WilksCalc

Wilks Score Calculator

Compare strength across weight classes — the standard powerlifting benchmark.

Body weight (kg)

Total lifted (kg)

Wilks score

273.08

Wilks coefficient: 0.683

What you entered

Sex: MaleBody weight: 80 kgTotal lifted: 400 kg

1
Body weight
x = 80 kg= 80 kg
2
Polynomial denominator
a + b×x + c×x² + d×x³ + e×x⁴ + f×x⁵= 732.3876
3
Wilks coefficient
500 ÷ 732.3876= 0.6827
4
Wilks score
400 × 0.6827= 273.08

Result

Wilks score: 273.08

At 80 kg body weight, lifting a 400 kg total gives a Wilks score of 273.08 — this normalizes strength across weight classes so lifters of different sizes can be compared fairly.

Wilks score by body weight and total lifted

The Wilks coefficient normalises a powerlifting total across body weights so lifters in different classes can be compared directly.

Sex	Body weight	Total lifted	Coefficient	Wilks score
Male	75 kg	400 kg	0.7126	285.0
Male	90 kg	500 kg	0.6384	319.2
Male	105 kg	600 kg	0.5976	358.5
Female	60 kg	250 kg	1.1149	278.7
Female	75 kg	320 kg	0.9506	304.2

The coefficient falls as body weight rises, which is what stops heavier lifters from dominating on raw total alone. Around 300 is a strong club lifter and 400 or more is national level.

How the Wilks coefficient works

The Wilks coefficient normalizes powerlifting totals across body weights using a 5th-degree polynomial. Heavier lifters can lift more in absolute terms, but the coefficient adjusts for this — a 300 Wilks is competitive at any weight class. The formula uses sex-specific constants calibrated against thousands of competition results.

What's a good Wilks score?

Approximate benchmarks: below 200 = beginner, 200–300 = intermediate, 300–400 = advanced, 400–450 = elite, 450–500 = world-class, 500+ = all-time great. The highest recorded Wilks scores are in the 600+ range. Newer alternatives like DOTS and GL coefficients exist but Wilks remains the most widely used.

Frequently asked questions

How is the Wilks score calculated?

Wilks = Total (kg) × Coefficient. The coefficient comes from a 5th-degree polynomial based on body weight: Coeff = 500 / (a + b×x + c×x² + d×x³ + e×x⁴ + f×x⁵) where x = body weight in kg and a–f are sex-specific constants. Lighter lifters get a higher coefficient to compensate for the natural advantage of heavier body weight.

What Wilks score do I need for a powerlifting meet?

No minimum is required to compete — meets welcome all levels. For context: local meets typically see 200–350 Wilks, national qualifiers 350–400+, national meets 400–450+, and world championships 450+. A Wilks of 300 is a solid recreational goal. Most federations post qualifying totals, not Wilks, for their meets.

Wilks vs DOTS vs IPF GL – which should I use?

Wilks (1994) is the most widely known. DOTS (2019) was designed to better handle extreme body weights. IPF GL Points (2020) is the official IPF standard. For casual comparison, all three give similar rankings. Use whichever your federation uses. For self-tracking, consistency matters more than which formula you pick.