Tools

How strong are you relative to your weight?

Enter your bodyweight and total — and compare your strength performance across three established scoring systems.

Unit:

Sex

Bodyweight

Total (SBD)

Sum of squat + bench press + deadlift

What are Wilks, DOTS, and IPF GL?

In strength sports, the absolute weight on the bar isn't enough to compare performances fairly. A 60 kg lifter with a 500 kg total vs. a 120 kg lifter with a 700 kg total — who is stronger relative to bodyweight? That's what scoring formulas are for.

The Wilks score was developed in 1994 by Robert Wilks and is the most well-known system. It uses a 5th-degree polynomial to normalize the total relative to bodyweight. Despite some criticism (the formula slightly favors certain weight classes), Wilks is still used by many federations.

The DOTS score (Dynamic Objective Team Scoring) was developed as an improvement over Wilks and uses a 4th-degree polynomial. DOTS is considered fairer across different weight classes and is preferred by some federations.

IPF GL Points (Goodlift) are the official scoring system of the International Powerlifting Federation since 2019. Unlike Wilks and DOTS, IPF GL uses an exponential model that is regularly updated based on current competition data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good Wilks score?

Under 200: Beginner. 200-300: Intermediate. 300-400: Advanced. 400-500: Elite/competition level. Over 500: World class.

Why was DOTS introduced?

DOTS was developed because Wilks systematically favors certain weight classes. DOTS distributes scores more evenly across all weight classes.

Which score should I use?

Use the score your federation uses. IPF GL for IPF competitions, Wilks for many national federations. For personal tracking, any score works — just be consistent.