If you’ve ever compared lifters from different bodyweights, you already know the problem: the heaviest lifters often total more, but that doesn’t always mean they performed “better” relative to their size. That’s why powerlifting uses bodyweight-adjusted scoring systems.
One of the less talked-about—but very useful—systems is the Reshel Score (often just called “Reshel”). This article explains what Reshel is, how the calculation works, and when it makes sense to use it.
Reshel is a bodyweight-adjusted points system used to compare lifters across weight classes. Like DOTS or Wilks, it aims to answer:
“How strong was this performance relative to the lifter’s bodyweight?”
Instead of comparing totals directly, Reshel applies a coefficient (a multiplier) based on the lifter’s bodyweight and gender.
Reshel uses a simple structure:
Reshel Points = Total (kg) × Reshel Coefficient
Total (kg) = squat + bench + deadlift, converted internally to kilograms
Reshel coefficient depends on:
Gender (men/women)
Bodyweight in kg
A coefficient table with values in small bodyweight steps (commonly 0.25 kg increments)
Because the coefficient is table-based, Reshel can be very consistent for meet-style calculations (where weigh-ins are recorded precisely).
There isn’t one universal “best” scoring system. Different federations and communities prefer different formulas.
Reshel can be a good choice if you want:
A straightforward points system based on a fixed coefficient table
Stable behavior around class boundaries, especially if your weigh-in is close to a limit
A traditional/meet-friendly approach where coefficients are predefined
That said, many lifters and meets still use DOTS or Wilks (Classic / 2020) because they’re more widely recognized globally.
Here’s a practical way to think about it:
DOTS: popular modern standard for comparing lifters; smooth formula-based approach
Wilks Classic: older, widely known historical standard
Wilks 2020: updated Wilks formula (sometimes called Wilks2)
Reshel: coefficient table approach; useful if you want a fixed look-up system
If you’re training for a specific federation or meet, the best scoring system is simply the one your competition uses.
Yes. A good calculator will let you input lifts in lb or kg, then convert internally to kg before computing points—because the scoring systems are defined using kilograms.
In our calculator:
You can input in lb or kg
We convert your values internally to kg
We output your total in your selected units (lb or kg), and points as a numeric score
Reshel is not a weight class system. It’s a scoring method designed to compare lifters across classes.
Weight classes (like IPF, WUAP/AWPC, WRPF, etc.) determine where you compete. Reshel (and DOTS/Wilks) determine how performances compare across different bodyweights.
If you’re close to a weight class limit, don’t obsess over tiny changes in points. A few hundred grams can affect the coefficient slightly.
Use the scoring system that matches your meet, but for training comparisons you can track multiple scores (e.g., DOTS + Reshel) for a broader view.
If you compare lifters across genders, make sure your calculator uses the correct gender coefficients.
Not necessarily. “Better” depends on what you need:
For broad community comparison: DOTS is more common
For coefficient-table style meets or legacy scoring: Reshel can be useful
Because the coefficient depends on your bodyweight. Small weight changes can slightly adjust the multiplier—especially if the system uses table steps.
Reshel coefficients come from a defined table used in practice by parts of the lifting community. Different scoring models are built differently; always use the system required by your federation or event.
If you want to compare lifters fairly across bodyweights, calculate:
DOTS
Wilks Classic
Wilks 2020
Reshel
Using the same bodyweight and total inputs—then you’ll see how each system ranks performances.