Plate Calculator
Enter a target total weight. Gainzbook will calculate exactly which plates to load on each side of the bar.
Available plates
Plates per side
Side load: 40 kgTotal: 20 kg bar + 40 kg per side = 100 kg.
How it works
- Calculates required plates per side: (target − bar) ÷ 2.
- Uses the largest enabled plates first.
- If an exact weight isn't possible, Gainzbook loads the closest achievable weight and shows the difference.
Turn today's numbers into long-term progress
Track your workouts, personal records and strength levels with Gainzbook.
- Track every lift
- Automatically detect PRs
- See your Strength Level
- Follow progress over time
About the Plate Calculator
How Plate Loading Is Calculated
Gainzbook first subtracts the weight of the bar from your target weight, then divides the remaining weight equally between both sides:
Plates per side = (Target weight − Bar weight) ÷ 2
It then selects the largest available plates first until it reaches the required load. If the exact target can't be achieved using the enabled plates, the calculator shows the closest achievable weight and the remaining difference, rather than an error.
How to Use the Plate Calculator
Enter your target total weight (including the bar) and select your bar weight. Turn off any plate sizes your gym doesn't stock in the Available Plates list. The result shows exactly which plates to slide onto each side of the bar, both visually and as a written summary. This doesn't account for collar/clip weight or non-standard plate sizes.
What if my gym doesn't have every plate size?
Turn off any sizes you don't have access to in the Available Plates card and Gainzbook will immediately recalculate using only the plates you've left enabled — useful if your gym is missing fractional plates like 1.25 kg or 0.5 kg, or only stocks larger increments.
Why does the achieved weight differ from my target?
Barbell plates only come in fixed sizes, so not every target weight can be loaded exactly with a given set of enabled plates. When that happens, Gainzbook loads the closest weight it can reach without going over your target, and shows the difference so you know exactly how far off it is — enabling smaller plates, or adjusting your target slightly, usually closes the gap.