Wilks Calculator
Units
kg
kg
Sex
Wilks Score365.15
Wilks Coefficient0.6086
Total600.0 kg
The Wilks score lets powerlifters compare strength across body weights by multiplying their total lifted by a coefficient derived from a fifth-order polynomial of bodyweight and sex. A lighter lifter and a heavyweight can both post the same Wilks score even though their raw totals differ wildly. Enter your bodyweight, the combined squat, bench, and deadlift total, and your sex in kilograms or pounds to see both the coefficient and the resulting score.
Formula
Wilks = total(kg) × 500 / (a + b·w + c·w² + d·w³ + e·w⁴ + f·w⁵)
- w
- Bodyweight in kilograms
- total
- Combined squat + bench + deadlift in kilograms
- a…f
- Sex-specific polynomial coefficients (separate sets for men and women)
How it works
- Choose kilograms or pounds, then enter your bodyweight and your competition total (squat plus bench plus deadlift).
- The calculator evaluates the sex-specific Wilks polynomial at your bodyweight to produce a coefficient (500 divided by the polynomial value).
- It multiplies that coefficient by your total in kilograms, giving the Wilks score used to rank lifters of different sizes.
Worked example
A 100 kg male lifter with a 600 kg total.
- Evaluate the male polynomial at 100 kg, giving coefficient ≈ 0.6086.
- Wilks = 0.6086 × 600.
- Score ≈ 365.15.
Wilks coefficient 0.6086 and a Wilks score of about 365.15.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good Wilks score?
- Scores around 300 indicate an advanced lifter, roughly 400 is elite, and competitive national or world-class men often exceed 450. Standards differ for women, who use a separate coefficient set.
- Is the Wilks formula the same as the newer Wilks 2 or IPF GL points?
- No. This tool uses the original (classic) Wilks coefficients still widely referenced in gyms. Wilks 2 and the IPF GL Points system use different polynomials and will produce slightly different numbers.
- Why does a heavier lifter need a bigger total for the same score?
- The coefficient shrinks as bodyweight rises because larger athletes are expected to lift more in absolute terms. The formula offsets that advantage so strength relative to body size is what gets compared.