DOTS Calculator
DOTS scores a powerlifting total relative to bodyweight, so a 60 kg lifter and a 120 kg lifter can be compared. It has largely replaced Wilks.
Your results
A relative-strength score, not a measure of health or athleticism. The level bands are broad conventions rather than official classifications.
What DOTS does
Heavier lifters lift more in absolute terms but less relative to their size. Comparing raw totals therefore favours heavyweights, and comparing simple bodyweight multiples favours lightweights. Scoring formulas correct for that.
DOTS applies a fourth-order polynomial to bodyweight to produce a coefficient, then multiplies your total by it:
DOTS = total × 500 ÷ (A·bw⁴ + B·bw³ + C·bw² + D·bw + E)
It was designed to sit on a similar scale to Wilks, which is why the two figures above are usually within a few percent of each other.
DOTS, Wilks or IPF GL?
- DOTS — the general-purpose default. Used widely outside IPF-affiliated competition and by most online leaderboards.
- IPF GL points — what the International Powerlifting Federation uses in competition since 2020. Different scale (elite is around 100). Use this if you compete in IPF or an affiliate.
- Wilks — the old standard. Still widely recognised, and its 1994 coefficients are known to distort at the extremes of bodyweight.
All three answer the same question with different arithmetic. None of them is "correct" — they are conventions for making a comparison possible.
Common questions
What is a good DOTS score?
Broadly: under 200 beginner, 200–300 novice, 300–400 intermediate, 400–500 advanced, 500+ elite. Bands vary by source.
Is DOTS better than Wilks?
It handles the extremes of bodyweight better and is the more current choice. Both are conventions.
Can I use DOTS for a single lift?
Yes, though the coefficients were fitted to three-lift totals, so single-lift scores are not directly comparable to full-power ones.
Does DOTS account for age?
No. Masters lifters use separate age coefficients on top of the score.
Related calculators
Track the numbers, not just calculate them
MyFitsy stores your weight, measurements and every session, so the figures above become a trend instead of a one-off.
