Wilks Calculator

What is the Wilks Score in Powerlifting?

The Wilks score is a formula used to compare the strength of powerlifters across different weight classes and genders. Developed by Robert Wilks of Powerlifting Australia, this calculation allows athletes and coaches to evaluate performance in a fair and balanced way, making it possible to compare lifters of varying body weights. The heavier a lifter, the more weight they can typically lift, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are stronger relative to a lighter competitor. The Wilks formula helps adjust for bodyweight differences, offering a normalized score that can compare lifters accurately.

This scoring system is invaluable for measuring not only total powerlifting strength but also strength in individual lifts like the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Whether competing or tracking progress after a training cycle, the Wilks score provides an objective measure to gauge improvements, especially when body weight fluctuates.

Why is the Wilks Score Important?

Powerlifting is about more than just lifting the most weight. Strength is relative, and comparing two lifters solely by their weight lifted isn't always fair due to differences in body mass. The Wilks score makes it easier to directly compare athletes by factoring in bodyweight, which provides a clearer picture of relative strength. This is particularly useful for competitions where athletes from different weight classes need to be compared for awards like "Best Lifter."

In training, the Wilks score can also help determine if an athlete is truly getting stronger, or if any strength gains are simply the result of increased body mass. For example, if a lifter’s bodyweight has gone up, their overall strength may appear improved, but calculating the Wilks score before and after a training cycle can show whether the gains are genuinely strength-based or due to body mass increase.

What is a Good Wilks Score?

The Wilks score can be used to compare lifters of different bodyweights and genders, and it doesn’t work linearly with bodyweight alone. For example, a heavier lifter would generally be able to lift more than a lighter lifter, but that doesn’t mean they’re stronger. The Wilks formula evaluates how much weight an individual lifts in relation to what others of their same weight class are lifting.

A good Wilks score depends on your lifting experience and competition level:

• 250 Wilks Points – Promising Beginner
• 300 Wilks Points – Solid Beginner
• 350 Wilks Points – Regional Competitor
• 400 Wilks Points – National Level
• 450 Wilks Points – World-Class
• 500 Wilks Points – Elite
• 550 Wilks Points – Super-Elite
• 600 Wilks Points – Greatest of All Time (GOAT) Material

For example, if a woman weighing 120 pounds (54.4 kg) lifts 400 pounds (181.5 kg), her Wilks score would be 218.29. A man weighing 220 pounds (99.8 kg) would need to squat 791 pounds (359 kg) to achieve a Wilks score of 218.54, showing the difference in scores based on gender and bodyweight.

How is the Wilks Score Calculated?

The Wilks score uses a specific formula to calculate relative strength. The formula is as follows:

Wilks Score = (W * 500) / (a + bx + cx² + dx³ + ex⁴ + fx⁵)

Where:

• W is the weight lifted (in kilograms)
• x is the lifter’s bodyweight
• a, b, c, d, e, f are coefficients, which differ for men and women

Coefficients for Men:

• a = -216.04
• b = 16.26
• c = -0.002
• d = -0.0011
• e = 7.01 * 10^-6
• f = -1.29 * 10^-8

Coefficients for Women:

• a = 594.31
• b = -27.23
• c = 0.8211
• d = -0.009
• e = 4.73 * 10^-5
• f = -9.05 * 10^-8

Once these values are plugged into the formula, the Wilks score can be calculated for both men and women. A higher Wilks score indicates a stronger lifter relative to their bodyweight.

Is the Wilks Powerlifting Formula Still Valid?

The Wilks formula has been widely used and accepted by powerlifting organizations like the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and World Powerlifting. However, some studies have noted minor biases. For example, data analysis shows that there may be a favorable bias in women’s squats (SQ) but no bias in men’s squats, while deadlift (DL) scores tend to show a bias against larger men and women. These biases are typically small and do not detract from the overall accuracy and fairness of the Wilks formula.

The formula remains one of the most trusted methods for adjusting scores by body mass in powerlifting competitions, and it's currently applied in evaluating bench press (BP) and total lift (TOT) scores. Some researchers have also tried to factor in age, but this hasn't been formally endorsed yet.

Uses of the Wilks Formula in Powerlifting

The Wilks formula is primarily used in powerlifting competitions around the world. It helps compare lifters of different weights and genders by calculating who is the strongest pound-for-pound. In competitions, the bench press, deadlift, and squat lifts are often scored using this method. The Wilks formula provides a universal approach to determining the best lifter, no matter the weight class or gender.

In addition to competitions, the Wilks score is useful in training as well. Athletes can track their strength progression over time and compare their scores to those of elite lifters using databases like the Open Powerlifting Database. This allows both amateur and professional lifters to set realistic goals and benchmark their performance against some of the strongest individuals in the world.

How wilks score Calculated?

Look down to determine the lifter's bodyweight in kilogrammes, and then read across the chart to the right to determine the remaining weight in.05 of a kilogramme. A male weighing 69.45 kg, for instance, has a coefficient of.8971. Multiply the coefficient obtained in the previous step by the individual Lift (Squat, Bench, or Deadlift) or Total to determine a lifter's "Wilks Points." The Best Lifter is the lifter who produced the highest final result.

Wilks scores for both genders are calculated using the same formula.

Wilks score:  W * 500 / (a+bx+cx2+dx3+ex4+fx5)

W is the lifted weight in kilogrammes.

The coefficients are denoted by the letters a through f and x represents the lifter's weight. The coefficients are different for men and women.

Coefficients For Men:

• a = -216.04
• b = 16.26
• c = -0.00
• d = -0.0011
• e = 7.01 * 10^-6
• f = -1.29 * 10^-8

Coefficients For Women:

• a = 594.31
• b = -27.23
• c = 0.8211
• d = -0.009
• e = 4.73 * 10^-5
• f = -9.05 * 10^-8

Is wilks powerlifting formula valid?

Results of data analysis using the Wilks formula show that there is no bias for either men or women's BP or TOT, a favourable bias is present in the women's SQ with no bias in the men's SQ, and a linear unfavourable bias is present in the DL toward bigger men and women. In addition, the allometric technique revealed a bias against light and heavy men and women, which might be acceptable given that there are only half as many lifters in the lightest and heaviest weight classes as there are in the intermediate weight classes. The Wilks formula seems to be an acceptable way to modify powerlifting scores by body mass as it is currently utilised for BP and TOT only.

What are the wilks formula uses?

With the International Powerlifting Federation, World Powerlifting, and Powerlifting Australia, the Wilks formula has long been the accepted measurement method for powerlifters everywhere. This coefficient is a useful way to evaluate total strength to body weight because heavier lifters are frequently able to lift more weight than lighter ones. In some competitions, the bench press, deadlift, and squat are measured using the Wilks formula. In order to achieve reliable results, the Wilks score has unique coefficients for men and women in addition to being a universal formula for all powerlifters.

The ultimate result enables a more precise comparison of lifters who are significantly different in order to identify the stronger person. Additionally, rather of measuring a lifter's powerlifting total per movement, it can assess their overall component. This standard gives you a fair and accurate way to compare men and women. Additionally, anyone can compare their results to those of experts using the Open Powerlifting Database.

Getting a good Wilks score might serve as a benchmark for assessing your present level of strength or placing yourself in relation to other people. If you have a Wilks score of 250, for instance, this is a promising figure that represents some basic powerlifting practise.