Barbell plate calculator
Which plates go on each side?
Pick your bar, type the total weight you want and see the exact plates for each side, with a drawing of the barbell so you can load it without doing the maths mid-set.
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How the plates are chosen
The calculator subtracts the bar from your total, halves what is left to get the weight per side, then fills that weight with the largest plates it can use before moving to smaller ones. This simple largest-first approach works well with the standard plate sizes listed here.
- Pounds use 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 lb plates.
- Kilograms use 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.25 kg plates.
- Standard bars are 45 lb or 20 kg for men’s and 35 lb or 15 kg for women’s. Check your gym’s bar before you load.
Collars, clips and unreachable totals
Collars and clips add weight, so subtract them from your target. If your total cannot be built from the plates in the list, the calculator shows the nearest weight it can reach and says so. Small jumps like 2.5 lb per side are easiest to build with a full plate set.
Plate sets vary between gyms. If your gym does not have 1.25 lb or 1.25 kg plates, use the nearest weight the calculator shows.
Built for the lifts you do
Your strength plan, in your pocket
Sturdy is a Health & Fitness app for adults taking GLP-1 medications or other prescribed weight-management drugs. It combines a weekly workout planner, based on your training days, session length and equipment, with a protein log.
Sessions run from about five minutes, with a guided player and a library of 35 movements. Progress stays on your iPhone, and a PDF recap of the past 30 days can go to your medical appointments.
Get Sturdy on the App StoreFree with in-app purchases. Sturdy Pro unlocks gym-equipment movements, longer sessions and nutrition-label scanning. Requires iOS 18 or later. Details checked against the App Store listing on November 10, 2026.
Publisher disclosure: Honest Little Apps publishes both Sturdy and this page. This is not an independent review. This page is a separate web companion, not a feature of the app. This plate calculator is a free web tool for loading a barbell. It is not medical advice and is not part of the app. Speak with your clinician before starting or changing an exercise plan.
Plate calculator questions
How do you calculate plates per side?
Subtract the bar weight from your total, then divide by two. For a 135 lb total on a 45 lb bar, each side needs 45 lb, which is one 45 lb plate per side.
What weight is a men’s barbell?
The standard men’s Olympic bar is 45 lb, or 20 kg. A women’s bar is usually 35 lb, or 15 kg.
Why does the calculator say the closest weight?
Some totals cannot be built from the plate sizes available, so the calculator shows the nearest weight it can reach.
Should I count collars?
Yes, if you use them. Collars and clips add weight, so subtract their total from your target before you enter it.
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