STARK / Tools
Plate calculator: what to load on the barbell
Enter the total weight you want to lift and the bar you use. You get the plates to load on each side, heaviest first.
Calculate your plates
On each side
–
Short answer: subtract the bar, then divide by two. For 100 kg on a 20 kg bar, that leaves 40 kg per side: one 25, one 15. Load the heaviest plates first and use collars.
How does the calculator work?
It takes the weight you want, subtracts the bar, splits the rest evenly between the two sides, then fills each side with the largest plates that fit. It uses the plates found in most gyms.
| Unit | Plates used | Common bars |
|---|---|---|
| kg | 25 · 20 · 15 · 10 · 5 · 2.5 · 1.25 | 20 kg Olympic bar, 15 kg women’s bar, 10 kg technique or EZ bar |
| lb | 45 · 35 · 25 · 10 · 5 · 2.5 | 45 lb Olympic bar, 35 lb women’s bar |
Loading the bar safely
- Load the heaviest plates first, against the inside collar of the sleeve.
- Alternate sides when the bar sits in a rack, so it never tips.
- Close each side with a collar, especially for squats and presses.
- Unload in the reverse order, one side at a time, alternating.
Log the weight, not the arithmetic
In STARK, you log the total weight of each set in a few taps. Next session, the app shows what you lifted last time and when to add weight. Free on iPhone, with Apple Watch.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?
A standard men’s Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (about 45 lb). The women’s Olympic bar weighs 15 kg. Technique bars, EZ bars and fixed gym bars are often lighter: check the marking on the sleeve or ask the gym.
Do I count the collars?
Standard spring collars weigh very little and are usually ignored. Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each, 5 kg for the pair, so add them to the bar weight if you use them.
Why can’t I reach my exact target weight?
With the smallest plates available, the bar can only change in steps of twice that plate. With 1.25 kg plates, the total moves by 2.5 kg. The calculator loads the closest weight below your target and tells you the gap.
In which order should I load the plates?
Heaviest plates first, closest to the inside of the sleeve, then lighter ones toward the outside. Load both sides the same way and secure the plates with collars.