Key Takeaways
- DOTS multiplies your total by a number that depends only on your sex and bodyweight. It stands for Dynamic Objective Team Scoring[1].
- Tim Konertz wrote it in 2019 for the German federation BVDK, which has used it for team and individual scoring since 2020[1][3]. It was built on data from drug-tested raw lifters[2].
- This tool also gives Wilks, Wilks 2020 and IPF GL. Each is on its own scale, so compare a score only with the same formula.
- Your percentile comes from real results in the OpenPowerlifting dataset. These are meet entrants, not the general public[7].
What DOTS Is
A way to compare lifters of different sizes and sexes on one scale.
A 120 kg lifter will usually total more than a 60 kg lifter. DOTS adjusts for that by scaling the total with a coefficient that gets smaller as bodyweight goes up. Men and women use different coefficients, so one scale covers both.
Tim Konertz created it in 2019 at the German federation BVDK, after the IPF switched to IPF Points. Those points do not allow comparing between sexes, which the BVDK's team events need[1][2].
The BVDK used DOTS for team events from 2020 and decided at the end of 2019 to use it for individual meets too. Swiss Powerlifting also chose it for 2020[3].
Konertz says the name was picked before the words were worked out[1]. The formula uses only sex, bodyweight and the total. Age and equipment are not part of it.
A correction to older pages
Some pages, including an earlier version of this one, say DOTS stands for “Dots Over Total Score”. The author describes it as Dynamic Objective Team Scoring[1].
The DOTS Formula
A fourth-degree polynomial in bodyweight, scaled to 500.
DOTS = total x 500 / (a x BW^4 + b x BW^3 + c x BW^2 + d x BW + e)
BW is bodyweight in kilograms and the total is squat plus bench plus deadlift in kilograms. The five constants differ for men and women[1].
| Constant | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| a | -0.000001093 | -0.0000010706 |
| b | 0.0007391293 | 0.0005158568 |
| c | -0.1918759221 | -0.1126655495 |
| d | 24.0900756 | 13.6175032 |
| e | -307.75076 | -57.96288 |
| Bodyweight range (kg) | 40–210 | 40–150 |
DOTS constants as written in the OpenPowerlifting reference code.
The formula is only defined inside that bodyweight range. Outside it, the OpenPowerlifting code uses the nearest limit, and so does this calculator[1].
Worked Example
A man at 83 kg with a 580 kg total.
Polynomial at 83 kg = 740.6449
Coefficient = 500 / 740.6449 = 0.67509
DOTS = 580 x 0.67509
OpenPowerlifting lists 391.55 DOTS for a raw lifter with exactly these numbers[7].
The same 580 kg total at 93 kg bodyweight scores 369.03. That gap is the whole point of the formula. The extra 10 kg of bodyweight has to come with a bigger total to keep the score.
DOTS, Wilks, Wilks 2020 and IPF GL
Four formulas, four scales.
| Formula | Scale | Shape | Defined bodyweights (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOTS | 500 | Degree-4 polynomial | Men 40–210, women 40–150 |
| Wilks | 500 | Degree-5 polynomial | Men 40–201.9, women 26.51–154.53 |
| Wilks 2020 | 600 | Degree-5 polynomial | Men 40–200.95, women 40–150.95 |
| IPF GL | About 100 for the IPF World expectation | Exponential, by event and equipment | 35 and up |
How the four formulas in this tool differ. Ranges are the bodyweights each formula is defined for.
The bodyweight limits come from the reference code for each formula[1][4][5][6].
DOTS
Built on data from drug-tested raw lifters, and described as drop-in compatible with the original Wilks scale[2].
Wilks
Wilks 2020
A 2020 update by Robert Wilks, on a 600-point scale. The OpenPowerlifting code notes that he did not publish how the coefficients are derived and that they have been updated before[5]. Treat a Wilks 2020 number as tied to the version used here.
IPF GL
The IPF's formula. It replaced IPF Points, which ran from 1 January 2019 to 30 April 2020[2].
It roughly expresses performance as a percent of what is expected at an IPF World Championship for that bodyweight[2]. Classic and equipped lifting, and full power and bench only, have separate parameters[6].
Use the formula your meet uses for best lifter. I cannot give a reliable current list of which federation uses which, so check the rulebook.
How I checked this calculator
I compared this tool's DOTS, Wilks and IPF GL with the points OpenPowerlifting publishes for 2.1 million full-power entries (revision 4a1c65a7). No entry differed by more than one cent. Wilks 2020 is not in that dataset, so I checked it against the coefficient table in the OpenPowerlifting tests[5].
Reading Your Percentile
Real results, with the limits spelled out.
The percentile card compares your DOTS with the best result of each lifter in the OpenPowerlifting data. I count full-power entries in sanctioned meets, for men and women, raw or single-ply. Each lifter counts once, at their best DOTS[7].
| Percentile | Raw men | Raw women |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | 308 | 261 |
| 50th | 352 | 306 |
| 75th | 394 | 353 |
| 90th | 432 | 398 |
| 95th | 456 | 427 |
| 99th | 500 | 484 |
DOTS needed for each percentile among raw lifters, all ages. 285,476 men and 133,267 women. Snapshot 2026-10-31.
These are competitors
Someone who entered a meet and had the result recorded is not a typical gym-goer. A score near the median here already means a respectable total.
Federations differ
The pool mixes federations, rulebooks and lifting standards. All ages are included.
Tested is a category
“Drug-tested” means the lifter entered a tested category. It does not mean they were personally tested[2].
It is a snapshot
The table uses revision 4a1c65a7 from 2026-10-31. The data is public domain and OpenPowerlifting asks for credit[7].
Using DOTS to Plan a Weight Class
The score tells you what bodyweight costs, not what is best for you.
The chart and the table under “Set a DOTS target” show two things. One is your score if the same total came at a different bodyweight. The other is the total you would need to hold a target score there.
Gaining weight lowers the coefficient, so it only pays off if it brings a bigger total. Losing weight raises it, but only if you keep your strength. The formula cannot tell you which is realistic for you.
Weight classes and their limits depend on the federation, so check your meet's rules before planning around a number.
Limits of This Tool
What the number leaves out.
No age adjustment
DOTS takes sex, bodyweight and total only[1]. Juniors and masters lifters are scored the same way as everyone else.
Two coefficient sets
The formula defines a male and a female set. The tool asks for one of the two.
Raw data, any equipment
DOTS was built on raw lifters and does not ask for equipment[2]. An equipped score still calculates, so read it with care. IPF GL does separate classic and equipped.
Bench only
OpenPowerlifting applies the same formulas to a single lift. That score is only comparable with other bench-only scores.
Competition lifts
Use lifts that would pass at a meet. A gym PR with a different depth or pause is not the same number.
For a different way to measure strength, try the Weighted Calisthenics 1RM Calculator or convert numbers with the Kg to Lb Powerlifting Converter. To judge effort in training, use the RIR to RPE Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
- DOTS coefficient code (dots.rs). OpenPowerlifting. Reference implementation. The formula, constants, bodyweight limits, author credit and the note on the abbreviation. Read on 4 November 2026.
- OpenPowerlifting bulk CSV documentation. OpenPowerlifting. Column definitions for Dots, Wilks and Goodlift, the data basis of DOTS, the IPF Points dates and the meaning of tested categories. Read on 4 November 2026.
- DOTS-Relativwertung. Wikipedia (German). Source for the BVDK adoption, the Swiss Powerlifting decision, the IPF use of Wilks until 2018 and the criticism of Wilks. Read on 4 November 2026.
- Wilks coefficient code (wilks.rs). OpenPowerlifting. Reference implementation. The Wilks constants and bodyweight limits. Read on 4 November 2026.
- Wilks 2020 coefficient code (wilks2020.rs). OpenPowerlifting. Reference implementation and tests. The 600-point scale, the constants, the bodyweight limits and the note on how the coefficients are published. Read on 4 November 2026.
- IPF GL coefficient code (goodlift.rs). OpenPowerlifting. Reference implementation. The formula, the parameters by sex, equipment and event, and the minimum bodyweight. Read on 4 November 2026.
- OpenPowerlifting data service. OpenPowerlifting. Public domain meet results. Used for the percentile tables (revision 4a1c65a7, snapshot 2026-10-31) and for checking the calculator against published points. Read on 4 November 2026.
Certified Personal Trainer & Sports Nutritionist
NASM-certified fitness and nutrition coach with over 10 years of hands-on experience helping people build strength, lose fat, and live healthier lives. Specializing in gym-based workouts with a strong focus on lifting technique, biomechanics, and practical exercise science. Through FitLifeRegime, sharing the tools, tips, and insights that have worked for hundreds of clients — helping you start your own fitness journey with confidence and clarity.
Learn more about Manish
NASM Certified
Certified Personal Trainer & Sports Nutritionist from the National Academy of Sports Medicine
Disclaimer: This tool scores a powerlifting total against a formula and compares it with past meet results. It does not measure your health or fitness, and it cannot say how you should train, cut or gain weight. Changing your bodyweight to move between classes can affect your health, so talk to a qualified professional first. Scores come from public formulas and a data snapshot, and they can be revised.