This reference documents the calculations implemented on this website. Bodyweight scores are comparison tools, not federation placings, eligibility decisions or measures of health. The original editions of the inherited Reshel and age tables remain unverified; they are labelled separately below.
Inputs, units and rounding
For a three-lift result, total T is the best successful squat plus bench press plus deadlift. Enter actual bodyweight, not the class ceiling. All bodyweight formulas use kilograms: 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg. Changing kg/lb converts populated fields in the scoring, comparison, percentage and weight-class tools. The plate loader and attempt planner instead reset to separate equipment/reference presets; recheck their inputs after switching units. Scores are displayed to two decimals; internal arithmetic retains more precision. An optional age must be a whole number from 14 to 90. A zero in an unused lift permits a single-lift calculation, but that score is not equivalent to a three-lift performance.
For worked examples and the difference between gym records and competition results, read Understanding Your Powerlifting Total.
DOTS
Let x be bodyweight in kg. Score = T × 500 ÷ (a×x⁴ + b×x³ + c×x² + d×x + e). Select the male or female coefficient set below. The implementation uses the nearest boundary when bodyweight is outside 40–210 kg for men or 40–150 kg for women; it reports that substitution. The lifted total is not clamped. Age is not an input to DOTS.
| Term | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| a (x⁴) | -0.0000010930 | -0.0000010706 |
| b (x³) | 0.0007391293 | 0.0005158568 |
| c (x²) | -0.1918759221 | -0.1126655495 |
| d (x) | 24.0900756 | 13.6175032 |
| e | -307.75076 | -57.96288 |
Source: Tim Konertz’s original DOTS publication. At 83 kg bodyweight with male coefficients, 220 + 140 + 240 = 600 kg gives 405.05 DOTS. At 63 kg with female coefficients, 400 kg gives 430.21 DOTS. Try these inputs or read the worked DOTS guide.
To see the effect of changing bodyweight while holding a total constant, read How Much Does Bodyweight Change Your DOTS Score?. It includes calculated charts, female examples and the break-even total formula.
Wilks Classic
Score = T × 500 ÷ (a + b×x + c×x² + d×x³ + e×x⁴ + f×x⁵). Unlike the DOTS implementation, this site does not clamp Wilks bodyweights. A non-positive or non-finite denominator does not produce a score. Extrapolation at unusual bodyweights may be misleading.
| Term | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| a | -216.0475144 | 594.31747775582 |
| b | 16.2606339 | -27.23842536447 |
| c | -0.002388645 | 0.82112226871 |
| d | -0.00113732 | -0.00930733913 |
| e | 0.00000701863 | 0.00004731582 |
| f | -0.00000001291 | -0.00000009054 |
Wilks 2020
The separately labelled 2020 version uses T × 600 divided by the same polynomial structure, with a different coefficient set. Never compare a classic Wilks score directly with Wilks 2020, DOTS or IPF GL. The following tables document the values in this website’s code; they are not a claim of current federation approval.
| Term | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| a | 47.46178854 | -125.4255398 |
| b | 8.472061379 | 13.71219419 |
| c | 0.07369410346 | -0.03307250631 |
| d | -0.001395833811 | -0.001050400051 |
| e | 0.00000707665973070743 | 0.00000938773881462799 |
| f | -0.0000000120804336482315 | -0.000000023334613884954 |
Independent implementation reference: OpenPowerlifting scoring definitions. Original publication provenance for these inherited Wilks constants has not been fully documented here. For IPF events, consult the IPF GL formula page; this calculator does not output IPF GL points.
Reshel (legacy table): inherited lookup tables
Reshel output = total in kg × the stored bodyweight coefficient. The tool loads a separate male or female table, rounds bodyweight down to the nearest 0.25 kg and looks up that key. If absent, it checks up to four preceding quarter-kilogram keys (up to 1 kg lower). It does not interpolate. Reshel and weight-class boundary lookups normalize conversion noise to eight decimal places in kilograms before comparing boundaries. Values outside the stored table range, a missing coefficient or a failed table download return no result.
The originating table edition is not established. Consequently, a working lookup is not proof of agreement with a competition’s table. Do not use this legacy output as an official result without matching the event’s exact table and rounding rules. Read the Reshel limitations.
McCulloch / Foster age coefficients
The site displays an age-adjusted total: total in kg × age multiplier. It does not multiply DOTS or Wilks by that factor. The inherited Foster table covers ages 14–23; ages 24–39 use 1.000; the inherited McCulloch table covers ages 40–90. Leaving age blank omits this output.
| Age | Multiplier | 600 kg total becomes |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 1.060 | 636 kg |
| 30 | 1.000 | 600 kg |
| 50 | 1.130 | 678 kg |
| 60 | 1.340 | 804 kg |
The original editions remain unverified. Entered age is not automatically converted into a federation’s calendar-year age division. See age-adjusted total versus score.
1RM percentages
Working weight = supplied maximum × percentage ÷ 100. The tool returns 50–100% in 5-point steps. For 200 kg, 75% is 150 kg. For 182.5 kg, 75% is 136.875 kg, displayed as 136.9 kg. This is arithmetic from a known maximum, not a repetition-based estimate or training prescription. Plate rounding is a separate step. Open the percentage calculator.
Weight classes and verification status
The checker selects the first stored upper limit greater than or equal to your bodyweight. The last category is unlimited. The stored IPF Open lists match section 1.2 of the IPF rulebook effective 1 March 2026, version 3, checked on 17 September 2026: men 59, 66, 74, 83, 93, 105, 120, 120+ kg; women 47, 52, 57, 63, 69, 76, 84, 84+ kg. Junior and sub-junior extra classes are not included in this Open preset.
WUAP/AWPC, WRPF, USAPL, WPC and GPC presets remain inherited lists that have not been validated against their current rules. National branches and event divisions may differ. All preset results require confirmation with the event organiser; distances to limits are arithmetic, not weight-cut advice. Check a boundary or find the current IPF rulebook.
Plate loading and attempt planning
The plate tool subtracts the chosen bar and total collar weight, divides the remainder equally between sides, and loads the available denominations from largest to smallest. It reports the achieved load and remainder; it assumes enough plates of each selected size. Always physically verify a loaded bar.
The attempt worksheet applies the displayed preset percentages to your entered reference singles, then rounds down to the selected total-bar increment. These settings are planning assumptions, not federation rules or a forecast of meet-day performance. Use the existing attempt-selection guide for context.
Reproducible verification
You can independently reproduce the two DOTS examples above from the published polynomials, the percentage example by direct multiplication and the IPF 83 kg boundary from the rulebook. Technical checks compare example outputs, kg/lb conversion, missing and invalid inputs, class boundaries and reset behaviour. These checks validate the tested cases; they do not certify every federation preset or inherited table.
To report a discrepancy, send the tool URL, selected units, coefficient category, exact inputs, displayed result, expected result and source through Contact & corrections. Rules and coefficients can change. Verify competition-critical results against the current rules and official meet system.
Choosing a scoring system? Learn the differences between DOTS, Wilks and IPF GL.