Complete Guide: Plate Calculator for Beginners
Learn how to calculate barbell weights. Understand plate math so you never load the wrong weight again.
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Expert Tips for Beginners
- ✓Standard barbell weighs 45lbs (20kg) - this is always counted first
- ✓Plates come in pairs - add same plates to both sides
- ✓Common pound plates: 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5
- ✓Common kilo plates: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25
- ✓Always use collars to secure plates safely
- ✓When in doubt, ask gym staff for help - everyone was a beginner once
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the bar weigh?
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Standard Olympic barbell: 45 lbs or 20 kg. Shorter bars (Smith machine, EZ curl) vary. Women's Olympic bar: 35 lbs or 15 kg. Always check if unsure.
How do I figure out what plates to use?
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Take your target weight, subtract bar weight, divide by 2. That's per side. Use largest plates first, add smaller ones. Example: 135 lbs = 45lb bar + 45lb per side.
What are common plate weights?
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Pounds: 45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5. Kilos: 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25. Most gyms have all of these. Specialty gyms may have 100s and competition plates.
Why do people say 'a plate' or 'two plates'?
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One plate per side = 135 lbs (bar + two 45s). Two plates = 225 lbs. Three plates = 315 lbs. It's gym shorthand for 45-lb plates per side.
What if I can't lift the bar yet?
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Use dumbbells or lighter fixed barbells first. Empty Olympic bar (45 lbs) is too heavy for some movements initially. Build up to it, no shame in progression.
Looking for the standard plate calculator?
Go to Main Plate Calculator