Which Powerlifting Federations Use DOTS, Wilks, or IPF GL?

You trained hard. You have a solid total. But which score actually matters at your meet?

It depends on your federation. Different organizations use different formulas. If you use the wrong calculator, the score you get will not mean anything in competition.

Which scoring system does each federation use?

Powerlifting is split across three main scoring systems today, which are DOTS, Wilks (Wilks2), and IPF GL points. No single formula is universal. Your federation decides which score counts. It affects the best lifter awards, rankings, and qualifying standards.

The three-way split explained

The IPF and all its national affiliates use IPF GL Points exclusively. Most major non-IPF federations use DOTS. A smaller group still uses Wilks or Wilks2. Understanding where each federation sits helps you track the right number from day one.

Which federations use DOTS?

DOTS started becoming popular around 2020. The United States Powerlifting Association was one of the first big federations to use it. They use it for the best lifter awards and rankings. The World Raw Powerlifting Federation also adopted it soon after.

Other federations, like the Global Powerlifting Committee, use DOTS as well. Many smaller national federations follow the same approach. Today, DOTS is the most common scoring system outside the International Powerlifting Federation.

DOTS for best lifter awards

At USPA meets, the best lifter award goes to the open division lifter with the highest DOTS score across all weight classes. The USPA All Stars qualifying system also uses DOTS thresholds directly. Male lifters need 500 or above. Female lifters need 475 or above to qualify at the top tier.

Anyone competing in a DOTS federation can check their score before the meet. You can use a powerlifting calculator on this page to see where you stand.

Which federations use IPF GL Points?

World Powerlifting and Powerlifting Australia are the main federations that still use Wilks or Wilks2. Powerlifting Australia uses Wilks2, which is the updated version released in 2020. It was made to fix some issues in the original formula.

World Powerlifting and some other federations still use either the original Wilks or Wilks2, depending on their rules. There are also smaller and older federations that continue to use the original Wilks. Most of these organizations have not updated their scoring systems yet, so they still follow the older method.

IPF GL and Powerlifting America

Powerlifting America uses IPF GL Points as its official scoring system. This means all competitions under this federation use the same formula for scoring. At the international level, the International Powerlifting Federation also uses IPF GL Points. So, if you compete at the IPF World Championships or any IPF event, your ranking is based only on IPF GL points. No other scoring system is used in these competitions.

Which federations still use Wilks?

World Powerlifting and Powerlifting Australia are the main federations that still use Wilks or Wilks2. Powerlifting Australia uses Wilks2. This is the updated version from 2020.

Some smaller national and older regional federations still use the original Wilks. These are usually groups that have not updated their rules since newer scoring systems were introduced.

Is Wilks still relevant?

Yes. For lifters in World Powerlifting or Powerlifting Australia, Wilks is the score that matters in competition. It is the only score used at official meets. Understanding how the formula works also helps. It makes it easier to read your score and know what it really means.

What about smaller or regional federations?

Smaller federations vary widely. Some follow the IPF model and use IPF GL. Others adopted DOTS when larger non-IPF bodies made the switch. A handful still use the original Wilks formula from 1995.

Always check your federation’s rules before you meet. You can also ask the meet director to be sure. Sometimes, a local meet may use a different scoring system than the main federation.

Push-pull and bench-only meets

Most scoring formulas, like DOTS and Wilks, are made for full powerlifting. That means all three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. Push-pull meets (bench + deadlift), and bench-only meets use adjusted versions of these formulas. Because of this, the scores are different. A bench-only score is not the same as a full power score. That is why you should not compare them directly.

Understanding how these formulas work helps you see the difference. Bench-only scores are on a completely different scale than full power results.

How do you know which score to track?

Check your federation’s official website or rulebook. Look for the “best lifter” or scoring section. It will clearly tell you which formula is used. It may also mention extra adjustments, like age-based systems such as McCulloch. This matters because different meets can use different scoring methods, and the correct one is what counts in competition.

Lifters who compete in different federations often track two or three scores. This helps them see their strength under each system. You can enter your numbers once in a calculator and get DOTS, Wilks, and other scores together. This makes it easy to compare your results side by side.

If you are not sure which formula to use, a full comparison can help. It explains when to use each system and what the differences mean in real situations.

Frequently asked questions

Know Your Number

The score that matters is the one your federation uses. Everything else is useful context, but not what decides your placement or best lifter award.

Find out where you stand under every major system before your next meeting.