and works offline after the first visit. On a phone you can add it to your home screen from the browser menu and it opens like an app.