Question 1

What is a Wilks score?

Accepted Answer

The Wilks score is the classic powerlifting scoring system, created by Robert Wilks, that lets lifters of different bodyweights be compared fairly. Your powerlifting total (squat + bench press + deadlift) is multiplied by a coefficient derived from your bodyweight and sex. Heavier lifters get a smaller coefficient, lighter lifters a larger one, putting everyone on one pound-for-pound scale.

Question 2

How is the Wilks score calculated?

Accepted Answer

Wilks score = total lifted × 500 / (a + b·BW + c·BW² + d·BW³ + e·BW⁴ + f·BW⁵), where BW is bodyweight in kilograms and a–f are sex-specific coefficients. For men: a=-216.0475144, b=16.2606339, c=-0.002388645, d=-0.00113732, e=7.01863e-06, f=-1.291e-08. For women the coefficients differ. This calculator applies the exact published formula — no lookup tables.

Question 3

What is Wilks 2.0 and how is it different from classic Wilks?

Accepted Answer

Wilks 2.0 is the March 2020 revision of the Wilks formula. It uses the same fifth-order polynomial structure but with rebalanced coefficients and a constant of 600 instead of 500, so Wilks 2.0 scores read roughly 20% higher. The revision better aligns men and women's performances and brings extreme bodyweight classes into better balance with middle classes. Do not mix Wilks and Wilks 2.0 scores — compare within one formula only.

Question 4

What is a DOTS score in powerlifting?

Accepted Answer

DOTS (Dynamic Objective Team Scoring) is a modern powerlifting scoring formula developed by Tim Konertz for the German IPF affiliate BVDK. It computes DOTS = total × 500 / (a + b·BW + c·BW² + d·BW³ + e·BW⁴), a fourth-order polynomial with sex-specific coefficients. DOTS is widely used in non-IPF federations and team competitions because it allows fair comparison across sexes on one scale.

Question 5

What are IPF GL points?

Accepted Answer

IPF GL (Goodlift) points are the official scoring system of the International Powerlifting Federation since 2020, replacing Wilks. The formula is: IPF GL = total × (100 / (A − B × e^(−C × bodyweight))), with separate A, B, C coefficients for men/women and raw/equipped lifting. Because it is exponential rather than polynomial, it tracks the bodyweight–strength relationship more accurately across the full competitive range.

Question 6

Wilks vs DOTS — which scoring formula is better?

Accepted Answer

Neither is universally better; they answer slightly different questions. Classic Wilks is the historical lingua franca — useful for comparing against decades of past results. DOTS is newer, fitted to more recent data, and used by many modern federations. IPF GL is the official IPF standard since 2020. This calculator shows all four side by side so you can see every number, but always rank lifters within the same formula — the scales are not interchangeable.

Question 7

What is a good Wilks score?

Accepted Answer

As a rough guide for men: under 250 is beginner, 250–300 novice, 300–350 intermediate, 350–400 advanced, and 400+ elite. For women the equivalent bands run about 50 points lower on the DOTS scale (beginner under 250, elite 400+). Context matters: a 350 Wilks at a local meet is excellent, while international podiums typically need 400+. These bands are informal — federations do not publish official level cutoffs.

Question 8

Should I enter raw or equipped lifts?

Accepted Answer

Wilks (classic and 2.0) and DOTS were designed around raw lifting data, so enter raw totals for those formulas. IPF GL is the exception: it publishes separate official coefficients for raw (classic) and equipped lifting — this calculator lets you switch, and only the IPF GL score changes. Mixing equipped totals into raw formulas inflates the score and makes comparisons meaningless.

Question 9

Can I enter my weight in pounds?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Toggle kg/lb at the top and enter bodyweight and lifts in pounds — the calculator converts everything to kilograms internally (1 lb = 0.45359237 kg) before applying the formulas, because all four scoring systems are defined in metric. Results are shown back in your chosen unit.

Question 10

Can Wilks or DOTS compare men and women?

Accepted Answer

Each formula has separate male and female coefficient curves, so a man's and a woman's score are each normalized within their sex — the resulting numbers are broadly comparable as relative-strength measures. DOTS was specifically created so mixed-sex teams could compete on one leaderboard. That said, the male and female curves were fitted independently, so treat cross-sex comparison as approximate.

Question 11

Why do heavier lifters get a lower coefficient?

Accepted Answer

Strength does not scale linearly with bodyweight — doubling your bodyweight does not double your total. The coefficient compensates for this diminishing return: a lighter lifter's total gets multiplied up, a heavier lifter's gets multiplied down, so both land on the same relative-strength scale. Without it, super-heavyweights would win every best-lifter award on absolute total alone.

Question 12

What bodyweight should I enter — morning weight or competition weight?

Accepted Answer

Enter the bodyweight you will compete at (or did compete at), in the same condition as the lifts. All four formulas were fitted on competition bodyweights. If you are planning a meet, use your target weight class. The DOTS formula clamps bodyweight to its validated range (40–210 kg men, 40–150 kg women); this calculator discloses when clamping is applied.

Question 13

How does the attempt planner work?

Accepted Answer

Enter your planned first, second and third attempts for squat, bench press and deadlift. The planner takes your best planned attempt per lift as the projected total and computes all four scores for it. It also checks the IPF minimum progression rule: each attempt must be at least 2.5 kg heavier than the previous (0.5 kg jumps are allowed only for record attempts) and warns you about illegal or decreasing jumps.

Question 14

Is Wilks still used in competitions?

Accepted Answer

Classic Wilks is now legacy: the IPF replaced it with IPF GL points at the start of the 2020 season, and many federations followed with DOTS or Wilks 2.0. Wilks remains useful for historical comparison — decades of past results are recorded in Wilks — but check which formula your federation actually uses before comparing meet results.

Question 15

Why do the four formulas give different numbers for the same lifts?

Accepted Answer

Each formula was fitted to different datasets with different math: Wilks uses a fifth-order polynomial (K=500), Wilks 2.0 a rebalanced fifth-order polynomial (K=600), DOTS a fourth-order polynomial (K=500), and IPF GL an exponential curve (K=100). Different curves, different scales. A Wilks of 320, a DOTS of 323 and an IPF GL of 66 can all describe the same performance — the numbers are only meaningful within their own system.

Question 16

Is my lifting data sent anywhere?

Accepted Answer

No. This calculator runs 100% in your browser — every formula is computed locally in JavaScript, and nothing you type ever leaves your device. There are no accounts, no analytics on your inputs, and no network requests except loading the page itself. You can even save the page and use it offline.

Powerlifting Score Calculator

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Your scores

Wilks (classic)

Wilks 2.0

DOTS

IPF GL

Formula comparison

Meet attempt planner

The four formulas, explained

Wilks (classic)

Wilks 2.0 (2020)

DOTS

IPF GL points

Frequently asked questions

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