Barbell Plate Calculator —
kg & lbs, Both Sides
This free barbell plate calculator kg tool tells you exactly which plates to load on each side of the bar for any target weight. Whether you're working out how many plates for 100kg barbell loading, or need a quick plate calculator both sides barbell check mid-session, just enter your target weight, pick your bar, and get an instant visual breakdown in kg or lbs — no signup, no app download, works on any phone at the rack.
Total Loaded Weight
Bar + plates on both sides
Plates Per Side
Loading plates by hand every session? Sleet logs your working weight automatically so you never have to guess it again.
Weight Plate Calculator kg and lbs — How the Maths Works
A barbell's total weight is the bar itself plus everything loaded on both sides. To go from a target number to an actual loaded bar, this weight plate calculator kg and lbs tool does three things: subtracts the bar weight from your target, splits the remainder evenly across both sides, then fills each side using the largest plates first so you use the fewest number of plates possible.
Standard Plate Sizes
| kg plates | lbs plates |
|---|---|
| 25 kg | 55 lbs |
| 20 kg | 45 lbs |
| 15 kg | 35 lbs |
| 10 kg | 25 lbs |
| 5 kg | 10 lbs |
| 2.5 kg | 5 lbs |
| 1.25 kg | 2.5 lbs |
Example — How Many Plates for 100kg Barbell
On a 20kg bar, a 100kg target leaves 80kg to load, or 40kg per side. That breaks down to 1× 20kg plate per side — just two plates total. A trickier number like 137.5kg leaves 58.75kg per side: 2× 20kg, 1× 15kg, 1× 2.5kg, and 1× 1.25kg per side, showing why a plate calculator both sides barbell tool is faster than working it out in your head under fatigue.
Barbell Plate Calculator — Frequently Asked Questions
How many plates do I need for 100kg on a barbell?
For 100kg on a standard 20kg Olympic bar, you need 40kg per side — that's 1× 20kg plate per side, or 2× 20kg plates total. This calculator works this out instantly for any target weight and bar combination.
How do I calculate plates for both sides of a barbell?
Subtract the bar weight from your target, then divide by two to get weight per side. Load the largest plates first, then fill remaining weight with smaller plates. This plate calculator both sides barbell tool automates that for you.
Does this plate calculator work in kg and lbs?
Yes — toggle the unit switch and the calculator automatically uses the correct standard plate sizes for kg (25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25) or lbs (55, 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5).
What if my target weight can't be loaded exactly?
The calculator shows the closest achievable weight per side and flags any small remainder that can't be loaded with standard plates — common when your gym only stocks 2.5kg or 1.25kg as the smallest increment.
What bar weight should I use in the plate calculator?
Most commercial gyms use a 20kg Olympic bar for men's bars and 15kg or 10kg for women's/technique bars. Use the custom option if your gym's bar doesn't match a standard weight.
Track Every Lift Alongside Your Plate Maths
Sleet is free on Android. No credit card. No subscriptions. Just lift.