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DOTS calculator

DOTS scores your powerlifting total relative to your bodyweight, so a 132 lb lifter and a 242 lb lifter can be compared on one scale. Enter your total and bodyweight in pounds or kilos. Around 300 is a solid intermediate total; 450 and up is elite.

DOTS score 368.5 Advanced (350–449)

Totals for each DOTS level at your bodyweight

What you would need to total at 198 lb (men).

DOTSTotal neededLevel
250851 lbIntermediate (250–349)
3001,022 lbIntermediate (250–349)
3501,192 lbAdvanced (350–449)
4001,362 lbAdvanced (350–449)
4501,533 lbElite (450 and up)
5001,703 lbElite (450 and up)

How DOTS is calculated

DOTS = total × 500 ÷ (a·bw⁴ + b·bw³ + c·bw² + d·bw + e), with bodyweight (bw) in kilograms. The coefficients:

abcdeBodyweight range
Men−0.0000010930.0007391293−0.191875922124.0900756−307.7507640–210 kg
Women−0.00000107060.0005158568−0.112665549513.6175032−57.9628840–150 kg

The levels are RawLift's rule of thumb for planning a meet: the app uses them to judge how fast a total can realistically grow. How DOTS differs from Wilks and IPF GL points, and which federation uses which, is in DOTS vs Wilks vs IPF GL.

Questions

What is a DOTS score?

DOTS compares powerlifting totals across bodyweights. Your total is multiplied by 500 and divided by a polynomial of your bodyweight, with separate coefficients for men and women, so lifters of any size land on one scale. It is the formula USA Powerlifting uses to compare lifters across weight classes.

What is a good DOTS score?

As a rule of thumb, under 250 is a beginner total, 250 to 349 intermediate, 350 to 449 advanced and 450 or more elite. These bands are the ones the RawLift app uses for planning, not a federation standard.

Is DOTS better than Wilks?

DOTS was made to fix the original Wilks formula, which favoured some bodyweights. In the IPF's own 2020 comparison of formulas, DOTS ranked second behind IPF GL points and ahead of both Wilks versions. The IPF itself uses GL points; USA Powerlifting uses DOTS.

Do I enter my bodyweight in pounds or kilos?

Either. Pick the unit above and enter both total and bodyweight in it; the calculator converts to kilos for the formula, which is defined in kilograms.

Why is the bodyweight capped?

The DOTS polynomial is only fitted between 40 and 210 kg for men and 40 and 150 kg for women. Above or below that, the score uses the nearest limit, as USA Powerlifting does.

Sources