DOTS bodyweight limits
DOTS is defined from 40 to 210 kg for men and 40 to 150 kg for women. Outside that range the nearest limit is used, as OpenPowerlifting does.
// FREE CALCULATOR //
DOTS Calculator
Enter your total and bodyweight to get your DOTS score, which lets lifters of different bodyweights compare totals. You also get IPF GL points and the original Wilks score, from the same coefficients the OpenPowerlifting rankings use.
DOTS, IPF GL and WilksClassic or equippedkg or lbOpenPowerlifting coefficients
// DOTS //
381.68
- IPF GL points (classic, total)
- 78.47
- Wilks (original)
- 376.84
- Scored in kg
- 589.67 kg at 89.81 kg
// THE FORMULAS //
Three ways to divide by bodyweight.
// DOTS //
total × 500 ÷ (a·bw⁴ + b·bw³ + c·bw² + d·bw + e)
// IPF GL //
total × 100 ÷ (A − B·e^(−C·bw))
// WILKS //
total × 500 ÷ (a + b·bw + c·bw² + d·bw³ + e·bw⁴ + f·bw⁵)
Worked example: a man totalling 600 kg at 90 kg scores 387.96 DOTS, 79.77 IPF GL (classic) and 383.04 Wilks. Bodyweight (bw) is in kilograms.
IPF GL depends on the event
The IPF publishes separate constants for classic and equipped lifting, and for full powerlifting and bench-only meets, so choose both. GL is 0 under 35 kg bodyweight.
Wilks is the original
This is the original Wilks formula as OpenPowerlifting implements it, not the 2020 revision, so it matches older meet results and rankings.
// QUICK ANSWERS //
DOTS for common totals.
Classic and equipped give the same DOTS; only IPF GL changes with equipment.
| Bodyweight | 400 kg | 500 kg | 600 kg | 700 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 kg | 313.41 | 391.76 | 470.12 | 548.47 |
| 74 kg | 289.46 | 361.83 | 434.19 | 506.56 |
| 83 kg | 270.03 | 337.54 | 405.05 | 472.56 |
| 93 kg | 254.5 | 318.13 | 381.75 | 445.38 |
| 105 kg | 241.24 | 301.55 | 361.86 | 422.17 |
| 120 kg | 229.72 | 287.15 | 344.58 | 402.01 |
| Bodyweight | 250 kg | 300 kg | 350 kg | 400 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 kg | 304.73 | 365.67 | 426.62 | 487.56 |
| 57 kg | 286.42 | 343.71 | 400.99 | 458.28 |
| 63 kg | 268.88 | 322.65 | 376.43 | 430.21 |
| 69 kg | 254.87 | 305.85 | 356.82 | 407.8 |
| 76 kg | 241.81 | 290.17 | 338.53 | 386.89 |
| 84 kg | 230.04 | 276.05 | 322.05 | 368.06 |
// FOR LIFTERS WHO COMPETE //
Get the total up first.
Estimate each lift
Not sure what you would total today? Estimate each lift from a recent heavy set with the one rep max calculator, keeping in mind an estimate is not an opener.
Peak for the meet
The last weeks before a meet change what you can show on the platform. See how to peak for a powerlifting meet.
Program for strength
Powerlifting program design covers how to plan the blocks that build a total.
// DIRECT ANSWERS //
Questions lifters ask.
What is a DOTS score?
A number that adjusts a powerlifting total for bodyweight, so lifters in different weight classes can be compared. It is the total multiplied by 500 and divided by a polynomial of bodyweight, with separate coefficients for men and women.
What is a good DOTS score?
There is no official scale. The useful comparison is with other lifters: the OpenPowerlifting rankings can be sorted by DOTS, so you can see where a score sits in your federation, weight class and division.
What is the difference between DOTS, IPF GL and Wilks?
All three divide a total by a function of bodyweight. Wilks is the oldest and uses a fifth-order polynomial. DOTS uses a fourth-order polynomial. IPF GL is the IPF’s own formula, an exponential curve with separate constants for classic and equipped lifting and for full powerlifting and bench only.
Can DOTS compare men and women?
It uses separate coefficients for men and women, so each score is relative to lifters of the same sex. According to OpenPowerlifting’s notes, DOTS was created by the German federation (BVDK) for team competitions in which lifters of all sexes score on one team.
Can I enter my numbers in pounds?
Yes. Choose lb and the calculator converts the total and bodyweight to kilograms (1 lb = 0.45359237 kg) before scoring, because every formula is defined in kilograms.
Does IronLedger calculate DOTS?
No. IronLedger tracks your lifts, records and estimated maxes, not federation scores. This page is a free extra for lifters who compete.
// SOURCES //
Where the maths comes from.
- OpenPowerlifting. DOTS implementation (crates/coefficients/src/dots.rs), MIT licence.
- OpenPowerlifting. IPF GL implementation (crates/coefficients/src/goodlift.rs), MIT licence.
- OpenPowerlifting. Wilks implementation (crates/coefficients/src/wilks.rs), MIT licence.
- International Powerlifting Federation. The IPF GL Coefficients for Relative Scoring, May 2020.
Build the total first
IronLedger logs every set with RPE or RIR, tracks records and estimated maxes for each lift, and includes 5/3/1 and other strength programs. Free, with no subscription. iPhone now; Android is in closed testing.
Get IronLedger free on iOSUse it from an AI assistant
The same calculation is a free JSON API at /api/tools/powerlifting-score and a tool on the IronLedger MCP server, so an assistant can run it and link back to this page with your numbers.
// MORE TOOLS //
Other free calculators.
One rep max calculator
Your estimated 1RM from any set, with a percentage table and the load each rep count should allow.
Bench press calculator
Estimate your max bench from a set of reps, with bench-specific notes on what counts as a rep.
RPE calculator and chart
Turn RPE and reps into a percentage of your max, estimate a max from an RPE set, or find the load for a target.