Powerlifting Split · 4 Days/Week

THE POWERLIFTING SPLIT ROUTINE

Built around the three competition lifts — everything else on the schedule exists to make the squat, bench, and deadlift go up.

Level
Intermediate-Advanced
Duration
70-90 min / session
Frequency
4x per week
Equipment
Barbell, plates

Why this split

Each of the three competition lifts gets its own dedicated day at low reps and heavy loads, with a fourth accessory day to patch weak points — the structure competitive powerlifters use to peak their squat, bench, and deadlift totals.

Weekly schedule

One day each for squat, bench, and deadlift, plus an accessory day.

Mon
Squat
Tue
Bench
Wed
Rest
Thu
Deadlift
Fri
Accessory
Sat
Rest
Sun
Rest

Squat Day

Heavy squat work plus a variation and single-leg accessory.

ExerciseSetsReps / TimeRest
Back Squat
553 min
Front Squat
352 min
Leg Press
31090 sec
Plank
345 sec45 sec

Bench Day

Heavy bench work plus close-grip and triceps volume.

ExerciseSetsReps / TimeRest
Bench Press
553 min
Close-Grip Bench
382 min
Incline Dumbbell Press
31090 sec
Tricep Pushdown
31260 sec

Deadlift Day

Heavy deadlift work plus posterior-chain accessories.

ExerciseSetsReps / TimeRest
Deadlift
533-4 min
Barbell Row
3890 sec
Back Extension
31260 sec
Face Pull
31545 sec

Accessory Day

Shoulders and arms — the stuff that supports the big three.

ExerciseSetsReps / TimeRest
Overhead Press
3890 sec
Lateral Raise
312-1560 sec
Barbell Curl
31060 sec
Tricep Pushdown
31245 sec

Coaching notes

Track your top set on squat, bench, and deadlift every week — this split is built around those three numbers going up over time, so everything else is secondary and can flex around how you're recovering.

Related splits
CALISTHENICS SPLIT 4 days/wk PUSH / PULL / LEGS 6 days/wk UPPER / LOWER 4 days/wk