Open Powerlifting: How to Use the Database to Track Your Competitive Total

Last updated: May 2026

OpenPowerlifting is a free, open-source database containing the competition results of hundreds of thousands of powerlifters from sanctioned meets around the world. If you’ve competed in a sanctioned powerlifting meet, your results are almost certainly in it — often recorded within weeks of your competition.

For competitive lifters, it’s one of the most useful tools available: a permanent, searchable record of everything you’ve ever lifted on a competition platform.

What Is OpenPowerlifting?

OpenPowerlifting (openpowerlifting.org) is a community-driven project that collects and standardizes powerlifting competition data from federations worldwide. The database is open-source, meaning anyone can contribute, and the raw data is freely available for download.

It was founded to solve a real problem in the sport: competition records were fragmented across hundreds of federation websites, many with poor search functionality or results that disappeared over time. OpenPowerlifting consolidates them into a single, consistent database that’s easy to search.

As of 2025, the database contains records from over 100 federations and hundreds of thousands of individual lifters, making it the most comprehensive powerlifting archive available.

What Data Does OpenPowerlifting Contain?

For each competition entry, the database records:

• Lifter name
• Sex and age category
• Equipment — Raw, Wraps, Single-ply, Multi-ply
• Federation and meet name
• Competition date and location
• Bodyweight
• Weight class
• Squat, bench press, deadlift (all three attempts, where available)
• Total
• Place
• Wilks, DOTS, and IPF GL Points (calculated)

Not all federations report all data fields. Some smaller federations only report totals, not individual attempts. The data quality varies by federation, but major federations like USAPL, IPF, USPA, WRPF, and others are comprehensively covered.

How to Search for Your Record

Finding your own record is straightforward:

Step 1: Go to openpowerlifting.org and click “Rankings” or use the search bar at the top of the page.

Step 2: Type your name in the search field. Results appear as you type. If your name is common, filter by federation or year to narrow the results.

Step 3: Click on your name to open your lifter page. This shows every competition entry in the database associated with your name, listed chronologically.

Step 4: On your lifter page, you can see your progression over time — total, individual lift PRs, bodyweight at each meet, and your coefficient scores (Wilks, DOTS, IPF GL) for each entry.

Using OpenPowerlifting to Track Career Progression

The most practical use of the database for most lifters is tracking their own improvement over time. Your lifter page shows every competition entry sorted chronologically, making it easy to see:

• How your total has grown across training cycles
• Which lift has improved the most vs. least (squat, bench, deadlift)
• How your coefficient score has changed as your strength and bodyweight have evolved
• Your peak performance in each lift and total

This data is more reliable than personal training logs for competition performance specifically — meet results under sanctioned conditions are cleaner data than gym PRs, which vary by equipment, spotter availability, and conditions.

Comparing Yourself to Other Lifters

The Rankings section of OpenPowerlifting allows you to filter by:

• Sex
• Equipment type (Raw, Wraps, Single-ply, Multi-ply)
• Weight class
• Federation
• Age division (Open, Masters 1–4, Junior, Sub-Junior)
• Country or state/region
• Scoring system (sort by DOTS, Wilks, IPF GL Points, or total)

This makes it possible to answer specific questions like: “Where do I rank in the raw 83 kg class in USAPL by DOTS?” or “What’s the median total for raw junior women in the 60 kg class?”

The rankings update regularly as new meet results are added, so they reflect current competitive depth rather than outdated snapshots.

Finding Competition Records and All-Time Lists

OpenPowerlifting also maintains all-time record lists. You can search for the best totals ever recorded in any weight class, equipment type, and federation combination. This is useful context when goal-setting — knowing where a national record sits tells you what “elite” actually means in absolute terms for your class.

Records within specific federations are also tracked. If your federation has a state, national, or world record that you’re chasing, the database often has the current mark on file.

Understanding the Equipment Field

OpenPowerlifting uses specific equipment categories that are worth understanding:

Equipment Label	What It Means
Raw	Lifter uses no supportive gear — belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps only
Wraps	Lifter uses knee wraps (still classified as “raw” in some federations, separate category in others)
Single-ply	Equipped lifting with single-ply squat suit, bench shirt, and deadlift suit
Multi-ply	Equipped lifting with more supportive multi-ply gear (maximum supportive equipment)
Straps	Deadlift straps allowed (used in some federations for deadlift-only events)

When comparing yourself to others, always filter to the same equipment category. A raw total and an equipped total are not comparable numbers — equipped totals are significantly higher.

Limitations of the OpenPowerlifting Database

OpenPowerlifting is comprehensive but not complete:

• Not all federations report results: Smaller, local federations may not submit results to the database. A lifter who has only competed in meets that don’t report won’t appear in the database.
• Data entry errors occur: With hundreds of thousands of entries, occasional errors exist — wrong names, transposed numbers, or incorrect federation labels. If you find an error in your record, the database has a correction submission process.
• Historical data gaps: Some older meets, especially from the 1980s–2000s, are not fully represented. Modern meet coverage (2015+) is much more complete.
• Unofficial meets not included: Charity meets, gym competitions, and other unsanctioned events are not included. Only sanctioned federation meets are recorded.

How to Contribute to OpenPowerlifting

The database is volunteer-maintained. If you see a meet that isn’t in the database, you can submit results through the project’s GitHub repository or contribution process. Most major federations now upload results directly, but smaller regional meets sometimes rely on lifters or coaches to submit the data.

If your own record is missing or incorrect, there’s a formal process to request corrections. Search for your name first to confirm what’s already there before submitting a correction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my meet results to appear in OpenPowerlifting?

Results from major federations typically appear within 2–6 weeks of the meet. USAPL and IPF results often appear faster due to automated data pipelines. Smaller federation results may take longer if they’re submitted manually.

Why does my OpenPowerlifting record show a different DOTS score than I calculated?

The database calculates DOTS from your total in kg and your bodyweight as reported by the federation. If your weigh-in sheet listed a slightly different bodyweight than you expected, or if there’s a unit conversion rounding difference, the scores may vary slightly. The official scores from your federation’s meet results take precedence for competitive purposes.

Can I see my individual attempt records on OpenPowerlifting?

Yes, for meets where attempt data was reported. Not all federations submit individual attempts — some only submit totals. When attempt data is available, you’ll see all three squat, bench, and deadlift attempts on your entry page.

Is OpenPowerlifting only for raw lifting?

No. The database includes raw, wraps, single-ply, and multi-ply results from all covered federations. You can filter by equipment type to compare like-for-like performances.

Is OpenPowerlifting affiliated with any federation?

No. OpenPowerlifting is independent of any federation. It’s a community project that aggregates data from multiple federations without official affiliation with any of them.