DOTS is a bodyweight-adjusted powerlifting score. It turns your total (best squat + bench press + deadlift) into one number, so lifters of different bodyweights and sexes can be compared fairly. This free DOTS calculator also gives your Wilks, Wilks2 and IPF GL points from the same inputs, in kilograms or pounds.
How to use the DOTS calculator
- Choose sex and units. Pick Male or Female, and KG or LB.
- Enter bodyweight and total. Use your weigh-in bodyweight and your total from the same meet or training session.
- Read your scores. Your DOTS score appears instantly with Wilks, Wilks2 and IPF GL, plus what the score means. Use “Copy link” to share your result.
The DOTS formula
DOTS divides your total by a bodyweight curve. Men and women use different coefficients:
DOTS = Total × 500 ÷ (a·BW⁴ + b·BW³ + c·BW² + d·BW + e)
| Coefficient | Men | Women |
|---|
| a | −0.000001093 | −0.0000010706 |
| b | 0.0007391293 | 0.0005158568 |
| c | −0.1918759221 | −0.1126655495 |
| d | 24.0900756 | 13.6175032 |
| e | −307.75076 | −57.96288 |
Bodyweight is capped at 40–210 kg for men and 40–150 kg for women.
Worked example
A man weighing 83 kg with a 500 kg total: the denominator at 83 kg is 740.64, so his DOTS coefficient is 500 ÷ 740.64 = 0.6751. His DOTS score is 500 × 0.6751 = 337.5. For the full method, see how we calculate or the step-by-step guide how to calculate your DOTS score.
What is a good DOTS score?
| Level | DOTS score | Typical lifter |
|---|
| Novice | Below 250 | First 6–12 months of structured training |
| Intermediate | 250–350 | 1–3 years of consistent, programmed training |
| Advanced | 350–450 | Several years of training with competition experience |
| Elite / National | 450–550 | Placing at regional and national meets |
| World-class | 550+ | Top competitors at international meets |
These bands are a guide, not a rule. Read more in What is a good DOTS score? and how to improve your DOTS score.
DOTS vs Wilks vs Wilks2 vs IPF GL
All four formulas adjust a total for bodyweight, but each uses its own curve and scale. Same lifter, four scores (male, 83 kg, 500 kg total):
| Formula | Introduced | Score for 83 kg / 500 kg | Best for |
|---|
| DOTS | 2019 | 337.5 | Best-lifter rankings in many federations outside the IPF |
| Wilks | 1990s | 333.7 | Comparing with older meet results |
| Wilks2 | 2020 | 400.8 | Updated Wilks on newer data; higher scale |
| IPF GL | 2020 | 69.2 | IPF meets; separate classic/equipped and bench-only versions |
Use the Wilks calculator or the IPF GL points calculator for those formulas on their own, or read DOTS vs Wilks vs IPF GL explained.
DOTS calculator FAQ
What is a good DOTS score?
For most lifters, 250–350 is a solid intermediate score, 350–450 is advanced, 450–550 is elite or national level, and 550+ is world class. Women and men are scored on the same scale, so a 400 DOTS means a similar level of relative strength for both.
How is the DOTS score calculated?
DOTS multiplies your powerlifting total by 500 and divides it by a bodyweight polynomial: a·BW⁴ + b·BW³ + c·BW² + d·BW + e, with separate coefficients for men and women. Bodyweight is capped at 40–210 kg for men and 40–150 kg for women.
Is DOTS better than Wilks?
DOTS was built in 2019 on newer competition data and is fairer to very light and very heavy lifters, where the original 1990s Wilks formula was known to be biased. Many federations outside the IPF now use DOTS for best-lifter awards; Wilks is still useful for comparing with older results.
What is the difference between DOTS and IPF GL points?
Both adjust a total for bodyweight and sex, but IPF GL is the formula the International Powerlifting Federation uses, with separate coefficients for classic and equipped lifting and for full powerlifting or bench only. The scales differ: a total of 500 kg at 83 kg scores 337.5 DOTS but 69.2 IPF GL points.
Can I use the DOTS calculator in pounds?
Yes. Select LB and enter your bodyweight and total in pounds; the calculator converts them to kilograms (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) before applying the formula, so the score is the same either way.
Does the DOTS formula work for women?
Yes. DOTS uses a separate set of coefficients for women, so female lifters get a fair bodyweight-adjusted score that can be compared directly with men’s scores.
Why do DOTS, Wilks and IPF GL give different numbers?
Each formula uses a different curve and a different scale. DOTS and Wilks land in a similar range (roughly 300–600 for competitive lifters), Wilks2 runs higher, and IPF GL is scaled so strong lifters score around 80–120. Compare scores only within the same formula.
Formulas checked against the published coefficients for DOTS, Wilks (original and 2020) and IPF GL. Last reviewed: 24 October 2026. Read our methodology.
