Warm-Up Sets Calculator
Enter today's top-set weight and get a work-up the way a coach writes one: big plate-sized jumps early, reps tapering off, and a heavy single just under your top set — every step on plates you can actually load.
Enter today's top-set weight to build the ramp — try 315.
Questions
How many warm-up sets should I do?+
It scales with the weight: no jump should be much bigger than a plate per side, so a 315 lb squat needs about three loaded sets while a 700 lb deadlift needs seven or more. This calculator applies that rule automatically — you'll see the count change as the top set grows.
Why do the reps drop as the weight goes up?+
Early sets warm the tissue, so they get fives. The heavy sets exist to prepare your nervous system for load — extra reps there just cost energy you want for the top set, so they taper to doubles and singles.
What's the single right before the top set?+
The primer: one rep about 5–10% under the day's weight. It rehearses the heavy feeling without taking anything out of you — standard practice from meet warm-up rooms to everyday training.
Why doesn't the deadlift start with the empty bar?+
A deadlift starts from the floor, and the bar only sits at the right height with full-size plates on it. So the deadlift ramp starts at one big plate per side and climbs from there — no empty-bar sets.
Can it use MY plates and remember my lifts?+
Yes — that's the app. A free account computes ramps from your saved 1RMs and your gym's actual plate inventory, with a tap-through to a visual plate loader for every set.
More free tools: RPE calculator · 1RM calculator · Plate loader · RPE chart · Bench max · Squat max · Deadlift max
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