Wilks Calculator — Powerlifting Relative Strength Score
Enter your sex, body weight, and powerlifting total (squat + bench + deadlift or a single lift) to calculate your Wilks score — the standardised metric used to compare lifts across different body-weight classes.
Sex
Weight unit
kg
kg
Original Wilks coefficient (pre-2019) — higher scores indicate greater relative strength
- 1
Wilks coefficient
500 ÷ poly(90) = 0.638394Denominator is a sex-specific 5th-degree polynomial fitted to powerlifting competition data. - 2
Wilks score
500 × 0.638394 = 319.20
How does this calculator work?
Your Wilks score = Total × (500 / polynomial(bodyweight)). It normalises a powerlifting total for body weight so lifters of different sizes can be compared on one scale. Enter sex, body weight, and total (squat + bench + deadlift, or a single lift). Uses the original pre-2019 Wilks coefficients; the IPF now uses the IPF GL system instead.
Formula
How this is calculated
A heavier athlete can generally lift more in absolute terms than a lighter one. The Wilks score normalises a powerlifting total for body weight using a sex-specific fifth-degree polynomial fitted to historical competition data, allowing fair comparison across weight classes.
The denominator of the Wilks coefficient — a + b·bw + c·bw² + d·bw³ + e·bw⁴ + f·bw⁵ — models how average world-level totals scale with body weight. Dividing 500 by this value gives a multiplier (the Wilks coefficient) that is then applied to the individual's total. A higher Wilks score indicates stronger performance relative to body weight.
Note that the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) replaced Wilks with the IPF GL (Goodlift) points system in 2019, and further updates have been made since. The original Wilks formula used here (pre-2019 coefficients) is still widely used by many federations and online communities. The valid body weight range for the formula is 40–175 kg for males and 40–150 kg for females; inputs outside these bounds produce unreliable extrapolations.
Frequently asked questions
Broadly: below 150 — untrained; 150–250 — beginner; 250–350 — intermediate; 350–450 — advanced; 450–550 — elite; above 550 — world-class. These bands are informal guides; expectations vary by federation, equipment (raw vs equipped), and individual goals.
The IPF GL (Goodlift) system is the current standard for IPF-affiliated meets. Wilks remains widely used by non-IPF federations and for historical comparison. If you compete under the IPF, check your federation's current scoring system; this calculator computes only the original Wilks coefficient.
Yes — enter any positive total weight and the formula applies the same coefficient. Many lifters use Wilks to compare single-event bests (e.g. bench press only). Just be aware that the formula was derived from full SBD totals, so single-lift comparisons are approximate but still useful for ranking within a discipline.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Wilks Calculator — Powerlifting Relative Strength Score [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/wilks-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Wilks Calculator — Powerlifting Relative Strength Score." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/wilks-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Wilks Calculator — Powerlifting Relative Strength Score," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/wilks-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_wilks_calculator, title = {Wilks Calculator — Powerlifting Relative Strength Score}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/wilks-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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