What the score does
Raw total favours heavier lifters. Wilks and DOTS multiply your lifted weight by a coefficient based on your bodyweight, flattening that advantage so a 60 kg and a 100 kg lifter can be ranked on the same scale.
Free strength tool
Wilks and DOTS score.
Enter your bodyweight, what you lifted and your sex. We return your DOTS score, the modern standard, alongside the classic Wilks, so you can compare strength fairly across bodyweights and against anyone in the gym.
How it works
One number that compares strength across bodyweights.
DOTS vs Wilks
Wilks came first and ran federations for decades. DOTS is the newer fit to a broader, more recent data set and now leads most rankings. We show both: DOTS as the headline, Wilks so older meet results still line up.
Why sex matters
Each formula uses separate coefficients for men and women, calibrated on that population, so the score is comparable across sexes. Pick the one that matches how you compete, or the numbers drift.
Total or single lift
Both formulas were designed for a squat, bench and deadlift total. You can score a single lift to track it over time, but the strength bands assume a full total, so a lone bench will read lower.
Common questions
About Wilks and DOTS.
- What is a good DOTS or Wilks score?
- For a full powerlifting total, roughly: 200 is a solid intermediate, 300 is advanced, 400 is competitive at a regional level and 500-plus is elite. The bands are approximate and depend on federation, tested status and the lifts involved.
- Should I use DOTS or Wilks?
- DOTS for anything current: it is the newer formula and now leads most rankings. Keep Wilks handy only to compare against older results that were scored on it. We show both so you never have to pick.
- kg or lb?
- Either. Enter both numbers in the same unit and we convert to kilograms internally, because the coefficients are kg-based. The score is identical whichever unit you choose.
- Why does sex change the result?
- The coefficients are fitted separately for men and women so the score stays fair across sexes. Selecting the wrong one skews the number, sometimes by a wide margin at lighter bodyweights.
- Can I score just my bench or squat?
- Yes, enter the single lift as the weight lifted. The DOTS and Wilks numbers are still valid for tracking that lift over time, but the strength bands assume a three-lift total, so a single lift lands lower than it feels.
Track the score, not just the number.
Ironstead logs every working set and keeps your estimated maxes current, so watching your bodyweight-adjusted strength climb takes no spreadsheet. Free for athletes.
Start free as an athlete
Scores are for comparison and motivation, not medical or coaching advice. Federation rankings use their own official calculators.