buffroBarbell Plate Calculator
Work out which plates to load on each side of your barbell. Choose kg or lb, select your bar, and enter your total target weight, including the bar. Free to use, with no sign-up.
How much do 1-5 plates weigh?
When someone says they lift “two plates,” they usually mean two large plates on each side of the bar. This chart uses 20 kg plates with a 20 kg bar, or 45 lb plates with a 45 lb bar. Every total includes the bar and excludes collars. The columns show separate setups, not exact kg-to-lb conversions.
| Plates per side | Total with 20 kg plates | Total with 45 lb plates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 kg | 135 lb |
| 2 | 100 kg | 225 lb |
| 3 | 140 kg | 315 lb |
| 4 | 180 kg | 405 lb |
| 5 | 220 kg | 495 lb |
How it works
The calculator subtracts the bar weight, halves the remainder, and fills each side from the heaviest plate down, the same way you'd rack it at the gym. Standard sets are used: 25/20/15/10/5/2.5/1.25 kg or 45/35/25/10/5/2.5 lb.
Loading tips
Put the heaviest plates on first and keep both sides symmetric as you load. A bar loaded 40 kg on one side and left empty on the other can tip off the rack. The calculator excludes collars. If you count collars in your lifted weight, add their labeled weight to the calculated total.
Worked plate examples
For 100 kg on a 20 kg bar, 80 kg remains for plates, or 40 kg per side: one 20 kg plate plus one 15 kg and one 5 kg plate on each side. For 225 lb on a 45 lb bar, load 90 lb per side, which is two 45 lb plates.
If the exact target cannot be built from the available plates, use the closest lower load and record what is actually on the bar. Honest small jumps make progressive overload easier to measure than rounding up.
FAQ
How does plate math work?
Subtract the bar from your target weight, divide by two, and load that on each side. 100 kg on a 20 kg bar means 40 kg per side, one 25 and one 15, or a 20, a 15, and a 5.
How much does a barbell weigh?
Many gyms use a 20 kg or 45 lb bar. Other bars include 15 kg, 35 lb, and 10 kg options. These are different bar weights, not exact unit conversions. Check the end cap and select the matching bar in the calculator.
Why can't I load my exact target?
Plate sets have a smallest increment, usually 1.25 kg or 2.5 lb per plate, meaning jumps of 2.5 kg / 5 lb total. If your target lands between loadable weights, the calculator shows the closest one below it.
What are microplates?
Fractional plates of 0.25-1 kg that let you progress in smaller jumps. They're the cheapest way to keep adding weight to slow-progressing lifts like the overhead press.
Does the target weight include the bar?
Yes. Enter the total weight you want to lift, including the bar. The calculator subtracts your selected bar before dividing the remaining plate weight between the two sides.
How much is one plate in kg?
In a gym using 20 kg plates, a one-plate lift usually means one 20 kg plate on each side of a 20 kg bar: 60 kg total. The plate itself weighs 20 kg. Check the label, since plates also come in other sizes.
Is two plates on each side 225 lb?
Yes, with two 45 lb plates on each side of a 45 lb bar: 45 + (2 × 45 × 2) = 225 lb. With two 20 kg plates per side and a 20 kg bar, the total is 100 kg.
How much is five plates on each side?
Five 45 lb plates on each side of a 45 lb bar total 495 lb. Five 20 kg plates on each side of a 20 kg bar total 220 kg. Both totals include the bar and exclude collars.