Both Wilks and DOTS are formulas that normalise powerlifting totals across bodyweights so lifters of different sizes can be compared. Neither is "better" in every situation, but DOTS has replaced Wilks as the standard in most federations since 2020 because it corrects specific failures in the older Wilks coefficient.
The short version:
- Use DOTS for modern comparison, competition ranking, and coaching
- Use Wilks only for comparing against historical records
What the two formulas do
A powerlifter's "total" is the sum of their best squat, bench, and deadlift. Heavier lifters tend to post higher absolute totals, so raw totals aren't fair across weight classes. Wilks and DOTS both apply a mathematical curve to bodyweight that produces a score — roughly "strength per kilo, adjusted" — that can be compared directly.
Both formulas output similar scale: a beginner scores under 200, an advanced lifter 300–400, elite lifters 400+, world-class 500+.
Why Wilks was created (1994)
Robert Wilks developed the Wilks coefficient in the early 1990s as an improvement over the Schwartz-Malone formula (which was itself an improvement over raw totals). The formula is a 5th-order polynomial fit to elite lifter data of the era.
For 25 years it was the default in the IPF and most major federations.
Why federations replaced Wilks with DOTS (2020)
By 2019 the Wilks formula had three well-documented problems:
- Overrated very heavy lifters. Wilks curves up sharply above 120 kg bodyweight, giving super-heavyweights artificially inflated scores.
- Overrated very light lifters. The same curve overshot at the bottom end, favouring sub-60 kg lifters.
- Outdated training data. The coefficients came from 1990s totals. Lifting has improved dramatically — particularly in the 83–93 kg classes — and Wilks hadn't kept up.
The IPF adopted IPF GL Points for its own events in 2019. Most open federations (USPA, USA Powerlifting's raw division, etc.) switched to DOTS around 2020.
What DOTS fixed
DOTS was developed by Tim Konertz and released in 2019. Key differences from Wilks:
- Fit to modern (post-2015) top-level totals
- Smoother curve — no artificial inflation at bodyweight extremes
- Separate male and female formulas calibrated on current-era data
- Produces scores on roughly the same scale as Wilks, so the comparison is intuitive
The result: DOTS is more accurate across the whole bodyweight range. Two lifters at 60 kg and 140 kg with equivalent relative strength score similarly under DOTS; under Wilks the 140 kg lifter would score artificially higher.
When to still use Wilks
Wilks hasn't disappeared. Reasons to calculate it:
- Historical record comparison. Every total posted between 1994 and 2020 has an "official" Wilks. To compare yourself against Ed Coan, Kirk Karwoski, or other legends, you need Wilks.
- Some federations still use it. A handful of tested and untested federations haven't migrated.
- Personal tracking continuity. If you've been tracking Wilks for years, you can continue for your own records — just don't expect it to match modern rankings.
Our Wilks calculator uses the original 1994 formula for exactly this purpose.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Wilks | DOTS |
|---|---|---|
| Created | 1994 | 2019 |
| Fit to | 1990s elite totals | Post-2015 elite totals |
| Accuracy at light bodyweight | Overrates | Accurate |
| Accuracy at heavy bodyweight | Overrates | Accurate |
| Federation adoption | Legacy | Current standard |
| Score scale | Same range | Same range |
| Primary use today | Historical comparison | Live competition and ranking |
What a "good" score looks like
Rough benchmarks (bodyweight-adjusted, apply to both Wilks and DOTS — scores are on similar scales):
- Under 200 — beginner
- 200–300 — intermediate
- 300–400 — advanced
- 400–500 — elite
- 500+ — world-class
World records typically post DOTS scores in the 600+ range for elite lifters across weight classes.
Bottom line
- For any competition, ranking, or training comparison in 2026, use DOTS
- For historical records or legacy tracking, keep Wilks
- Don't compare a Wilks score against a DOTS score — they're on the same scale but the numbers won't match exactly
- The reason to pick one formula over the other is context, not precision — both are rough adjustments, and both get beaten by direct comparison within a single weight class
Related
- Wilks Score Calculator — compute your Wilks from squat + bench + deadlift total
- One Rep Max Calculator — estimate your 1RM for each lift