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Powerlifting Calculator: DOTS, IPF GL and Wilks
Written by the GymStreak coaching teamUpdated
Use your best successful lifts, ideally from one meet or one testing day.
The short answer
A powerlifting score lets lifters of different body weights compare totals. DOTS = total × 500 ÷ a curve of body weight; IPF GL points, the IPF’s official formula since May 2020, = total × 100 ÷ (A − B·e^(−C × body weight)). An 83 kg man with a 600 kg classic total scores about 405 DOTS, 83 IPF GL points and 400 Wilks. Compare scores only within one formula.
01 / How it works
How the powerlifting calculator works
A heavier lifter can usually lift more, but not in a straight line: strength grows more slowly than body weight. Scoring formulas fit a curve to that relationship so a 60 kg lifter and a 120 kg lifter can be ranked on one scale. Each formula turns your body weight into a coefficient, then multiplies your total by it.
Enter your sex, body weight and either your three lifts or your total. You get DOTS, widely used in meet results and by OpenPowerlifting, IPF GL points (the International Powerlifting Federation’s formula, with separate curves for classic and equipped lifting and for bench-only meets) and the original Wilks score, still common in older results.
The coefficients are the ones in OpenPowerlifting’s open-source code, checked against the test values it publishes. All three formulas work in kilograms; pounds are converted first. Where a formula only covers a range of body weights, the calculator does what OpenPowerlifting does and holds your body weight at the nearest end of the range.
02 / Formula
The powerlifting score formulas
DOTS
DOTS = total × 500 ÷ (A·BW⁴ + B·BW³ + C·BW² + D·BW + E) Men: A = −0.000001093, B = 0.0007391293, C = −0.1918759221, D = 24.0900756, E = −307.75076 Women: A = −0.0000010706, B = 0.0005158568, C = −0.1126655495, D = 13.6175032, E = −57.96288
- BW = body weight in kg (held between 40 and 210 kg for men, 40 and 150 kg for women)
- total = best squat + best bench press + best deadlift, in kg
DOTS came from the German federation (BVDK), according to OpenPowerlifting’s notes.
IPF GL points
GL = result × 100 ÷ (A − B × e^(−C × BW)) Classic total, men: A = 1199.72839, B = 1025.18162, C = 0.00921 Classic total, women: A = 610.32796, B = 1045.59282, C = 0.03048 Equipped total, men: A = 1236.25115, B = 1449.21864, C = 0.01644 Equipped total, women: A = 758.63878, B = 949.31382, C = 0.02435 Classic bench, men: A = 320.98041, B = 281.40258, C = 0.01008 Classic bench, women: A = 142.40398, B = 442.52671, C = 0.04724
- result = total (or bench press for bench-only), in kg
- not given below 35 kg body weight
Equipped bench coefficients are in the calculator too. The IPF uses GL points at all IPF-sanctioned events from 1 May 2020.
Wilks (original)
Wilks = total × 500 ÷ (a + b·BW + c·BW² + d·BW³ + e·BW⁴ + f·BW⁵) Men: a = −216.0475144, b = 16.2606339, c = −0.002388645, d = −0.00113732, e = 7.01863×10⁻⁶, f = −1.291×10⁻⁸ Women: a = 594.31747775582, b = −27.23842536447, c = 0.82112226871, d = −0.00930733913, e = 0.00004731582, f = −0.00000009054
- BW held between 40 and 201.9 kg for men, 26.51 and 154.53 kg for women (OpenPowerlifting’s bounds)
This is the original Wilks formula. A revised 2020 version exists and gives different numbers, so compare Wilks scores only with the same version.
03 / Worked example
Worked examples
Man, 83 kg, 600 kg classic total
A lifter weighing 83 kg totals 600 kg raw (for example 210 squat, 140 bench, 250 deadlift).
- 1DOTS denominator at 83 kg: 740.64 → 600 × 500 ÷ 740.64 = 405.05
- 2IPF GL: 1199.72839 − 1025.18162 × e^(−0.00921 × 83) = 722.40 → 600 × 100 ÷ 722.40 = 83.06
- 3Wilks coefficient at 83 kg: 0.6675 → 600 × 0.6675 = 400.50
405 DOTS, 83.1 IPF GL points, 400.5 Wilks.
Woman, 63 kg, 400 kg classic total
A lifter weighing 63 kg totals 400 kg raw.
- 1DOTS: 400 × 500 ÷ 464.89 = 430.21
- 2IPF GL: 400 × 100 ÷ 457.07 = 87.51
- 3Wilks: 429.58
430 DOTS and 87.5 GL points: a higher score than the 83 kg man’s, with a smaller total.
198 lb man, 1,300 lb total
In pounds: 198 lb body weight and a 1,300 lb classic total.
- 1Convert: 198 lb = 89.8 kg, 1,300 lb = 589.7 kg
- 2DOTS: 589.7 × 500 ÷ 772.46 = 381.68
- 3IPF GL: 78.47; Wilks: 376.84
About 382 DOTS and 78.5 GL points.
04 / Reference
Powerlifting score charts and tables
| Body weight | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kg (132 lb) | 473.9 kg | 360.8 kg |
| 75 kg (165 lb) | 557.6 kg | 410.7 kg |
| 90 kg (198 lb) | 618.6 kg | 448.7 kg |
| 105 kg (231 lb) | 663.2 kg | 477.4 kg |
| 120 kg (265 lb) | 696.5 kg | 498.5 kg |
Computed with the DOTS formula above. The total needed rises more slowly than body weight, which is the whole point of the formula.
| Formula | Used by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IPF GL points | IPF and its member federations | Separate curves for classic, equipped and bench-only |
| DOTS | Many federations outside the IPF | One curve per sex, for the three-lift total |
| Wilks | Older results and some federations | Original and 2020 versions give different numbers |
Federations change their rules; check your own federation’s current rulebook for the formula used for best-lifter awards.
05 / Training
How to use your powerlifting score
- Compare like with like. A DOTS score only means something next to other DOTS scores, and GL points next to GL points for the same equipment. A 400 DOTS and 83 GL points can be the same performance.
- Track your own score over time, especially if your body weight changes. Gaining 5 kg and adding 20 kg to your total can leave your score almost unchanged.
- Build the total lift by lift. Estimate where each lift stands with the one rep max calculator and the strength standards calculator, and plan heavy sets with the RPE calculator.
- Technique guides: barbell squats, barbell bench press and barbell deadlift. For squat set-up, read how to find your best squat stance.
06 / Limitations
Limitations and safety
These formulas are fitted to competitive results. They compare performances; they do not measure health, and they are less reliable at the very lightest and heaviest body weights, where few lifters compete.
A gym total is not a meet total. Meets have strict depth, pause and lockout rules, so gym numbers usually score higher than they would on the platform.
Use your own federation’s official calculator or results for anything that matters, such as qualifying totals or awards.
This calculator gives an estimate for general fitness education. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, or are new to hard exercise, check with a doctor first.
07 / FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a good DOTS score?
There is no official grading scale. A DOTS score is most useful for comparing yourself with other lifters in the same federation and division, or with your own earlier totals. Meet results databases such as OpenPowerlifting list scores next to each result, so you can see where totals like yours place.
What is the difference between DOTS and IPF GL points?
Both adjust a total for body weight, with different curves and scales. DOTS gives one number per sex for the three-lift total; IPF GL points also separate classic from equipped lifting and have a bench-only version. The two scales are different sizes, so never compare a DOTS number with a GL number.
Is Wilks still used?
Less than before. The IPF moved to GL points in 2020 and many other federations and rankings use DOTS, but Wilks still appears in older results and some federations. The original and 2020 Wilks formulas give different numbers.
How do I calculate my powerlifting total?
Add your best successful squat, bench press and deadlift. In a meet, that is your best of three attempts on each lift.
Can I use pounds?
Yes. Pick pounds and enter your body weight and lifts in lb. The formulas work in kilograms, so the calculator converts with 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg before scoring.
Sources
Related tools
- Strength Level CalculatorStrength standards by body weight: see how your bench, squat, deadlift and overhead press compare with your body weight, and your next milestone.
- One Rep Max CalculatorEstimate your 1RM from any set of 1–12 reps and get training loads for every percentage.
- RPE CalculatorEnter a set’s weight, reps and RPE (or RIR) to estimate your max and the weight for your next target.
From the blog
Exercises to try
- Barbell SquatsBeginner compound barbell exercise for the quadriceps, also working the glutes.
- Barbell Bench PressBeginner compound barbell exercise for the chest, also working the triceps and shoulders.
- Barbell DeadliftIntermediate compound barbell exercise for the hamstrings, also working the glutes, abs and calves.
- Close Grip Bench PressBeginner compound barbell exercise for the triceps and chest, also working the shoulders.
- Barbell Rack PullsIntermediate isolation barbell exercise for the lower back and glutes, also working the hamstrings.
Log every lift towards your next total
GymStreak logs your squat, bench and deadlift sets in kg or lb and builds your workouts around your goal and days.
