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Wilks Calculator

Score a powerlifting total with the Wilks coefficient and DOTS side by side, in kilograms or pounds, for the three-lift total or a single lift.

Score for the three-lift total

370.27 Wilks

580.0 kg lifted at 90.0 kg bodyweight.

370.27
Wilks score
0.6384
Wilks coefficient
375.03
DOTS score
0.6466
DOTS coefficient

How the two coefficients are built

FormulaShapeCoefficientScore
Wilks (1994)500 ÷ (a + bx + cx² + dx³ + ex⁴ + fx⁵)0.63839370.27
DOTS (2020)500 ÷ (a + bx + cx² + dx³ + ex⁴)0.64660375.03

x is your bodyweight in kilograms — pounds are converted first. DOTS clamps bodyweight to 40–210 kg before evaluating, because the polynomial was only fitted on that range.

What the numbers mean

Both formulas are calibrated so that roughly 500 points is a world-class raw total, 400 is a strong national competitor and 300 is a solid regional lifter. The coefficient scales a total down as bodyweight rises, which is what lets a 59 kg lifter and a 120 kg lifter be compared on one scoreboard.

Wilks is the historic standard and is still used by many federations and gyms. DOTS was fitted on more recent raw data and is generally kinder to lighter lifters and to women than old Wilks. The IPF has since moved to its own IPF GL points, which is a different formula again — a score is only comparable inside the scoring system it came from.

Everything is calculated in your browser. These are the classic 1994 Wilks constants, not the 2020 “Wilks 2” revision, so a score here will not match a federation sheet that uses the newer coefficients.

What is the Wilks Calculator?

The Wilks score is your total multiplied by a coefficient of 500 ÷ (a + bx + cx² + dx³ + ex⁴ + fx⁵), where x is your bodyweight in kilograms and the constants differ for men and women. It lets lifters of different bodyweights be compared on one scoreboard.

  • Classic 1994 Wilks coefficients for men and women
  • DOTS score computed alongside, with the official bodyweight clamp applied
  • Three-lift total or single-lift scoring in one tool
  • Kilogram and pound entry, converted automatically when you switch
  • Shows both coefficients to five decimal places so you can verify a meet sheet
  • One-click copy of the whole score breakdown

How to use the Wilks Calculator

  1. 1

    Pick kilograms or pounds, your sex, and whether you are scoring a three-lift total or a single lift.

  2. 2

    Enter your bodyweight — it is converted to kilograms before the coefficient is evaluated.

  3. 3

    Type in your squat, bench press and deadlift, or the single lift you want scored.

  4. 4

    Read the headline Wilks score, then compare the Wilks and DOTS coefficients in the tiles below.

  5. 5

    Use the copy button to save the full breakdown for your training log.

About the Wilks Calculator

The ByteTools Wilks Calculator scores a powerlifting total the way meets do: it evaluates the Wilks coefficient polynomial on your bodyweight in kilograms, then multiplies your total by it. Enter squat, bench and deadlift for a full three-lift score, or switch to single-lift mode to score one movement on its own.

Alongside Wilks it computes DOTS, the newer coefficient fitted on modern raw data, so you can see both numbers at once. The two disagree most at the light and heavy ends of the scale, and having them side by side makes it obvious which scoring system a leaderboard is using. Kilograms and pounds are both supported and converted before the polynomial runs.

Everything is calculated locally in your browser — your bodyweight and lifts are never uploaded. Scores are for comparison and motivation only, not training or medical advice, and only ever comparable within the scoring system they came from.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Wilks score?

As a rough guide, around 300 marks a solid intermediate lifter, 400 is competitive at a national level and 500 is world class. The same bands apply to men and women because that is exactly what the coefficient is designed to do — put everyone on one scale regardless of bodyweight.

How is the Wilks coefficient calculated?

It is 500 divided by a fifth-degree polynomial in your bodyweight in kilograms, with six constants that differ between men and women. Your total is then multiplied by that coefficient. The polynomial falls as bodyweight rises, which is what discounts a heavyweight's total relative to a lightweight's.

What is the difference between Wilks and DOTS?

They are the same idea fitted to different data. Wilks dates from 1994 and includes equipped lifting; DOTS was fitted later on raw results and is generally more generous to lighter lifters and to women. DOTS also clamps bodyweight to the range it was fitted on, at 210 kg for men and 150 kg for women.

Does this use old Wilks or Wilks 2?

The original 1994 constants, which are still what most gyms, online calculators and many federations mean by 'Wilks'. The 2020 revision — sometimes called Wilks 2 — uses a different constant set, so a score from a sheet built on it will not match this one.

Can I use a Wilks score for a single lift?

Yes, and this tool has a mode for it. Just be aware the coefficient was fitted on three-lift totals, so single-lift Wilks scores are only meaningful when compared against other single-lift scores for the same movement.

Are IPF GL points the same thing?

No. IPF GL points are a separate formula the IPF moved to after retiring Wilks, and they produce different numbers on a different scale. A score is only ever comparable inside the scoring system it came from.

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