The Gold Standard of Powerlifting
For decades, the fundamental problem in powerlifting was figuring out who the "best" lifter was across entirely different weight classes. A 300 lb super-heavyweight will almost always lift more absolute weight than a 150 lb lightweight. However, pound-for-pound, the lighter lifter might actually be demonstrating far superior relative strength.
To solve this, Robert Wilks, the CEO of Powerlifting Australia, developed the Wilks Score in 1994. It became the universally accepted standard for the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and allowed athletes of vastly different sizes to compete against one another for "Best Lifter" awards.
The Mathematics of Wilks
The Wilks formula is an incredibly complex fifth-order polynomial equation. Instead of a simple straight-line ratio (which unfairly penalizes heavier lifters due to the square-cube law of human biology), the Wilks formula applies a curved coefficient based on the exact bodyweight of the lifter at the time of weigh-in.
The Formula
To find your Wilks score, your total weight lifted (Squat + Bench + Deadlift) is multiplied by your specific bodyweight coefficient:
Wilks Score = Total Lifted * Coefficient(w)
Analyzing the Curve
The polynomial coefficients were derived by plotting the world records of every weight class and drawing a curve of best fit through the data points.
- Because women naturally carry less muscle mass relative to their total body weight than men, there is an entirely separate fifth-order polynomial set of constants used for female lifters to ensure fair cross-gender comparisons.
- A Wilks score of 300 is considered decent for a casual gym-goer.
- A score of 400 marks you as a highly competitive local/regional lifter.
- A score of 500+ is elite, world-class territory.