Plate Loading Formula
Plate loading is a greedy allocation: given a target weight and bar weight, allocate plates per side using the largest plates first. Olympic bar is 20 kg (45 lb). IPF plate inventory: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25 kg. Greedy works because plates are tiered to span all targets within 0.5 kg.
Formula
Copy the exact expression or work through it step by step below.
weight_per_side = (target_total − bar_weight) / 2
plates_per_side = greedy_descending_allocation(weight_per_side, plate_inventory)
greedy: for each plate p in inventory (descending):
count_p = floor(remaining / p)
remaining = remaining − count_p × p Variables
target_total
Target total weight
Total bar weight including bar + plates, in kg or lb. Choose one unit and stay consistent.
bar_weight
Bar weight
Olympic bar: 20 kg / 45 lb (men's), 15 kg / 33 lb (women's). Squat bar: 25 kg. Deadlift bar: 20 kg but more flex. EZ-curl bar: ~7.5 kg / ~17 lb.
weight_per_side
Plate weight per side
(Target − bar) ÷ 2. Should be allocable via available plates. If not, round to nearest 1.25 kg increment.
plate_inventory
Available plate set
IPF standard: 25/20/15/10/5/2.5/1.25 kg. US standard lb: 45/35/25/10/5/2.5. Bumper plates: 25/20/15/10/5 only. Calibrated competition plates (steel): full set 25/20/15/10/5/2.5/1.25.
Step By Step
- 1
Subtract bar weight from target. Halve.
Target 140 kg, Olympic 20 kg bar → (140 − 20) / 2 = 60 kg per side.
- 2
Greedy: largest plate first. 60 ≥ 25? Yes. 25 used.
remaining = 60 − 25 = 35. plate count: 25 → 1.
- 3
35 ≥ 25? Yes again. Use another 25.
remaining = 35 − 25 = 10. plate count: 25 → 2.
- 4
10 ≥ 25? No. 10 ≥ 20? No. 10 ≥ 15? No. 10 ≥ 10? Yes.
remaining = 10 − 10 = 0. plate count: 10 → 1.
- 5
Remaining is 0. Stop.
Final per-side stack: 25 + 25 + 10 = 60 kg. Mirror to the other side. Bar total: 20 + 2×60 = 140 kg. ✓
Worked Example
Lifter loading 142.5 kg deadlift on Olympic bar
Target
142.5 kg
Bar weight
20 kg
Per side
(142.5 − 20) / 2 = 61.25 kg
Greedy: 61.25 → 25 (one), remaining 36.25 36.25 → 25 (two), remaining 11.25 11.25 → 10 (one), remaining 1.25 1.25 → 1.25 (one), remaining 0
Per side: 25 + 25 + 10 + 1.25 = 61.25 kg. Total: 20 + 122.5 = 142.5 kg. ✓ Plate count: 2×25 + 1×10 + 1×1.25 per side = 4 plates per side, 8 plates total. Visual order on the sleeve: 25, 25, 10, 1.25 (largest inner).
Common Variations
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Sources & References
- IPF Technical Rules Book (International Powerlifting Federation) — IPF — bar + plate specifications, competition loading rules
- USAPL Technical Rulebook — USA Powerlifting — US imperial/metric equipment standards
- Eleiko Equipment Specifications — Eleiko (IWF-certified manufacturer) — calibrated competition plate weights + tolerances