How the plate math works#
The bar counts toward the total, and plates load in pairs. So for a target weight: subtract the bar, divide by two, and fill each side starting with the heaviest plate. For 100 kg on a 20 kg bar that is 40 kg per side — a 25, a 10, and a 5.
If the exact target cannot be built from your plates, the calculator gives the closest weight at or below it — never above, so you are never surprised by a heavier bar than planned.
Bar weights#
A standard Olympic bar is 20 kg (45 lbs). Many gyms also have shorter 15 kg (35 lbs) bars and EZ curl bars around 7.5 kg (15 lbs). If your gym's bar is unusual, switch to Custom and type its weight.
Common barbell loads#
When lifters count in “plates”, they mean the big ones — 45 lbs or 20 kg — per side, on a standard bar. So “three plates” is 315 lbs, and the bar itself is always part of the total:
| Plates per side | Total (45 lb plates) | Total (20 kg plates) |
|---|---|---|
| Empty bar | 45 lbs | 20 kg |
| 1 plate | 135 lbs | 60 kg |
| 2 plates | 225 lbs | 100 kg |
| 3 plates | 315 lbs | 140 kg |
| 4 plates | 405 lbs | 180 kg |
| 5 plates | 495 lbs | 220 kg |
| 6 plates | 585 lbs | 260 kg |
| 7 plates | 675 lbs | 300 kg |
| 8 plates | 765 lbs | 340 kg |
For the other direction — you know the number you want and need to know what to hang on the bar — the barbell load chart lists the per-side breakdown for every loadable weight, or just type your target above.
Missing plates?#
Toggle off any denominations your gym does not have and the result recalculates with what is actually on the rack. Use Count plates mode for the reverse problem: tap what is already loaded on one side and get the total.
In the Gript app, the same calculator opens with one tap on the workout keyboard while you log a barbell exercise — with your bar and plate setup remembered between sessions.