Plate calculator and warm-up sets in Boostcamp
Shows which plates go on each side of the bar, with custom bars and plates, plus generated warm-up sets.
What is Boostcamp's plate calculator?
Boostcamp's plate calculator shows exactly which plates to load on each side of the bar for a target weight, in pounds or kilograms, and the closest weight you can make if the exact one isn't possible. It works with custom bars and plates. Free accounts get 10 uses; Boostcamp Pro makes it unlimited.
- Units
- lb or kg, up to 1,000 lb or 500 kg
- Equipment
- Standard, short and EZ bars by default, plus your own bars and plates
- Warm-up sets
- Generated from your first working set using a template
- Price
- Plate calculator: 10 free uses. Warm-up sets: 5 free uses. Unlimited with Pro
How to load the bar and warm up
- 1
Open the plate calculator for a set
Enter or tap a weight and Boostcamp shows the plates for each side of the bar. If the weight can't be made with your plates, it shows the closest possible weight.
- 2
Match your gym's equipment
Default bars are 45, 33 and 20 lb (20, 15 and 10 kg). In Manage Equipment you can add your own bars and plates, and in Settings you set your smallest plate, which Boostcamp also uses to round weights.
- 3
Generate warm-up sets
From an exercise's menu, choose Add Warmup Sets. Boostcamp takes your first working set's weight and builds the ramp from a template, such as the default 40% for 5, 60% for 5 and 80% for 3.
- 4
Use your own warm-up template
Settings has three built-in templates (Default, With Empty Bar and Alternative). You can create your own, rename them and set one as your default.
How do you calculate plates for a barbell?
To calculate plates for a barbell, subtract the bar's weight from the target weight, divide the result by two, and load that amount on each side using the largest plates first. A standard Olympic barbell weighs 45 lb (or 20 kg), and collars are usually not counted.
For example, 225 lb minus a 45 lb bar leaves 180 lb, which is 90 lb per side: two 45 lb plates on each side. Working from the largest plate down keeps the number of plates small and the load close to the collars.
If the per-side amount can't be made exactly with the plates you have, the nearest loadable weight depends on your smallest plate. With 2.5 lb plates, you can load in 5 lb steps; with 1.25 lb plates, in 2.5 lb steps.
Warm-up sets are calculated the same way after you take a percentage of your working weight and round it to a loadable number. Boostcamp's plate calculator does this arithmetic for you, using your own bars and plates.
Plates per side on a 45 lb bar
Assumes a 45 lb bar, standard lb plates (45, 35, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 lb) and no collars counted. The last four rows are a warm-up ramp for a 315 lb first working set using Boostcamp's Default template (40% × 5, 60% × 5, 80% × 3). Warm-up weights are rounded to the nearest 5 lb, which is how Boostcamp rounds them when your smallest plate is 2.5 lb.
| Set | Bar weight | Per side | Plates per side |
|---|---|---|---|
| 135 lb | 45 lb | 45 lb | 45 |
| 185 lb | 45 lb | 70 lb | 45 + 25 |
| 225 lb | 45 lb | 90 lb | 45 + 45 |
| 275 lb | 45 lb | 115 lb | 45 + 45 + 25 |
| 315 lb | 45 lb | 135 lb | 45 + 45 + 45 |
| Warm-up: 40% × 5 (126 lb, rounded to 125 lb) | 45 lb | 40 lb | 35 + 5 |
| Warm-up: 60% × 5 (189 lb, rounded to 190 lb) | 45 lb | 72.5 lb | 45 + 25 + 2.5 |
| Warm-up: 80% × 3 (252 lb, rounded to 250 lb) | 45 lb | 102.5 lb | 45 + 45 + 10 + 2.5 |
| Working set: 315 lb | 45 lb | 135 lb | 45 + 45 + 45 |
Built-in warm-up templates
| Template | Warm-up sets |
|---|---|
| Default | 40% × 5, 60% × 5, 80% × 3 |
| With Empty Bar | Empty bar × 5, empty bar × 5, 40% × 5, 60% × 5, 80% × 3 |
| Alternative | Empty bar × 5, empty bar × 5, 30% × 5, 70% × 3, 100% × 1 |
Tips for using Plate calculator
- Set your smallest plate Tell Boostcamp the smallest plate your gym has so the calculator and warm-up sets round to weights you can actually load.
- Add the bars your gym uses Trap bars, safety squat bars and lighter technique bars often weigh something other than 45 lb. Add them in Manage Equipment so the per-side math stays correct.
- Load the heaviest plates first Putting the largest plates on the inside keeps the load close to the collars and makes changes between sets quicker.
- Pick a warm-up template that fits the lift Heavier lifts often benefit from a few more steps, such as the With Empty Bar template, while lighter accessories may need none.
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Frequently asked questions
Free accounts get 10 uses of Boostcamp's plate calculator. Boostcamp Pro makes it unlimited.
Yes. Boostcamp's plate calculator works in pounds or kilograms, with default kg plates from 25 down to 0.5 and your own custom plates.
Yes. Manage Equipment in Boostcamp lets you create bars and plates so the plate calculator matches your gym.
Boostcamp calculates warm-up sets from the weight of your first working set, using a template. The default is 40% for 5 reps, 60% for 5 and 80% for 3. Free accounts get 5 uses; Pro is unlimited. Editing templates is free.
On a 45 lb bar, 225 lb is two 45 lb plates on each side: 225 minus 45 is 180, and 180 divided by two is 90 lb per side.
A standard men's Olympic barbell weighs 45 lb or 20 kg. Many gyms also have lighter bars, which is why Boostcamp includes 33 lb and 20 lb bars by default and lets you add your own.