Want one score in depth? The DOTS calculator and Wilks calculator have the full formulas and score tables for men and women.
DOTS score
DOTS (2019) divides your total by a fourth-degree polynomial of body weight fitted to modern competition results, then scales it so scores land in a familiar range. It's used by many federations to pick the best lifter across weight classes.
DOTS = total × 500 ÷ (a + b·bw + c·bw² + d·bw³ + e·bw⁴)
Wilks score (original and 2020)
The Wilks formula, by Robert Wilks, was the standard for decades. Its 2020 revision (sometimes called Wilks-2) uses new coefficients and a 600 scale, rebalancing very light and very heavy lifters, so 2020 scores run roughly 10–25% higher than original Wilks.
Wilks = total × 500 ÷ polynomial(bw) · Wilks 2020 = total × 600 ÷ polynomial(bw)
IPF GL points
The International Powerlifting Federation has used its GL formula since 2020, with separate coefficients for classic and equipped lifting and for full powerlifting and bench-only events.
IPF GL = total × 100 ÷ (A − B·e^(−C·bw))
The same total, scored four ways
The formulas do not share a scale. A score only means something next to other scores from the same formula, and the gap between them is not a rounding difference — it is a different unit. Here is one 600 kg men's total across body weights:
| Body weight | DOTS | Wilks | Wilks 2020 | IPF GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 506.4 | 511.7 | 598.1 | 98.4 |
| 75 kg | 430.4 | 427.5 | 511.5 | 87.5 |
| 90 kg | 388.0 | 383.0 | 460.2 | 79.8 |
| 105 kg | 361.9 | 358.5 | 428.8 | 74.1 |
| 120 kg | 344.6 | 344.9 | 409.0 | 69.8 |
And a 350 kg women's total:
| Body weight | DOTS | Wilks | Wilks 2020 | IPF GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 kg | 426.6 | 436.3 | 511.9 | 88.4 |
| 63 kg | 376.4 | 375.9 | 447.5 | 76.6 |
| 76 kg | 338.5 | 330.0 | 404.9 | 69.0 |
| 84 kg | 322.1 | 312.1 | 388.7 | 66.1 |
An IPF GL score lands near 100 at the top of the sport; DOTS and Wilks run four to six times higher. So “I scored 80” is close to a national-class IPF GL result and a very ordinary DOTS one. Always say which formula you mean.
DOTS and the original Wilks track each other closely at the ends — 506.4 against 511.7 at 60 kg, 344.6 against 344.9 at 120 kg — and separate in the middle, where DOTS is the slightly harsher of the two. Wilks 2020 sits well above both throughout, which is why scores from before and after the 2020 revision cannot be compared either.
DOTS vs Wilks vs IPF GL
| Formula | Introduced | Typically used by |
|---|---|---|
| DOTS | 2019 | Many national federations and meets |
| Wilks (original) | 1990s | Historic records and older rankings |
| Wilks 2020 | 2020 | Some federations after the revision |
| IPF GL | 2020 | IPF and its affiliates |
Sources: IPF, “The IPF GL Coefficients for Relative Scoring” (May 2020); Robert Wilks' published coefficient tables; published DOTS coefficients (2019). Body weights outside each formula's published range are clamped to its limits.
Frequently asked questions
Which powerlifting score should I use?
Use the one your federation uses for best-lifter awards: IPF GL points at IPF-affiliated meets, DOTS or Wilks elsewhere. For tracking your own progress any formula works, as long as you stick to the same one.
Why do DOTS, Wilks and IPF GL give different numbers?
Each is fitted to different competition data and uses its own scale. A DOTS around 400 and an IPF GL score around 80 can describe the same lift, so only compare scores from the same formula.
What is a good IPF GL score?
There is no official grading. As a reference point, a 700 kg classic total at 83 kg body weight scores about 97 IPF GL points. The best comparison is with lifters of your sex and weight class in real meet results.
Sources
The formula on this page comes from the published work below. We check the numbers against the worked examples in these sources with automated tests, and re-read the page against them when we review it.
- International Powerlifting Federation. The IPF GL Coefficients for Relative Scoring, May 2020, Table 1. www.powerlifting.sport/fileadmin/ipf/data/ipf-formula/IPF_GL_Coefficients-2020.pdf
- Wilks coefficient — Robert Wilks' published coefficient tables for the original (1994/2017) and revised (2020) formulas. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilks_coefficient
- OpenPowerlifting — public-domain database of powerlifting competition results, used to check scores against real meet data. www.openpowerlifting.org/
General fitness information, not medical advice. Results are estimates; check with a doctor or qualified coach before major changes to diet or training. Formula and copy last reviewed 31 October 2026.