Barbell Plate Calculator

Olympic plates have 2 in (50 mm) center holes and fit Olympic barbells; standard plates have 1 in (25 mm) holes and fit standard bars. Most commercial gyms use Olympic plates.

Bumper plates are solid rubber (or urethane) plates built to be dropped safely from height. They’re ideal for Olympic lifts and CrossFit because they protect the bar, floor, and your joints.

No. A 45 lb plate is ~20.4 kg, while a 20 kg plate is ~44.1 lb. The numbers are close but not identical, so don’t mix them without doing the math.

Competition sets follow typical colors for quick ID: 25 kg red, 20 kg blue, 15 kg yellow, 10 kg green, 5 kg white. Brands may vary for smaller change plates and non-competition sets.

Calibrated plates are precisely machined and weight-tested to very tight tolerances (far stricter than budget plates). Powerlifting federations use them so totals are accurate.

Budget plates can be off by a few percent per plate, while premium and competition plates are much tighter. If accuracy matters to you, look for published tolerances.

You can, but load larger-diameter bumpers first, then smaller irons inside. Avoid having small iron plates outside big bumpers to keep the stack stable.

Change plates are small increments (e.g., 0.25–2.5 kg or 0.5–5 lb) that let you make micro jumps in weight. They’re essential for steady progression.

If you won’t drop the bar, iron or rubber-coated grip plates are durable and cost-effective. If you’ll do Olympic lifts or want floor protection, go with bumper plates.

Yes—use collars to keep plates from sliding. Many collars add weight (often 0.25–2.5 kg each or 0.5–5 lb per pair), so include them in your total if precision matters.

Subtract the bar weight from your target, divide by two, then match plate pairs from heaviest to lightest. A plate calculator can do this instantly and account for your exact inventory.

For general training, iron or rubber-coated plates work great. For max attempts, thin calibrated plates let you load more; for Olympic-style training, bumpers improve bar height and safety.