Calculate your plates
How to calculate plates per side
Subtract the bar weight from the target total and divide the remainder by two. That gives the plate weight needed on each side. The calculator then checks combinations against the pairs you actually have.
(100 − 20) ÷ 2 = 40 kg
For a 100 kg total with a 20 kg bar, each side needs 40 kg of plates: two 20 kg plates, if you have two pairs. Collars are not added automatically; include their combined weight in the bar input if you want them counted.
When the exact weight is not available
The result shows the nearest lower and higher totals you can build. It respects the number of pairs entered, so a missing small plate cannot silently appear in the answer. Change the inventory to match your gym before using the result.
This tool assumes a bar loaded equally on both ends. It is not a calculator for cable-stack labels, single-ended landmine loading or assistance on a pull-up machine. For a Smith machine, use its stated effective bar weight.
Use the same tool during your workout
Setlane includes the plate calculator and warm-up calculator on Free. Open the tool during a workout instead of switching back to this page; your training log and the calculation are in the same place.
Get Setlane for Android · Estimate your one-rep max · Warm-up Set Calculator
Frequently asked questions
Does this require a Setlane account?
No. You can use this calculator directly in your browser. It does not save a workout or send your input to a Setlane account.
Are the plates shown for one side or both?
Plate quantities in the result are per side. The total weight includes the bar and both sides.
Can I change the bar and plate sizes?
Yes. Edit the bar weight, available plate sizes and number of pairs. Use the same weight unit for all inputs.