Barbell Plate Chart
Plates per side for every common barbell weight — in pounds and kilograms.
Walk up to any bar, know the number you want, and this chart tells you exactly what to load. Every total below includes the bar and shows the plate stack per side — because a barbell is always loaded symmetrically. Need a weight that is not listed, a kg bar, or a different bar weight? Use the live calculator, or jump straight into the full barbell plate calculator.
The rule behind every row: total = the bar + 2 × (the plates on one side). Subtract the bar, halve what is left, and that is your per-side load. If you are unsure whether the bar counts, it does — see does the bar count.
Load any weight — live calculator
Load on each side (45 lb bar)
Pound plate chart (45 lb bar)
| Total | Per side | Plate stack per side | Gym slang |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95 lb | 25 | 25 | — |
| 135 lb | 45 | 45 | one plate |
| 185 lb | 70 | 45 + 25 | — |
| 225 lb | 90 | 45 + 45 | two plates |
| 275 lb | 115 | 45 + 45 + 25 | — |
| 315 lb | 135 | 45 + 45 + 45 | three plates |
| 365 lb | 160 | 45 + 45 + 45 + 25 | — |
| 405 lb | 180 | 45 + 45 + 45 + 45 | four plates |
| 495 lb | 225 | five 45s | five plates |
| 585 lb | 270 | six 45s | six plates |
Every pair of 45s adds 90 lb, which is why the "plate" milestones (135, 225, 315, 405, 495) climb in steps of 90. For the story behind each milestone, see the one, two, three & four plate club.
Kilogram plate chart (20 kg bar)
| Total | Per side | Plate stack per side | Gym slang |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 20 | 20 | one plate |
| 80 kg | 30 | 20 + 10 | — |
| 100 kg | 40 | 20 + 20 | two plates |
| 120 kg | 50 | 20 + 20 + 10 | — |
| 140 kg | 60 | 20 + 20 + 20 | three plates |
| 160 kg | 70 | 20 + 20 + 20 + 10 | — |
| 180 kg | 80 | four 20s | four plates |
| 200 kg | 90 | four 20s + 10 | — |
| 220 kg | 100 | five 20s | five plates |
Training in kilograms? The kg plate calculator and the powerlifting kilo loading chart cover metric loading in full, including calibrated competition plates.
Plates-per-side answers
Every common "how much is N plates on each side" question, worked out in full.
When the chart is not enough
The chart assumes a standard bar and a full set of plates. Real gyms are messier — odd bar weights, missing plate sizes, kg-and-lb mixed racks. That is exactly when the live tools earn their keep:
- Any target weight — the barbell plate calculator solves any number in kg or lb.
- Count a loaded bar — the reverse barbell calculator works backward from the plates you see.
- Check the bar first — plates are only half the total; confirm how much your barbell weighs.
- Mixed units — know the gap between 45 lb and 20 kg plates before you pair them.
Frequently asked questions
How do you read a barbell plate chart?
Find your target total in the left column, then load the listed plates on each side of the bar. Every total already includes the 45 lb (20 kg) bar, so you never add the bar twice. Plates are always loaded in matching pairs.
How many plates is 225 lb?
225 lb is two 45 lb plates on each side of a standard 45 lb bar (two plates per side). That is four 45s in total: 45 lb bar + 90 lb + 90 lb = 225 lb.
How many plates is 315 lb?
315 lb is three 45 lb plates on each side of a 45 lb bar (three plates per side). The plates add 270 lb and the bar adds 45 lb.
Does the barbell count in the total on this chart?
Yes. Every number on this chart includes the bar (45 lb or 20 kg). If your bar is a different weight, use the live calculator above to get an exact plate breakdown.