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DOTS Score Calculator

Modern alternative to Wilks for comparing powerlifting totals

Strength
DOTS Score Calculator
kg
kg

What This Calculator Measures

The DOTS (Dynamic Objective Team Scoring) coefficient is a modern replacement for the Wilks Score, developed to provide a fairer comparison of powerlifting totals across body weight classes. It was adopted by many federations starting in 2019 as an improvement over the Wilks formula.

Diagram showing how the DOTS Score Calculator works
How the DOTS Score Calculator works

How It Works

DOTS uses a 4th-degree polynomial (vs Wilks' 5th-degree) to calculate a body weight coefficient:

**DOTS = Total x (500 / (a + bx + cx² + dx³ + ex⁴))**

Where x is body weight in kilograms. The simpler polynomial was designed to reduce the bias that the Wilks formula showed at extreme body weights, particularly favoring super heavyweight lifters.

DOTS ScoreClassification
Below 300Beginner
300 - 399Intermediate
400 - 499Advanced
500+Elite

DOTS vs Wilks

The primary advantage of DOTS over Wilks is improved accuracy at the extremes of the body weight spectrum. Lighter lifters (under 60 kg) and super heavyweights (over 120 kg) tend to get more equitable scores with DOTS. For lifters in the middle weight classes (70-100 kg), the two formulas produce very similar results.

Limitations

•Like Wilks, DOTS is specific to the powerlifting total. It is not designed for individual lift comparisons.
•No body weight coefficient formula is perfect. All such formulas are statistical models with inherent limitations.
•DOTS scores are not directly comparable to Wilks scores. A DOTS score of 400 does not equal a Wilks of 400.