The recommended weight in barbell and plate-loaded exercises includes the plates and the bar or machine itself. The plate calculator shows you exactly how to load it.
Open the calculator
- Next to the weight of each set you'll see a small barbell with the plates for that weight. Tap it to open the full calculator. It only shows up on exercises loaded with plates, and only while the graphic is switched on in Workout Settings, under Tools > Plate calculator.
- The top of the calculator shows the total weight and the weight per side (or the total plate weight on machines loaded on one side), followed by the plates you need per side.
Fewest plates vs. Fewest changes
The pill next to Per side chooses how the plates are laid out:
- Fewest plates (default): every set is solved from an empty bar using the biggest plates first. For example, 120 lb per side becomes 2 × 45 + 25 + 5.
- Fewest changes: keeps the plates from your previous set on the bar and only adds what's missing, so you don't strip the bar between sets. This can mean more, smaller plates: the same 120 lb per side can become 2 × 45 + 10 + 3 × 5 + 2 × 2.5.
If the suggestion looks like "too many small plates", switch to Fewest plates. Your choice is remembered on that device for every exercise.
Available weights
- The Available weights row lists the plate sizes in your gym profile. Tap a plate to enable or disable it; the calculator only uses enabled plates, and disabled ones appear struck through.
- Tap Edit to open the plate equipment of your gym profile, where you can also set how many of each plate you own and their colour.
- At a verified partner gym the equipment is managed by the gym, so plates can't be changed from your profile.
Starting weight
The bottom row shows the bar or machine and its starting weight, i.e. the weight before any plates. Tap it to edit that equipment in your gym profile if your bar is heavier or lighter.
When the weight doesn't add up
- Not exact weight: the target can't be built with your enabled plates, so the calculator shows the closest load instead. Enable a smaller plate or adjust the set weight.
- More plates needed: you own too few plates to reach the target. Raise the plate count under Edit, or adjust the set weight.
Turn the calculator off
Open Workout Settings (sliders icon in the upper right corner of the Train tab), go to Tools > Plate calculator and switch off Enabled. The barbell graphic disappears from your sets; your weights and recommendations stay the same.