What is the Wilks score?

The Wilks score is a coefficient-based formula that converts a powerlifter's total (squat + bench press + deadlift) into a single number that accounts for bodyweight and sex. It lets you compare strength performance across different weight classes on a level playing field. A lifter who totals 300 kg at 60 kg bodyweight scores much higher than one who totals the same at 100 kg, because the lighter lifter is lifting proportionally more.

How is the Wilks score calculated?

The formula is: Score = Total (kg) × (500 / denominator), where the denominator is a fifth-degree polynomial in bodyweight — a + b·BW + c·BW² + d·BW³ + e·BW⁴ + f·BW⁵. The six polynomial coefficients differ by sex. A higher Wilks score always means greater relative strength, regardless of the lifter's weight class.

What is the difference between Classic Wilks and Wilks 2.0?

The original 1998 Wilks formula used polynomial coefficients derived from historical competition data available at the time. The 2020 Revised Wilks (Wilks 2.0), published by Vanderburgh and Batterham, recalibrated the coefficients using a much larger modern dataset. The revised version is more accurate at extreme bodyweights (very light and very heavy lifters) and better reflects current competitive performance levels. The IPF adopted Wilks 2.0 for open events in 2020.

What is a good Wilks score?

As a general guide — under 100 is Beginner, 100–200 Novice, 200–300 Intermediate, 300–400 Advanced, 400–500 Master, and 500 and above is Elite. Most recreational lifters who train seriously for a few years land in the 200–350 range. National-level competitors typically score 350–450, and world-class athletes often exceed 500.

Does Wilks use kilograms or pounds?

The formula is defined in kilograms. This calculator accepts either kg or lbs — pound inputs are converted to kg internally before applying the formula. The result is always a dimensionless Wilks score, so units do not affect the final number as long as you are consistent.

Should I use Wilks or IPF Points (GL Points) for competition?

Many federations (including the IPF at open international level) now use GL Points (Goodlift formula) for inter-sex and inter-age comparisons. However, Wilks remains the most widely recognised score for club tracking, online comparisons, and most national federations. This calculator provides both the Classic and Revised Wilks versions; check your federation's rulebook for which formula applies to your specific meet.

Wilks Calculator — Gera Tools

The Wilks score is the powerlifting world’s universal measuring stick — a single number that tells you how strong you are relative to your bodyweight, compared to any other lifter on the planet regardless of their sex or weight class. Whether you want to track your own progress, size yourself up against gym competitors, or prepare for your first meet, the Wilks score cuts through the noise of raw totals and gives you an honest picture.

How it works

The calculator converts your three-lift total — squat, bench press, and deadlift — into a bodyweight-adjusted score using a sex-specific polynomial formula. The core idea is that heavier lifters should, physiologically, be able to lift more; the formula corrects for that curve so a 60 kg and a 120 kg lifter can be compared fairly.

The Classic Wilks formula (1998)

Score = Total × Coefficient

Coefficient = 500 / (a + b·BW + c·BW² + d·BW³ + e·BW⁴ + f·BW⁵)

where BW is bodyweight in kilograms and the six coefficients a through f are different for males and females. The denominator traces a smooth curve across bodyweight: lighter lifters receive a larger coefficient (their total is scaled up more), heavier lifters receive a smaller one.

The Revised Wilks 2.0 formula (2020)

In 2020, Vanderburgh and Batterham published updated coefficients derived from a much larger competition dataset. The denominator structure is identical but the numbers shift — especially at bodyweights below 52 kg and above 120 kg, where the classic formula was known to slightly over- or under-reward lifters. The IPF adopted Wilks 2.0 for open events that same year. Both versions are shown in the results panel so you can compare them side by side.

Worked example

A male lifter weighing 90 kg posts a competition total of 520 kg (180 kg squat / 120 kg bench / 220 kg deadlift).

Bodyweight BW = 90 kg
Polynomial denominator (male classic coefficients) ≈ 783.5
Coefficient = 500 / 783.5 ≈ 0.6384
Wilks Score = 520 × 0.6384 ≈ 332

A rating of 332 places this lifter firmly in the Advanced band. To reach Master (400) at the same bodyweight, a total of around 626 kg would be required.

Bodyweight	Total	Sex	Wilks (classic)	Level
60 kg	300 kg	Male	~277	Intermediate
90 kg	520 kg	Male	~332	Advanced
120 kg	700 kg	Male	~388	Advanced/Master
60 kg	250 kg	Female	~323	Advanced
75 kg	350 kg	Female	~347	Advanced

Formula note

All calculations use kilograms internally; pound inputs are divided by 2.20462 before the formula runs. The Wilks coefficient is a pure number (dimensionless), so as long as bodyweight and total are in the same unit the conversion is exact. The polynomial is evaluated using IEEE-754 double precision, which is more than sufficient for five-figure accuracy on any realistic input range.