Wilks Calculator
The Wilks score is the classic way to compare powerlifting totals across bodyweights. Enter your bodyweight and total to get your Wilks - both the original formula and the 2020 revision - plus DOTS and IPF GL points for comparison.
Calculator
Wilks (original): 317.25
Based on a 1100 lbs total at 200 lbs bodyweight.
| Formula | Score |
|---|---|
| Wilks (original) | 317.25 |
| DOTS | 321.34 |
| Wilks 2020 | 381.13 |
| IPF GL (classic, full power) | 66.07 |
How the Wilks score works
The Wilks formula, created by Robert Wilks of Powerlifting Australia in the 1990s, was for two decades the standard answer to "who out-lifted whom, pound for pound?" Your total is multiplied by a coefficient computed from a fifth-degree polynomial of your bodyweight, with separate coefficients for men and women.
In 2020 the formula was refit on modern lifting data, changing the coefficients and moving the scale so scores center around 600 rather than 500. Federations have since largely moved to DOTS or IPF GL points, but "what is your Wilks?" remains the most recognized strength-for-size question in gyms - and older records and gym challenges (like the famous 500 Wilks club) still use the original formula. This calculator shows both versions, clearly labeled.
What is a good Wilks score?
Bands below refer to the original Wilks formula for a raw full-power total, since that is the scale the well-known milestones use. 2020 Wilks scores run roughly 20% higher:
| Wilks score | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 200 | Beginner | Early days of barbell training. |
| 200 - 300 | Novice | A year or two of consistent lifting. |
| 300 - 400 | Intermediate | The most common range for serious recreational lifters. |
| 400 - 450 | Advanced | Competitive at local meets; the classic "400 Wilks" milestone. |
| 450 - 500 | Highly advanced | Strong regional and national lifting. |
| 500+ | Elite | The 500 Wilks club - national and international level. |
Prepping for a meet?
Turn your gym bests into openers and PR attempts with the attempt calculator — it projects your total and the Wilks score it would earn. Not sure what your current maxes are? Estimate them from recent sets with the 1RM calculator.
The same numbers on the other scales: DOTS calculator and IPF GL calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Wilks score?
The Wilks score multiplies your powerlifting total by a bodyweight-based coefficient so lifters of different sizes can be compared. It was powerlifting’s standard relative-strength measure from the 1990s until DOTS and IPF GL points replaced it in most federations around 2019-2020.
What is the difference between the original Wilks and Wilks 2020?
The 2020 revision refit the polynomial coefficients on modern lifting data and rescaled the score: the numerator changed from 500 to 600, so 2020 scores run roughly 20% higher than original scores for the same lift. A 400 original Wilks corresponds to roughly 480 on the 2020 scale. When someone quotes a Wilks milestone, it is almost always the original formula.
What is a good Wilks score?
On the original scale: 300+ is a solid intermediate score, 400+ is advanced, and 500+ is the famous elite milestone. For reference, the best lifters in the world have exceeded 600.
Is Wilks still used?
Some federations and many gym competitions still score with the original Wilks, and historical records are stated in it. The IPF replaced it with IPF points and then GL points; most other federations moved to DOTS. It remains the most recognizable strength-per-bodyweight number, which is why this calculator computes it alongside its successors.
Why was the Wilks formula replaced?
Analyses of meet results showed the original curve drifted with modern raw lifting - it slightly favored very light and very heavy lifters and was fit on data that included equipped lifting. DOTS and IPF GL points were refit on newer, larger datasets. For a typical lifter the difference is small: a few points between Wilks and DOTS.
Can women and men compare Wilks scores?
Yes - that is the point of the formula. Men and women have separate coefficient sets fit to their own strength curves, so a 350 Wilks represents a comparable level of relative strength for either sex.
Hardy tracks the lifts behind the score
Log your training in the Hardy app and it keeps your squat, bench, and deadlift maxes up to date from every hard set — so you always know the total to put into this calculator, and how it is trending.
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