How it works
We subtract the bar and the collars from the total and split the rest into two sides. Then we fill each side starting with the heaviest plates. If the exact weight is not possible with your plates, the calculator shows the nearest one.
Bar weights
- Standard men's Olympic bar: 20 kg (45 lb).
- Women's bar: 15 kg (35 lb).
- Technique bars and short bars: 5–10 kg — check the label in your gym.
Plate colours
In weightlifting and powerlifting competitions plates have fixed colours: red 25 kg, blue 20 kg, yellow 15 kg, green 10 kg, white 5 kg. Small plates repeat the same colours. In regular gyms plates are often black iron.
Questions and answers
Do collars count in the weight?
Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each and are counted. Light spring clips weigh almost nothing — choose “Without”.
Why can't I get the exact weight?
Your gym may not have small plates. The calculator shows the nearest weight. Switch off the plates your gym does not have.
How should I warm up before a heavy set?
Start with the empty bar, then do 3–4 sets with fewer reps as the weight grows. The calculator builds these sets for you.
How it is calculated: sources
- IWF Technical and Competition Rules & Regulations (plate colours and sizes).
- IPF Technical Rules Book.
Gymvert gives general information for healthy adults. It is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, or are unsure, talk to a doctor before changing your training or diet.