Each competitor is allowed three attempts on each of the squat, bench press, and deadlift. The lifter's best valid attempt on each lift counts toward the competition total. For each weight-class, the lifter with the highest total wins. In many meets, the lifter with the highest total relative to their weight class also wins. If two or more lifters achieve the same total, the lighter lifter ranks above the heavier lifter. At a meet the events will follow in order: squat, then bench press, and the deadlift will be the final lift of the meet.

Powerlifting has been a Paralympic sport (bench press only) since 1984 and, under the IPF, is also a World Games sports.