How to load kg plates with collars
Collars catch people out. A pair of competition collars adds 5 kg, so if you forget them, every set is 5 kg heavier than your sheet says.
Step 1: Know what's already on the bar
| Setup | Weight before plates |
|---|---|
| 20 kg bar, spring clips | 20 kg (clips are usually treated as zero) |
| 20 kg bar, 2.5 kg competition collars | 25 kg |
| 15 kg bar, spring clips | 15 kg |
| 15 kg bar, 2.5 kg competition collars | 20 kg |
Competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each under both IPF and IWF rules. Spring clips and light clamp collars have no standard weight. If you need precision, weigh yours.
Step 2: Work out the weight per side
Per side = (target − bar − collars) ÷ 2
For 140 kg on a 20 kg bar with comp collars: 140 − 25 = 115, and 115 ÷ 2 = 57.5 kg per side.
Step 3: Pick plates, heaviest first
Start with the biggest plate that fits and keep going down:
57.5 → 25 → 25 → (7.5 left) → 5 → 2.5 → 25 + 25 + 5 + 2.5
If there are no 25s, use 20 + 20 + 15 + 2.5.
Step 4: Load from the inside out
Heaviest plates go nearest the centre and smaller ones go outside. This is the IPF loading rule, and it's good practice in the gym too. Load one side, count it, then load the other side the same way. Collars go on last, pushed tight against the plates.
Same target, different setups
| Target | No collars (20 kg bar) | 2.5 kg collars (20 kg bar) |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 20 | 15 + 2.5 |
| 100 kg | 25 + 15 | 25 + 10 + 2.5 |
| 140 kg | 25 + 25 + 10 | 25 + 25 + 5 + 2.5 |
| 142.5 kg | 25 + 25 + 10 + 1.25 | 25 + 25 + 5 + 2.5 + 1.25 |
| 182.5 kg | 25 + 25 + 25 + 5 + 1.25 | 25 + 25 + 25 + 2.5 + 1.25 |
Each cell is the weight per side.
Quick checks before you lift
- Count the total out loud: bar + collars + both sides.
- Read the numbers, not the colours. Under IPF rules, only 25 (red), 20 (blue) and 15 kg (yellow) have fixed colours.
- Don't mix lb and kg plates. A 45 lb plate is about 20.4 kg.
- Did you switch collars mid-session? Going from clips to comp collars adds 5 kg. Take 2.5 kg off each side to keep the same total.
You can check any weight in the free Plate Calculator (kg & lb). Collars are off by default. Turn on the 2.5 kg collars setting and it includes them in the per-side numbers. If your target is lighter than the bar plus collars, it loads the empty bar with no collars. The label includes your target, for example "bar only (target 23 kg)". It does this even when plates alone could make the weight, because it never drops your collars without telling you. With collars on and no plates, the label is "bar + collars". The free Warm-up Calculator can help you plan the build-up to a heavy set.
Check your numbers and train safely
Confirm your bar and collar weights at your gym, use safeties or spotters on heavy work, and don't load a bar you can't safely unload.
Sources (checked 19 October 2026): IPF Technical Rulebook, effective 1 March 2026, §2.3–2.4; IWF Equipment page (iwf.sport).