Wilks Calculator (+ DOTS)
Calculate your Wilks score and DOTS score from bodyweight and powerlifting total, using the exact published coefficients. Free, no signup.
Your morning or weigh-in bodyweight (30–250 kg).
Squat + bench + deadlift, or one lift (20–1500 kg).
| Level | Wilks | Typical of |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | < 200 | First year of structured training |
| Intermediate | 200–300 | Consistent lifter, solid technique |
| Advanced← you | 300–400 | Competitive at local meets |
| Elite | 400+ | National-level territory |
Bands assume a raw three-lift total; single-lift scores read lower. Federation standards vary.
How the Wilks formula works
The Wilks formula, published by Robert Wilks of Powerlifting Australia in the 1990s, converts a powerlifting total into a bodyweight-adjusted score: Wilks = total × 500 ÷ (a + b·x + c·x² + d·x³ + e·x⁴ + f·x⁵), where x is your bodyweight in kilograms and the six coefficients differ for men and women. The polynomial models how much strength a lifter of a given size is expected to have, so the score expresses your total relative to that expectation. It was the official best-lifter formula in IPF-affiliated competition for decades.
Why DOTS exists
The original Wilks curve was fitted to competition data from the equipped era, and analysts long argued it flattered the lightest and heaviest classes. DOTS, developed by Tim Konertz for the German powerlifting federation (BVDK) in 2019, refit the same idea — a polynomial in bodyweight scaled to 500 — against modern raw, drug-tested results. Several major federations, including USAPL, now score best-lifter awards with DOTS. In practice the two scores track each other closely for most lifters, so this tool computes both from the exact published coefficient sets.
Using your score
A relative-strength score is most useful as a long-term benchmark: it stays comparable even as your bodyweight moves, so you can tell whether a cut or bulk actually made you a stronger lifter pound for pound. Check it every training block rather than every session — strength changes slowly. The context table above is an approximate guide for full three-lift totals; federation standards and single-lift scores will read differently.
Scores move when training is consistent, and consistency is a habit problem, not a knowledge problem. Track "lift" as a daily habit in HabitBox — the free, on-device habit tracker for iOS and Android — and let the streak get you to the gym on the days motivation doesn't.
Note: Wilks and DOTS compare lifters, they don't prescribe training. Strength-level bands shown are approximate and assume a raw three-lift total.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Wilks score and why does powerlifting use it?+
The Wilks score answers the question 'who is the strongest lifter pound for pound?' It multiplies your powerlifting total by a coefficient derived from your bodyweight, so a 60 kg lifter and a 120 kg lifter can be compared fairly. It was developed by Robert Wilks of Powerlifting Australia and was the official relative-strength formula in IPF competition for decades. A heavier lifter needs a bigger total to match a lighter lifter's score, because absolute strength rises more slowly than bodyweight.
What's the difference between Wilks and DOTS?+
Both are polynomial bodyweight-adjustment formulas, but DOTS (Dynamic Objective Team Scoring, developed by Tim Konertz for the German powerlifting federation BVDK in 2019) was fitted to more recent, drug-tested raw lifting data. The original Wilks curve was built in the 1990s from equipped-era results and is often said to slightly favour very light and very heavy lifters. Many modern raw federations, including USAPL, switched to DOTS. The two scores usually land within a few points of each other, which is why this tool shows both.
What is a good Wilks score?+
As a rough guide for a full three-lift total: under 200 is typical for a first year of structured training, 200–300 marks a consistent intermediate, 300–400 is advanced and competitive at local meets, and 400+ approaches national-level lifting. Scores above 500 are exceptional, and the best lifters in the world exceed 600. These bands are approximate — meet standards vary by federation, equipment, and weight class — but they give a useful sense of where you stand.
Can I use this with a single lift instead of a full total?+
Yes — the math works identically. Enter your best squat, bench, or deadlift instead of the sum of all three and you'll get a Wilks/DOTS score for that lift alone. Just remember the strength-level bands shown here are calibrated to full three-lift totals, so a single-lift score will naturally read lower. Comparing your single-lift score against a friend's same lift is still perfectly fair.
Should I enter my weight in kg or lb?+
Either works. The published Wilks and DOTS formulas are defined in kilograms, so this tool converts pound inputs to kilograms (1 lb = 0.45359237 kg) before applying the coefficients, exactly as a meet scorer would. Toggling the unit converts the numbers you've already typed, so the score doesn't change — only the display.
Make training a daily habit
A Wilks score only climbs when the sessions keep happening. HabitBox lets you track 'lift' as a one-tap daily habit and watch the streak compound. Free, on-device, iOS + Android.
Free · Local-only data · No account required