Plate calculator
To load a barbell, take the bar off the target weight and halve what's left: that's each side. This calculator picks the fewest plates for it from the sizes you have, listed heaviest first, in kilograms or pounds.
Each side
Total 102.5 kg.
- 25
- 15
- 1.25
Collars aren't counted. Plates are assumed to come in pairs.
How the plate calculator works
One side at a time. Plates go on in matching pairs, so the calculator solves for one side: (target − bar) ÷ 2.
Exact first, then the closest below. It checks every combination of the plate sizes you have, not just the heaviest-first guess, so a set like 15s and 10s still finds 10 + 10 for 20 a side. If the exact load isn't possible, it gives the heaviest load at or below your target.
Fewest plates. Of the combinations that make that load, it shows the one with the fewest plates, listed in the order you'd slide them on.
Plate questions
How do I work out plates per side?
Take the bar off the target and halve what's left. That's the load for each side. 102.5 kg on a 20 kg bar is 41.25 kg a side: 25 + 15 + 1.25.
What if my gym doesn't have the right plates?
Untick the sizes you don't have. If the exact weight can't be made, the calculator shows the closest load at or below your target and how far short it is.
Why does it round down rather than up?
Rounding down means you never load more than you planned. VALDA rounds working weights the same way.
Which bar should I choose?
Olympic bars are 20 kg (45 lb), women's Olympic bars 15 kg (35 lb) and technique bars are often 10 kg. If you're not sure, check the end of the bar or ask the gym.
Stop doing the maths
VALDA works out the e1RM of every set of 10 reps or fewer that you log, uses it to set your working weights when a programme calls for a percentage, and shows the plates to load on each side. Set a record and VALDA marks the moment, with a card to share. With VALDA Pro, your best is kept as a record for every exercise.
No account needed for this calculator. Nothing you type here is saved.