Wilks Calculator – Calculate Your Wilks Score

The Wilks Calculator by Dr. Robert Wilks is widely used in the powerlifting community to evaluate an athlete’s strength performance relative to their body weight.

The wilks score calculator takes an athlete’s total lifted weight (the sum of their best lifts in the squat, bench press, and deadlift) and their body weight, and then applies the Wilks formula to generate a Wilks score.

An athlete weighs 175 pounds and has a total lifted weight of 1,500 pounds. Using the Wilks Calculator, we can determine their Wilks score:

Wilks score = 500.0 (1.0890873 + 0.0124764 175 - 0.0006609 175 ^ 2 + 0.0000945 175 ^ 3 - 0.0000005 175 ^ 4) = *400.35

This means that the lifter’s strength is equivalent to a 400.35-pound lifter in the 175-pound weight class, which is a very impressive performance.

Wilks Score Chart

Formula Developed by Dr. Robert Wilks, the Wilks formula provides a standardized way to compare lifters of different body weights by adjusting their total lifted weight. This allows for a more fair and equitable assessment of strength across weight classes, making it a valuable metric for powerlifting competitions and training.

Wilks Formula

The Wilks formula is as follows:

Wilks score = 500.0 (a + b bodyweight + c bodyweight^2 + d bodyweight^3 + e * bodyweight^4)

Where:

• a = 1.0518033
• b = 0.0122500
• c = -0.0000638
• d = 0.0000053
• e = -0.0000000

Let’s break down the formula with an example:

Suppose we have an athlete who weighs 175 pounds and has a total lifted weight of 1,500 pounds.

We can plug these values into the Wilks formula to calculate their Wilks score:

Wilks score = 500.0 (1.0518033 + 0.0122500 175 - 0.0000638 175^2 + 0.0000053 175^3 - 0.0000000 175^4)
Wilks score = 500.0 (1.0890873 + 0.0124764 175 - 0.0006609 175^2 + 0.0000945 175^3 - 0.0000005 175^4)
Wilks score = 500.0 0.8007
Wilks score = *400.35

With a body weight of 175 pounds and a total lifted weight of 1,500 pounds, the athlete’s Wilks score is 400.35.

How to calculate Wilks powerlifting?

Calculating a Wilks score for powerlifting requires a few simple steps:

Determine the Athlete’s Body Weight: The first step is to accurately measure the athlete’s body weight, typically in pounds or kilograms.

Obtain the Athlete’s Total Lifted Weight: This is the sum of the athlete’s best lifts in the three powerlifting events: squat, bench press, and deadlift.

Apply the Wilks Formula: Using the athlete’s body weight and total lifted weight

Put the values into the Wilks formula:

Wilks score = 500.0 (a + b bodyweight + c bodyweight^2 + d bodyweight^3 + e * bodyweight^4) 

Where:

a = 1.0518033b = 0.0122500c = -0.0000638d = 0.0000053e = -0.0000000This will give you the athlete's Wilks score.

Interpret the Wilks Score: The Wilks score represents the athlete’s strength relative to their body weight. A higher Wilks score indicates greater relative strength.

Let’s say an athlete weighs 165 pounds and has a total lifted weight of 1,450 pounds. To calculate their Wilks score:

Body weight: 165 pounds

Total lifted weight: 1,450 pounds

Wilks formula:

Wilks score = 500.0 (1.0518033 + 0.0122500 165 - 0.0000638 165^2 + 0.0000053 165^3 - 0.0000000 165^4)
Wilks score = 500.0 0.7945
Wilks score = 397.25

The athlete’s Wilks score is 397.25, which indicates their strength is equivalent to a 397.25-pound lifter in the 165-pound weight class.

What is a good Wilks score?

• Elite/World-Class Level: A Wilks score of 500 or higher is considered elite-level performance, achieved by only the strongest powerlifters in the world.
• National/International Level: A Wilks score of 400-500 is generally considered a high-level performance, often seen in national or international competition.
• Competitive Level: A Wilks score of 350-400 is a solid, competitive-level performance, where the athlete can be competitive in regional or national powerlifting events.
• Intermediate Level: A Wilks score of 300-350 is a good performance for an intermediate-level powerlifter, indicating solid strength development.
• Novice Level: A Wilks score of 250-300 is a respectable starting point for a novice powerlifter, showing promise and potential for future growth.

An athlete who weighs 185 pounds and has a total lifted weight of 1,600 pounds. Using the Wilks formula, we can calculate their Wilks score:

Wilks score = 500.0 (1.0518033 + 0.0122500 185 - 0.0000638 185^2 + 0.0000053 185^3 - 0.0000000 185^4)
Wilks score = 500.0 0.7901
Wilks score = 395.05

With a Wilks score of 395.05, this athlete would be considered a competitive-level powerlifter, with the potential to perform well in regional or national-level competitions.