How many plates for 185 lb?
On a standard 45 lb olympic bar
Per side
45 × 1 + 25 × 1
Total on the bar: 185 lb
Other bar setups
| 45 lb bar (standard) | 45 × 1 + 25 × 1 |
| 35 lb bar | 45 × 1 + 25 × 1 + 5 × 1 |
| With competition collars (2 × 5.5 lb) | not reachable with standard plates |
How many plates do you need for 185 lb?
To load 185 lb on a standard 45 lb olympic bar, put 45 × 1, 25 × 1 on each side. That gives a total of 185 lb including the bar.
How the plate math works
Take the total weight, subtract the bar, then split what's left across the two sides. For 185 lb on a 45 lb bar: (185 − 45) ÷ 2 = 70 lb per side. Then fill that from the heaviest plate down.
If 185 lb is your max
Rough training weights from the RPE chart, rounded to the nearest plate jump:
| Target set | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 reps @ RPE 9 | 175 lb |
| 3 reps @ RPE 8 | 160 lb |
| 5 reps @ RPE 8 | 150 lb |
| 8 reps @ RPE 7 | 130 lb |
Nearby weights
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