What is a DOTS score?

The weight you lifted divided by a curve fitted to bodyweight. Two lifters with the same DOTS have lifted equally well for their size, whatever they weigh.

How does DOTS differ from Wilks?

It uses a newer curve fitted to more recent results, and it fits the very light and very heavy ends better. Most federations moved to it for that reason.

What counts as a good DOTS?

For a three-lift total, around 300 is a solid intermediate score and 500 is international standard. Those bands describe people who compete, which is a small and self-selected group.

Can I score a single lift?

Yes, though the bands will not apply. The formula does not care what the number is; it only adjusts it for bodyweight, so comparing single lifts to each other works fine.

Calculator

DOTS score calculator

Score a lift or a powerlifting total against bodyweight, so a 60 kg lifter and a 110 kg lifter can be compared on the same scale.

Score the lift

Bodyweight

Total lifted

Coefficient set

DOTS score

333.1

Around the intermediate mark for a three lift total.

What a 500 kg total scores, by bodyweight

Bodyweight	Men's	Women's
60 kg	422	554.3
70 kg	375.6	505.6
80 kg	344.8	471.1
90 kg	323.3	445.8
100 kg	307.8	426.7
110 kg	296.1	412.2
120 kg	287.2	401.2

Bands for a three lift total

International: 500+
National: 440+
Advanced: 380+
Intermediate: 300+
Novice: 200+
Beginner: 0+

How it works

A heavier lifter lifts more, which makes raw totals useless for comparing people. DOTS divides the weight lifted by a curve of bodyweight. The result says how well you lifted for your size rather than how much you lifted.

Enter your bodyweight, the total you want scored and which coefficient set the formula should use, and the tool returns the score with the band it falls in. Kilos and pounds both work, and the conversion happens before the formula runs.

A 500 kilo total at 70 kilos bodyweight scores considerably higher than the same 500 kilos at 120, which is the whole point. The lighter lifter moved the same bar with less body behind it.

The two coefficient sets are part of the formula’s definition rather than an assumption about you. Each curve was fitted to a different population, and the relationship between bodyweight and strength has a different shape in each. Using the wrong one returns a score nobody else can be compared to.

Treat the classification bands as orientation. They come from competition results, so everyone in them chose to enter a meet and train for it. Landing in the novice band still puts you ahead of most people who lift.

Questions

What is a DOTS score?: The weight you lifted divided by a curve fitted to bodyweight. Two lifters with the same DOTS have lifted equally well for their size, whatever they weigh.
How does DOTS differ from Wilks?: It uses a newer curve fitted to more recent results, and it fits the very light and very heavy ends better. Most federations moved to it for that reason.
What counts as a good DOTS?: For a three-lift total, around 300 is a solid intermediate score and 500 is international standard. Those bands describe people who compete, which is a small and self-selected group.
Can I score a single lift?: Yes, though the bands will not apply. The formula does not care what the number is; it only adjusts it for bodyweight, so comparing single lifts to each other works fine.