Find out if your total isactually any good.
Wilks changed, then DOTS took over, then the IPF switched to GL points — and now nobody knows what a good number is anymore. Enter one total and get it scored every way, side by side, with the tier you land in and the exact total it takes to reach the next one.
How a DOTS calculator works
A DOTS calculator turns a powerlifting total into a single score that can be compared across bodyweights and between men and women. Raw strength alone is not a fair comparison — a 200 kg total means something very different from a 60 kg lifter than from a 140 kg lifter. DOTS solves that by adjusting the total against a curve fit to thousands of real competition results.
DOTS multiplies your total in kilograms by 500 and divides by a fourth-order polynomial of your bodyweight, using one coefficient set for men and another for women. The result is a number where higher is stronger relative to size. Introduced in 2019, DOTS is now the default scoring system on OpenPowerlifting and many federations.
It is not the only system. The original Wilks formula (1996) ran for decades but was found to bias certain weight classes and has been retired by the IPF. Wilks2 (2020) is a rebalanced version, and the IPF now uses its own GL Points for official meets. Because each formula is scaled differently, the same total produces a different number in each one — which is why this tool shows DOTS, both Wilks versions, and IPF GL Points together, so you can read your strength in whatever system your federation or training partners use.
Common questions
What is a good DOTS score?
For a raw lifter, a DOTS score around 300 is a solid intermediate total, 400 is genuinely advanced, and 475 and up starts to reach the elite and competitive range. Scores above 550 are world-class. DOTS already adjusts for bodyweight and sex, so a 300 means roughly the same level of strength whether you weigh 60 kg or 120 kg. These are general bands, not official classifications.
DOTS vs Wilks: what is the difference?
Both DOTS and Wilks convert a raw total into a single bodyweight-adjusted score, but they use different formulas fit to different data. Old Wilks (1996) was the standard for decades and is still widely quoted, but it was found to favor certain bodyweight classes, so it was retired by the IPF. DOTS (2019) is the current default on OpenPowerlifting and many federations because it tracks modern raw lifting more evenly. Wilks2 (2020) is a separate rebalance of Wilks. Because each formula is scaled differently, the same total gives you different numbers in each system, which is exactly why this calculator shows all of them side by side.
How is DOTS calculated?
DOTS multiplies your total lifted in kilograms by 500, then divides by a fourth-order polynomial of your bodyweight in kilograms. The polynomial uses one set of coefficients for men and another for women, both fit to large samples of competition results. The output is a single number where higher is stronger relative to bodyweight. This tool runs the exact published coefficients, so your DOTS here matches what a federation scoring table would give.
What DOTS score is competitive in powerlifting?
It depends on the level of the meet. At a local raw meet, a DOTS in the 350 to 450 range is often enough to place. At national level, the podium usually starts in the high 400s, and international and world-class lifters routinely score 500 and above. Because DOTS normalizes for bodyweight, it is the number meet directors most often use to crown a best overall lifter across weight classes.
Is DOTS accurate for women?
Yes. DOTS uses a separate, female-specific set of coefficients, so a woman's score is calculated on its own curve rather than being penalized against a male standard. That means a man and a woman with the same DOTS are considered to have shown a comparable level of relative strength, which is why DOTS is used for mixed-team and best-overall scoring.