Calculate your Wilks score for powerlifting. Compare strength across weight classes using the official Wilks coefficient formula for squat, bench, and deadlift totals.
The Wilks formula converts a powerlifting total and bodyweight into a single score so lifters from different weight classes can be compared.
Developed by Robert Wilks, it was widely used in competitive powerlifting before newer formulas such as DOTS and IPF GL became more common. Enter your bodyweight and total to calculate a Wilks score.
It remains familiar in older meet results, record archives, and many informal strength comparisons.
It is useful for comparing totals across bodyweights or tracking how a total changes relative to bodyweight over time. Even if some federations now use newer formulas, Wilks is still a common reference point in strength communities.
Wilks Score = Total × Coefficient Coefficient = 500 / (a + b×BW + c×BW² + d×BW³ + e×BW⁴ + f×BW⁵) Male coefficients: a = -216.0475144, b = 16.2606339, c = -0.002388645, d = -0.00113732, e = 7.01863E-06, f = -1.291E-08 Female coefficients: a = 594.31747775582, b = -27.23842536447, c = 0.82112226871, d = -0.00930733913, e = 4.731582E-05, f = -9.054E-08
Result: Wilks Score: 370.2
At 82.5 kg bodyweight, the male Wilks coefficient is approximately 0.6731. Multiplying 550 kg total × 0.6731 = 370.2 Wilks points. This places the lifter solidly in the Advanced category, above average for competitive powerlifters but below the elite threshold of 400+.
Robert Wilks developed the formula in the late 1990s to replace the Schwartz/Malone formula that had been used since the 1970s. The polynomial coefficients were derived from regression analysis of competition data across all weight classes. The formula was officially adopted by the IPF and became the universal standard for powerlifting comparison.
Critics note that Wilks slightly favors very light (<59 kg) and very heavy (>120 kg) lifters, creating an uneven playing field at extreme bodyweights. The coefficients were also derived from data that is now decades old, and the strength standards of the sport have evolved significantly. This led to the development of DOTS and IPF GL Points as alternatives.
Set targets based on Wilks milestones rather than absolute totals. Training to increase your Wilks by 10 points is a meaningful and bodyweight-independent goal. Tracking Wilks over time reveals whether your strength is improving relative to your size.
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This worksheet applies the named powerlifting coefficient or points formula to a bodyweight-adjusted strength comparison. It is a comparison aid, not an official federation scoring engine.
For males: Under 200 is beginner, 200–300 is intermediate, 300–400 is advanced, 400–500 is elite, and 500+ is world-class. For females: Under 150 is beginner, 150–250 is intermediate, 250–350 is advanced, 350–450 is elite, and 450+ is world-class. These are rough guidelines and vary by federation and age category.
Men and women have different strength-to-bodyweight relationships due to differences in muscle mass proportion, hormonal profiles, and body composition. Separate coefficients allow fair comparison within each sex. The female coefficients produce higher multipliers at the same bodyweight to normalize the difference.
The IPF officially moved to IPF GL Points (Goodlift Points) in 2020 for their competitions. However, Wilks remains widely used in other federations (USPA, WRPF, etc.), historical records, and community discussions. Many lifters still calculate and compare Wilks scores.
The highest Wilks scores in competition exceed 700 points. Notably, Lamar Gant achieved a Wilks of approximately 710 in the 1980s. Modern lifters like Yury Belkin and John Haack have scored in the 600+ range. Among women, Kimberly Walford and others have exceeded 550.
All three normalize strength across bodyweight. Wilks (1997) uses a 5th-degree polynomial. DOTS (2019) was designed to reduce Wilks' bias at extreme bodyweights. IPF GL Points (2020) is the official IPF formula and has different coefficients for equipped and raw lifting. For most lifters, the relative rankings are similar across all three.
Yes, you can apply the Wilks coefficient to a single lift (bench press, squat, or deadlift) instead of the total. This is common in bench-only or deadlift-only competitions. The coefficient is the same regardless of whether you're scoring a total or a single lift.