What the DOTS score means
Raw totals don't compare across bodyweights — a 200 kg total means something very different at 60 kg than at 120 kg. A coefficient score fixes that by weighting your total against your bodyweight, so lifters of any size can be ranked on one scale. DOTS is the current standard; Wilks is the older formula it replaced and is still widely quoted.
How it's calculated
Your total in kilograms is multiplied by 500 and divided by a fourth-order polynomial of your bodyweight, using separate coefficients for men and women. The result is your DOTS score — higher is better, and the same number means a comparable performance whatever your weight class.
Reading your score
- 200–300 — solid intermediate
- 300–400 — advanced
- 400–500 — elite
- 500+ — world-class
These bands are a rough guide across both men and women, since the coefficients already adjust for sex. Use it to track your own progress and to compare honestly with lifters in other weight classes.