DWZ-Rechner · Knowledge

DWZ and FIDE Elo compared

How are the German rating (DWZ) and FIDE Elo related? We evaluate this after every DSB sync using the public reference data — aggregates only, never names or individual values.

Method and sample

The data basis is the public DSB reference list (as of 2026-09-26). We only count players with an established DWZ (DWZ index ≥ 10 — excludes initial-DWZ noise) and a FIDE Elo above the FIDE floor of 1400 (players exactly at 1400 are often floor-censored and would distort the lower bins; their share is reported separately). Outliers (|residual| > 3 · standard deviation of the first fit) are excluded from correlation and regression, but still appear in the bin tables.

Players in the list96979
With both DWZ and Elo > 029,0 %
After filters (index ≥ 10, Elo > 1400)26529
Share at Elo = 1400 (FIDE floor, within index filter)0,0 %
Outliers excluded from the fits202
Bin cells with n < 30 (uncertain)4

Relationship

Pearson r0,929
Spearman ρ (rank correlation)0,916
R² (linear model)0,863

Regression

Linear: Elo = 30,6 + 0,978 · DWZ (residual SD 79,1, RMSE 79,1)

Quadratic: Elo = 844,9 + 0,130 · DWZ + 2.19e-4 · DWZ² (residual SD 77,7)

Reverse direction: DWZ = 233,5 + 0,882 · Elo

The two directions are deliberately not inverse to each other (different error assumption per axis) — that's why we don't offer a converter. A single DWZ gives a likely Elo range, not an exact number.

Difference Elo − DWZ

Mean-10,5
Median-11,0
P10 / P90-111,0 / 94,0
P25 / P75-61,0 / 37,0
DWZ bandnMedian difference
1000–12004310,5
1200–1400137145,0
1400–1600149441,0
1600–18006171-12,0
1800–200010868-29,0
2000–22006008-6,0
2200–240013497,0
2400–26004210,0
2600–280075-14,0
2800–30002-38,5

Scatter density

Each cell is a 50×50 window of DWZ and Elo; the stronger the colour, the more players fall into this combination. Empty cells are left blank.

fewmany
10001200140016001800200022002400140016001800200022002400DWZElo

Bin tables

DWZ → Elo (steps of 50)

DWZ bandnMedian EloP25P75
1100–11502 (uncertain)150514761535
1150–12002 (uncertain)143414211447
1200–12506 (uncertain)145914281544
1250–130017 (uncertain)146014301487
1300–135040147814531546
1350–140074148614321542
1400–1450155151614631569
1450–1500243154114981595
1500–1550454156415071636
1550–1600642159315421667
1600–1650929163215721695
1650–17001320167516141739
1700–17501776170916481773
1750–18002146175617011815
1800–18502501179217391849
1850–19002774184817911900
1900–19502911189818471947
1950–20002682194719021992
2000–20502449200519642057
2050–21001901207020292113
2100–2150992212720912162
2150–2200666218421542213
2200–2250488223122032258
2250–2300366228322612311
2300–2350261232823042353
2350–2400238238023532405

Elo → DWZ (steps of 50)

Elo bandnMedian DWZP25P75
1400–1450179148113951556
1450–1500318152814461611
1500–1550623158115111652
1550–1600933163415681707
1600–16501208168216201740
1650–17001572172316591779
1700–17502011176917091820
1750–18002346181317541862
1800–18502455185217951902
1850–19002571189718491941
1900–19502524194018931980
1950–20002350198219362016
2000–20501682202919862058
2050–21001494205720152088
2100–21501192208820472119
2150–2200877213720822173
2200–2250645219121502223
2250–2300446225022112277
2300–2350321230222742333
2350–2400235235723382379
2400–2450198240923902437
2450–2500112247724542501

Breakdown

By age group

GroupnMedian difference (Elo − DWZ)Slope b
U12388-610,60
U14527-770,79
U16706-820,92
U18968-770,95
U201039-761,00
Erwachsene17153-141,00
Senioren5748320,92

By DWZ index class

GroupnMedian difference (Elo − DWZ)Slope b
10–192772-360,90
20–497191-380,95
≥ 501656600,96

By ZPS prefix (federal state association — key not yet verified)

GroupnMedian difference (Elo − DWZ)Slope b
12238-161,01
24205-120,98
31352-120,99
41052-70,96
52092-30,98
64980-110,99
71655-230,93
81466-150,99
9242-101,00
A893-80,93
B384-41,00
C2315-140,98
D591-60,93
E42640,97
F1297-91,00
G745-140,96
H56900,97
L19540,93
M81101,19
Correlation ≠ conversion. This page shows the statistical relationship across the whole list, not a converter for your own number. Two players with the same DWZ can have very different Elo values — the bin tables above show the spread (P25/P75), not just the median. That's why we deliberately don't offer an input field for converting.

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