Comparing lifters of different sizes
In powerlifting, bigger lifters usually lift more weight, but not in proportion to their body weight. A 300 lb lifter rarely totals twice as much as a 150 lb lifter. To crown a best lifter across weight classes, federations use coefficient formulas that turn a total into points. DOTS is one of the most widely used today.
The DOTS formula
- DOTS = total × 500 ÷ (A + B·x + C·x² + D·x³ + E·x⁴), where x is body weight in kilograms and the total is in kilograms
- Men: A = −307.75076, B = 24.0900756, C = −0.1918759221, D = 0.0007391293, E = −0.000001093
- Women: A = −57.96288, B = 13.6175032, C = −0.1126655495, D = 0.0005158568, E = −0.0000010706
- Body weight is usually held between 40 and 210 kg for men and 40 and 150 kg for women
The total is the sum of your best squat, bench press and deadlift in a meet.
Worked example
A man weighing 198 lb (89.8 kg) totals 1,300 lb (589.7 kg).
- His DOTS coefficient at 89.8 kg is 0.6473.
- DOTS = 589.7 × 0.6473 = 381.7.
- His total is 6.57 times his body weight.
- To reach 400 DOTS, he needs a total of about 618 kg (1,362 lb) at the same body weight.
What totals score 400 (men) or 300 (women)?
| Men, body weight | Total for 400 DOTS | Women, body weight | Total for 300 DOTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kg (132 lb) | 474 kg (1,045 lb) | 52 kg (115 lb) | 246 kg (543 lb) |
| 75 kg (165 lb) | 558 kg (1,229 lb) | 63 kg (139 lb) | 279 kg (615 lb) |
| 90 kg (198 lb) | 619 kg (1,364 lb) | 76 kg (168 lb) | 310 kg (684 lb) |
| 105 kg (231 lb) | 663 kg (1,462 lb) | 90 kg (198 lb) | 337 kg (742 lb) |
| 120 kg (265 lb) | 697 kg (1,536 lb) |
A rough scale
- Below 200: beginner
- 200 to 300: intermediate, a year or two of steady training
- 300 to 400: advanced
- 400 to 500: national-level competitor
- Above 500: world-class
These bands are informal and differ between raw and equipped lifting.
DOTS, Wilks and IPF points
The Wilks formula was the standard for decades; a revised version appeared in 2020. DOTS arrived around 2019 with coefficients fitted to modern results, and many federations and meet software use it. The International Powerlifting Federation and its US affiliate rank lifters with their own IPF GL points. The scores are not interchangeable, so compare like with like.
Tips
- Weigh in honestly: the score uses your body weight on the day of the lift.
- Cutting weight raises DOTS only if your total holds up. Strength usually drops if you cut too hard.
- Track over time: DOTS is most useful to measure your own progress as both your weight and your total change.