The Wilks Calculator allows you to calculate the Wilks score, which measures your strength in powerlifting compared to other powerlifters of both sexes with different body weights. To calculate the value of the Wilks score, select the appropriate units of measure and enter your body weight and your best lifted weight either using the sliders or by pasting the data into the calculator fields, then specify your gender.
Wilks Score
The Wilks score, or Wilks coefficient, or Wilks points, is a mathematical coefficient that can be used to measure the relative strength of powerlifters across different weight classes and even genders. The author of the empirical formula by which this coefficient is calculated is Robert Wilks, CEO of Powerlifting Australia.
It is well known in powerlifting that a heavier lifter is more likely to be able to lift heavier weight than a lighter lifter. However, this does not always mean that the heavier lifter is overall stronger. In this and similar cases, the Wilks score greatly simplifies a direct comparison of both athletes.
The Wilks score can only be used to evaluate a lifter’s strength in individual powerlifting exercises (the squat, bench press or deadlift) or for their powerlifting total as a whole.
The Wilks score can also be used to assess whether you have become stronger after a training cycle. For example, if your body weight has increased along with your lifts, it can be difficult to tell if you are really getting stronger or if your exercise performance is increasing just because you got heavier. Calculating the Wilks score before and after the training cycle will give you the answer to this question.
The following Wilks formula (the latest update of March 2020) is used to calculate the Wilks score:
where MWL is the maximum weight lifted (in kilograms), w is the body weight of the lifter (in kilograms), and a to f are coefficients. The same formula applies to both men and women, the difference is only in the value of the coefficients contained in the formula, which are presented in the following table.
Example
Let’s say you want to compare the weightlifting capabilities of two different weightlifters. The first person is a male athlete in lightweight, weighs 50 kg and performs in the lowest weight category. His best result is 125 kg. The second athlete is a man weighing 110 kg, performing in the highest weight category. His best result in the same type of exercise is 200 kg.
Using our Wilks calculator we can easily find that the first powerlifter has the Wilks score of 143.88 points, while the second one has only 140.39 points. This means that even if the first athlete can lift less weight, he is objectively stronger than the heavyweight athlete.
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Disclaimer. Information provided here is for educational purposes only. Any suggestions given are in no way intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Our website assumes no responsibility for personal injury or damage sustained by or through the use of any advice given.