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Home » Programs » Powerlifting Training Programs » Page 8

10 Best Powerlifting Programs for 2021

Best Powerlifting Programs:

  1. Kizen 12 Week Powerlifting Peaking Program
  2. nSuns Programs
  3. Jim Wendler 5/3/1 Programs
  4. Calgary Barbell 16 and 8 Week Programs
  5. Sheiko Programs
  6. Candito 6 Week Program
  7. Juggernaut Method Base Template
  8. Greg Nuckols 28 Programs
  9. Beginner Powerlifting Programs
  10. Intermediate Powerlifting Programs
  11. Madcow 5x5 Program

 

Recommended Reading: Practical Programming for Strength Training by Mark Rippetoe (Amazon)

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!

Questions? Ask the Forum

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.

Related: Powerbuilding Programs, Bodybuilding Programs, Strength Training Programs, Hypertrophy Programs

Brian Alsruhe Programs (Dark Horse + 4 Horsemen)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated November 18, 2021

Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: 9

Periodization: Conjugate Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Off Season, Powerlifting, Strength

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

Below you fill find two programs by Brian Alsruhe (check out his YouTube channel and website): Dark Horse and 4 Horsemen.

Dark Horse Program Overview

Notes directly from Brian:

  • Fill in your competition lifts and 1RMs in the spreadsheet
  • In each wave, for each of the first 4 days, set your conditioning workout
  • Pick a variation for each ME Wave
  • In each wave, for each of the first 4 days, set your antagonistic, core, and conditioning giant set exercise

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 12 Week Workout Plan, 4 Day Split, 4 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1
Bench press frequency: 1
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

GZCL Jacked and Tactical (Bench + Squat Only)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 6

Periodization: Block Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Hypertrophy, Strength

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

This is a variation of Tactical Barbell programming combined with the GZCL program framework. It only programs the bench press and squat movements. Deadlifts are not included. This is ideal for athletes that are either unable to deadlift or looking to focus primarily on improving their bench press and squat. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Bench Press Programs, 12 Week Programs, 12 Week Squat Programs, Bench Press Workout Program, Lift Specific Program, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Squat Program, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 12 Week Workout Plan, 3 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 3
Bench press frequency: 2

Overhead press frequency: 3

MEGAZORD Hybrid Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 12

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength

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

If you’re a fan of Frankenstein-esque hybrid programs, then Megazord may be exactly what you’re looking for. Written (or maybe concocted is a better word…) by /u/BenchPauper on Reddit, this program combines the Coan/Phillipi Deadlift Program, Greg Nuckols’s 2x weekly Intermediate Bench Program for OHP from his 28 Program Collection, and Ben Gillingham’s Raw Bench Program.

The results? Well, see for yourself…. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 12 Week Workout Plan, 5 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1
Bench press frequency: 2
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

12 Week Peaking Program by Cast Iron Strength

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 12

Periodization: Block Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: 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

This program, billed “the best fucking 12 weeks of powerlifting you’ll have all year” is a powerlifting peaking program best suited for meet preparation. This is not designed for running back to back, as it accumulates a significant amount of fatigue throughout the duration of the program.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Programs, Peaking Program, Powerlifting Program, Programs
Tagged With: 12 Week Workout Plan, 4 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 4
Deadlift frequency: 2

Calgary Barbell 16 Week + 8 Week Program Spreadsheets

By Kyle Risley
Last updated June 11, 2022

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 16, 8

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting, Strength

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

Written by Calgary Barbell, the 16 week and 8 week programs are designed to improve the squat, bench press, and deadlift of the athlete in preparation for a powerlifting meet. You can, however, run them even if you’re not prepping for a meet. Both programs are quite similar, with the primary difference between the two being that the 16 week program has a more full progression of each lift, whereas the 8 week program is more a training snapshot. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 16 Week Programs, 8 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs
Tagged With: 4 Day Workout Plan, 8 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2, 3
Bench press frequency: 4
Deadlift frequency: 2, 3
Overhead press frequency: 1

Candito 6 Week + Advanced Bench Press Hybrid Program

By Kyle Risley
Last updated December 9, 2020

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: 6

Periodization: Block Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

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

This spreadsheet uses the popular Candito 6 Week Intermediate Program as a base and replaces the regular bench press work with Candito’s Advanced Bench Press Program. The result is a solid program for intermediate level strength athletes seeking considerable bench press volume.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: 6 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program
Tagged With: 5 Day Workout Plan, 6 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 5
Deadlift frequency: 2
Overhead press frequency: 1

5 Blaine Sumner Program Spreadsheets

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 12

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Equipped, High Volume, Off Season, 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

This is the free program spreadsheet collection offered on Blaine Sumner’s site.

It contains:

  • linear progression program
  • high frequency program
  • off-season program
  • equipped lifting program
  • bench-only program

All of the above programs are 12 weeks in length and are programmed off of percentages of the lifter’s training max. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Bench Press Programs, 12 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs
Tagged With: 12 Week Workout Plan, 3 Day Workout Plan, 4 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1, 4
Bench press frequency: 2
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

PHATburn Powerbuilding Program Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 4

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Hypertrophy, 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

Established by Doug Hepburn as a powerbuilding routine that blends the heavy weight work of powerlifting training with the hypertrophy-inducing volume of bodybuilding training, PHATburn is a challenging program for advanced athletes. If you’re looking to introduce more volume into your off-season training, this may be what you’re looking for. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 4 Week Programs, Bodybuilding Program, Powerbuilding Program, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 4 Week Workout Plan, 6 Day Bodybuilding Program, 6 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 2
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 2

GZCL / Mag-Ort / Deathbench Hybrid Spreadsheet

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 10

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: No

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

Combining GZCL for squats, Mag-Ort for deadlift, and Deathbench for bench press, this hybrid program became popularized on Reddit by /u/truthlesshunter. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 10 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 10 Week Workout Plan, 5 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 2
Deadlift frequency: 1

Building the Monolith Program Spreadsheet (kg + lb)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated July 5, 2020

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 6

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: High Volume, Mass, 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

Building the Monolith was created by Jim Wendler, who wrote the 5/3/1 programs and inspired other programs like GZCL and NSuns, Building the Monolith is designed for advanced athletes looking to break through plateaus, not novice or intermediate lifters. For a bench-focused variation of this program, check out Benching the Monolith. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 6 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 3 Day Workout Plan, 6 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 1
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 2

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