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Wilks Calculator
Turn your squat, bench and deadlift total into a Wilks score — and compare strength fairly, whatever your bodyweight.
Total = best squat + bench + deadlift. Runs entirely in your browser.
Your Wilks score
Approximate strength bands
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Watch your score climb
Lift5x5 tracks every lift and your strength over time, so your total — and your Wilks — keep going up session after session. Free, no ads.
Get the free appWhat the Wilks score measures
Raw total isn't a fair comparison — a heavier lifter will almost always out-total a lighter one, even when the smaller lifter is stronger for their size. The Wilks coefficient corrects for this by scaling your total against a curve fitted to competitive lifters at every bodyweight, giving one number that puts a featherweight and a heavyweight on the same footing.
Wilks or DOTS?
Wilks was the standard for decades, but in 2019 the DOTS formula was introduced to correct biases that slightly penalised the very lightest and heaviest lifters. Most modern comparisons and many federations now use DOTS. If your federation still ranks on Wilks, use this page; otherwise DOTS is the fairer modern choice. The scores sit on a similar scale, so they usually land close for mid-bodyweight lifters. This calculator converts pounds to kilograms automatically before applying the classic Wilks formula.
Don't have a tested max?
Most 5x5 lifters rarely test a true one-rep max — and they shouldn't, since training with 5 reps drives faster beginner progress with less risk. Estimate each lift from your working weight with the one rep max calculator, total the three, then enter it above. To see where you rank lift by lift, use the strength standards calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Wilks score?
The Wilks coefficient turns your powerlifting total into a single number you can compare across bodyweights. It multiplies your total by a factor based on your bodyweight and sex, so a lighter and a heavier lifter can be ranked on equal terms. For years it was the standard scoring system in powerlifting.
What is a good Wilks score?
As a rough guide for raw lifters: under 200 is novice, 200–300 is intermediate, 300–400 is advanced, 400–500 is elite, and 500+ is world-class. These bands are approximate and vary by sex, federation and tested status — treat them as a ballpark, not a verdict.
Wilks vs DOTS — which should I use?
DOTS is the newer formula (2019) and was designed to fix biases in Wilks at the lightest and heaviest bodyweights. Many federations and OpenPowerlifting have moved to DOTS. Use Wilks if your federation still ranks on it; for a modern, fairer comparison, use our DOTS calculator. The two scores are on a similar scale, so they usually land close for mid-bodyweight lifters.
What counts as my total?
Your total is the sum of your best squat, bench press and deadlift — usually your one-rep max on each. If you train 5x5 and rarely test a true max, estimate each lift from your working weight with our one-rep max calculator, then add the three together.