plates and bars.
Kilogram and pound plates are made in different sizes, so a mixed gym never lines up exactly. These are the standard plates and bars in both units.
| Kilogram plate or bar | In pounds |
|---|---|
| 1.25 kg | 2.76 lb |
| 2.5 kg | 5.51 lb |
| 5 kg | 11.02 lb |
| 10 kg | 22.05 lb |
| 15 kg | 33.07 lb |
| 20 kg | 44.09 lb |
| 25 kg | 55.12 lb |
| 15 kg bar | 33.07 lb |
| 20 kg bar | 44.09 lb |
| Pound plate or bar | In kilograms |
|---|---|
| 2.5 lb | 1.13 kg |
| 5 lb | 2.27 kg |
| 10 lb | 4.54 kg |
| 25 lb | 11.34 kg |
| 35 lb | 15.88 kg |
| 45 lb | 20.41 kg |
| 45 lb bar | 20.41 kg |
milestone totals.
The plate milestones lifters talk about do not translate cleanly either. One plate a side on a 20 kg bar is 60 kg, which is 132 lb rather than the 135 lb that one 45 lb plate a side produces.
| Kilograms | Pounds |
|---|---|
| 60 kg | 132.28 lb |
| 100 kg | 220.46 lb |
| 140 kg | 308.65 lb |
| 180 kg | 396.83 lb |
| 220 kg | 485.02 lb |
| 61.23 kg | 135 lb |
| 102.06 kg | 225 lb |
| 142.88 kg | 315 lb |
| 183.7 kg | 405 lb |
| 224.53 kg | 495 lb |
why a 20 kg bar is not exactly 45 lb.
One kilogram is 2.2046 pounds, so a 20 kg bar weighs 44.09 lb and a 45 lb bar weighs 20.41 kg. Gyms round the two together for convenience, and for training that is fine. Keep the exact figures when you compare records across gyms, since a 225 lb bench on 45 lb plates is 102.06 kg, not the 100 kg a kilo gym would load.
load the converted weight.
Once you have a number in the right unit, the barbell plate calculator shows the plates for each side, and the warm-up set calculator ramps up to it.
kg to lb converter FAQ.
How many pounds is a 20 kg plate?
A 20 kg plate is 44.09 lb. Gyms usually treat it as equal to a 45 lb plate, but the 45 lb plate is actually 20.41 kg, about 0.9 lb heavier.
Is a 45 lb bar the same as a 20 kg bar?
Close, but not identical. A 20 kg bar weighs 44.09 lb and a 45 lb bar weighs 20.41 kg. The difference is under a pound, which matters for records but not for daily training.
How do I convert kg to lb quickly?
Multiply kilograms by 2.2 for a rough answer, or by 2.2046 for an exact one. To go from pounds to kilograms, divide by the same number.
Why does the converter show a nearest loadable weight?
Because converted numbers rarely land on a real plate combination. The converter rounds to the nearest 5 lb or 2.5 kg, the smallest jump with one small plate on each side of the bar.