Powerlifting Workout Routines

Best Powerlifting Programs:

A powerlifting program is designed to improve an athlete's one rep max in the squat, bench press, and deadlift. The mark of a successful routine is an improvement in the athlete's powerlifting total.

Whether you're looking for a beginner program, intermediate program, or a peaking program, you'll find a great powerlifting workout routine to get stronger. All spreadsheets are mobile friendly and powered by Google Sheets (better than PDF) - and no website has more free programs than Lift Vault!

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Head over to the Lift Vault forum to ask the community and connect with other lifters.

Want more? Search the Lift Vault Program Library!

Search the Lift Vault Program Library to find the exact program you're looking for based on many criteria (e.g. experience level, days per week, and much more).

The latest programs are also available below.

10 Week Off Season Deadlift Program Spreadsheet

Last updated September 11, 2020
Experience level: Advanced
Weeks: 10
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Powerlifting meet prep program: No
Program goal: Deadlift, High Volume, Off Season
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes

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This is a 10 week deadlift program designed for building up work capacity during the competitive off-season. It was shared by Alex Bromley (Empire Barbell) on his YouTube channel, where he shared his experience using this style of deadlift training to help prepare for a strongman competition.

[Read more…]

Heavy, Light, Medium (HLM) Program Spreadsheet

Last updated September 10, 2020
Experience level: Intermediate
Weeks: 12
Periodization: Block Periodization, Linear Periodization
Powerlifting meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength
Uses RPE:No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Heavy, Light, Medium (HLM) programs are a simple and effective way to organize strength training. Each training session consists of either a heavy, medium, or light load for a given lift. The HLM training style is extremely flexible and can be used to accommodate many training goals.

[Read more…]

Blest Beginner + Intermediate Powerlifting Programs

Last updated August 8, 2020
Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate
Weeks: 3
Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength

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Garrett Blevins is a strength training coach, powerlifter, and co-creator of the Juggernaut A.I. training system. Below are three different powerlifting programs that he shared for free: an early novice powerlifting program, a late novice powerlifting program, and an early intermediate powerlifting program. [Read more…]

Dietmar Wolf Norwegian Powerlifting Program Spreadsheets

Last updated July 19, 2020
Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate
Weeks: 11, 12, 8
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Powerlifting meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: High Volume, Peaking, Powerlifting
Uses RPE:No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Dietmar Wolf is the head coach of the Norwegian powerlifting team. Below you’ll find some programs that are either attributed to him or have been released directly from the Norwegian Powerlifting Association. One program is from a Norwegian powerlifter named Frode Haugen; this program is labeled accordingly to reduce confusion. [Read more…]

Prep10 10 Week Peaking Program Spreadsheet

Last updated July 17, 2020
Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate
Weeks: 10
Periodization: Block Periodization
Powerlifting meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting
Uses RPE:Yes
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Prep10 is a 10 week powerlifting peaking program designed for beginners and intermediates. It uses block periodization to take the lifter through a 5 week hypertrophy mesocycle, followed by a 1 week transition mesocycle, a 3 week intensity mesocycle, and a 1 week deload. This program could be used to peak for a meet taking place on week 11 (assuming week 10 is the deload week). [Read more…]

Atlas Rising Powerlifting Program Spreadsheet

Last updated July 13, 2020
Experience level: Advanced
Weeks: 7
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Powerlifting meet prep program: No
Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting, Strength
Uses RPE:No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Atlas Rising is an advanced 7 week powerlifting program with 3 training days per week. It is formed from a combination of the Russian Squat Routine for squats, MagOrt for deadlifts, and Hepburn Method A for bench press and overhead press. I would expect this program to improve the squat and deadlift, but not the bench press or overhead press, which simply would be maintained.

This “frankenprogram” was created by /u/PaulTheMediocre, who used it to achieve the following results: [Read more…]

The “Dad Bod” Bridge Workout Program Spreadsheet

Last updated July 6, 2020
Experience level: Intermediate
Weeks: 8
Periodization: Linear Periodization
Powerlifting meet prep program: No
Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength
Uses RPE:Yes
Uses 1RM Percentage(%):No

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

The “Dad Bod” Bridge program is a workout routine submitted by a Lift Vault reader. It is designed for busy people (especially parents) that are looking for any easy to follow routine that will help them grow and maintain strength in a limited amount of time. As the name suggests, it was inspired by The Bridge, a late stage novice strength program created by Barbell Medicine. [Read more…]