Strength training is usually how many enter the world of fitness.
Many people start training precisely to increase the strength of the body, which automatically leads to an increase in muscle mass, and ultimately to an improvement in physical appearance.
The type of weights that is key for this type of training are barbells, which have taken precedence in this activity area.
For many beginners, setting up weights can be a big challenge.
First, it was difficult to choose a suitable barbell, find out how heavy it was, add the right weight, and perform the exercises correctly.
The biggest problem can be the question of which type of barbell to choose and how much it weighs.
But don’t worry. In this article, I will show you how heavy different barbells are and make it easier to choose the right one.
Quick Summary
- There are many different types of barbells; the most common are the Olympic and standard barbells.
- Barbell weights vary from 20 to 200 pounds, but the standard barbell weight is 45.
- When choosing a barbell, pay attention to the length, diameter, material from which they are made, and the type of barbell because these factors significantly influence the weight of the barbell.
Types of Barbells at the Gym
There are countless types of barbells, each with its purpose.
They differ in weight, shape in some way, sense, and muscles for which they are intended.
In commercial gyms, you will most often come across standard and Olympic barbells, which are the best for entering the world of strength training.
Some barbells are designed for certain types of exercise, such as powerlifting barbells and cross training barbells.
Often, those are predefined for people of a specific gender, such as female barbells.
Another division and specification are barbells used for training specific muscle groups, such as the trap or triceps barbell.
Finally, some make it easier for you to perform some exercise or are attached to specific machines in gyms, such as the safety squat, swiss, and smith machine barbell.
Rare and specific barbells violate traditional forms, such as the log and short barbell.
A log barbell resembles a log of wood, while a short is a shortened version of a conventional barbell.
Now I will tell you in more detail everything you need to know about each type of barbell.
How Much Each Bar Weighs?
In addition to all the details you need to know about barbells, the key is how much each bar weighs.
Their standard weights vary from light ones that weigh around 10 kg to much heavier ones that weigh several tens of kilos.
Now I will present to you the normal weights for all types of barbells.
Standard Barbell
A standard barbell weighs about 33 pounds without weight plates and most often comes in a length of 7 feet.
This is the type of barbell you will most often find in commercial gyms, but it is also excellent for home conditions.
Its diameter is universal, as is its use. With it, you can perform all types of strength training exercises, such as squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and many other activities.
It helps train all muscle groups, even those not so compatible with training with a barbell, such as biceps curls.
It is important to note that the standard barbell is excellent for those just entering this world precisely because of its multifunctionality and adaptability to exercise.
Olympic Barbell
The Olympic barbell is about as heavy as the standard, 45 pounds, and slightly more than 7 feet long.
What distinguishes Olympic weightlifting barbell from a standard barbell is that it has rotating sleeves, allowing you to turn it.
It suits those who perform more demanding exercises, such as Olympic lifts – cleans and snatches.
Olympic barbells are recommended for those more experienced in this type of training and have a slightly smaller diameter so that their grip is more robust.
Most Olympic bars can be used for standard weightlifting exercises such as a bench press.
Powerlifting Barbells
Powerlifting barbells weigh about 45 pounds and are slightly over 7 feet long.
What distinguishes them from other barbells is their strength and durability because they are intended for powerlifting, which includes placing and lifting large weights.
A powerlifting barbell is designed to meet all the needs of those who engage in powerlifting and are predefined for performing squats, bench presses, and deadlifts.
A powerlifting barbell is recommended for those people who are experienced in the field of strength training and want to take their training to a higher level.
Cross-Training Barbells
The cross-training barbell is intended for crossfitters, its weight varies between 35 and 44 pounds, and they are recognizable for its endurance and flexibility.
Crossfit as a way of exercising requires explosive and sudden execution of various exercises, and it needs barbells to be flexible to facilitate the execution of activities.
That is why there is a particular type of barbell for this exercise.
In addition to flexibility, strength and durability are what make them unique.
The cross-training barbell must be durable to withstand all the challenges of high-intensity training such as CrossFit.
That is why it is essential that when buying a cross-training barbell, you pay special attention to its strength and flexibility because they are vital to this type of weight.
Women’s Barbell
Women’s barbells weigh 33 pounds, while their length is 6 and a half feet.
They are lighter and shorter than other kettlebells, making them easier to hold.
In addition to being great for women, they can also be an excellent option for those just entering the world of strength training because they are great for learning how to perform exercises correctly.
They can also be used by those who want to perform exercises such as biceps curls and bent-over rows with barbells.
Trap or Hex Bar
Trap or hex bars weigh between 25 and 75 pounds, while their length is about 6 and a half feet. They are specific because of their hexagonal shape and adaptation to performing deadlifts and shrugs.
Their shape makes it much easier to perform these two types of exercises.
With this type of barbell, the weights are most often placed in the middle of the bar, which makes it even easier to perform these exercises.
Their strength and hardness distinguish them because large amounts of weight are often placed on them.
Ez Bar
Ez bars vary in weight from 20 to 40 pounds, while they are most often found on the market in a length of 4 feet.
This bar belongs to the specific type because it is created for performing exercises for the biceps.
It is wavy and often has a W-shaped part in the middle, so exercises that isolate the biceps can be performed more efficiently.
They are excellent for those who want to focus their training on building biceps.
Triceps Bar
The triceps bar weighs between 20 and 40 pounds, while it is the shortest barbell above, with three feet.
As the name suggests, it is specifically intended for training the triceps.
In the middle, it is created as a rectangle, with two bars held so you can perform triceps exercises more easily.
If you want to emphasize strengthening your triceps, this bar is perfect for you.
Safety Squat Bar
The safety squat bar weighs 60 to 70 pounds, while the length is 7 and a half feet.
Safety bar is excellent for those who want to protect themselves from potential injuries while performing squats with heavy weights.
Safety squat bars are excellent for beginners who want to lift heavier weights but fear potential injuries.
This type of barbell safety allows the bar to curve at the ends to ensure that the weights are closer to the ground to maintain balance.
Also, there are pillows located in the shoulder area to reduce pressure on the shoulders, as well as on the wrists and elbows.
Safety squat barbells are recommended for those recovering from a sports injury to gradually and safely start exercising again.
Swiss or Multi-Grip Bar
A Swiss or multi-grip bar weighs between 35 and 55 pounds, while the length is slightly less than 7 feet.
It is a scarce and non-traditional type of turnip. It is rectangular and contains many smaller bars, which allows for performing many exercises. They are excellent for those who want to perform bench presses, practice for the biceps and triceps, and do many overhead activities with one bar.
This type of bar is the right choice if you want to save money and exercise with just one barbell.
Smith Machine Bar
Smith machine bar weighs from 30 to 55 pounds, while the length is about 7 feet.
It is a bar directly connected to the Smith machine and is excellent for beginners and those just entering the fitness world because it independently provides stability during exercise.
This reduces the pressure that is otherwise exerted on the muscles.
That’s why you can sometimes feel that it’s much lighter than 20 kilograms.
However, the problem is that, as expected, you have to have a Smith machine, which is not very profitable for home gyms.
Log Barbells
Log barbell weighs between 50 and 200 pounds, and the length most often varies from 7 and a half to 8 feet.
This type of barbell belongs to one of those non-traditional types of barbells because it is entirely different from the ones you find in gyms.
Weight and strength vary depending on the material it is made of, which can be metal, wood, or a mix.
It is recommended for the most experienced and is often used professionally in strongman training and competition.
Short Barbells
A short barbell weighs about 35 pounds and is 4 to 6 feet long.
In essence, short barbells are a shorter version of regular barbells.
With a significantly shorter length and smaller diameter, this bar is excellent for those who want to use this device for CrossFit and other high-intensity training or powerlifting and performing squats, bench presses, and other exercises.
It is excellent for those who equip their home gym because it is much smaller and makes it easier to move and move around the gym.
What Affects Barbell Weight?
Barbell weight is affected by the type of barbell, length and diameter, material, knurling, and collars.
These are the most important segments and areas that directly affect the weight of your barbell.
Now I will explain in more detail how each of these items affects the weight of your barbell.
Type of Barbell
The type of barbell directly affects the weight of your barbell because different types have different weights.
It often happens that the weight of one type of barbell varies depending on the manufacturer, while in some, it is stable, such as Olympic barbells.
That’s why it’s important to research which weight suits you best, not just which type.
Length of the Bar
The bar’s length affects the barbell’s weight because longer bars are always heavier than shorter ones. You can buy, for example, two standard barbells.
They will be of the same type, but let’s say one is longer than the other. A longer barbell will be heavier than a shorter one.
That’s why it’s essential to look at their length when choosing barbells, and to decide on longer or shorter ones, depending on the weight you want to exercise with.
Material
The material from which the barbell is made also affects the weight of the barbell because barbells made of solid materials are heavier than other options.
Barbells are mostly steel and iron, but options are also made of weaker materials such as aluminum. Barbells made of steel and iron are always heavier than other barbells.
Diameter of the Bar
The diameter of the bar affects the barbell’s weight because bars with a smaller diameter are lighter than options with a larger diameter and are thicker.
Knurling
Knurling is a pattern of grooves pressed into the barbell to enable an easy grip when grabbing the barbell.
Barbells with more knurling are generally lighter because less material is used.
However, the difference is invisible, so you don’t need too much attention.
Collars
Collars are pretty important because they allow the weights to be attached and not move, and depending on the material from which they are made, their strength depends, as well as the weight of the barbell.
If they are made of solid metals, the bar will be significantly more robust than those of weaker materials.
Men’s vs Women’s Standard Barbells
There is quite a big difference between the standard barbell that men train with and the one that women train with.
Some reasons are that women have smaller arms and can lift less weight than men.
The standard weight of the barbell women use is about 33 pounds, while for men, that is 45 pounds.
Standard Mens Barbell Weight
The standard men’s barbell weight is usually 45 pounds and comes in a length of 7 feet, while the diameter is usually 25 to 28 millimeters.
Men use these standard sizes when working out with a barbell. If they train with some particular types of barbells, those sizes and weights can vary, as is the case with specialized barbells such as biceps and triceps barbells.
How Much Does a Standard Women’s Barbell Weigh?
A standard women’s barbell weighs about 33 pounds, is slightly shorter, and usually comes in a length of 6 to 6 and a half feet, while the diameter is about 25 millimeters.
The sizes are slightly smaller because women generally have smaller pockets than men and exercise with smaller weights, so it is automatically more accessible for them to perform exercises with a shorter, thinner, and lighter barbell.
FAQs
How Much Does a Barbell Weigh In KG?
Barbell weighs 20 kilograms. These are standard weights for both sexes, and these barbells come in light and much heavier versions.
How Much Does a Normal Barbell Weigh?
A normal barbell weighs 45 pounds. These are the standard weights you will most often encounter in the training world.
Are All Barbells 45 Pounds?
No, not all barbells are 45 pounds. This weight is the most common, but many barbells, such as log bar, smith bar, and many other options, come in larger or smaller weights.
What Is the Lightest Barbell Weight?
The lightest barbell weight is around 20 pounds. These are primarily barbells focused on specific muscle groups, such as the Ez and triceps bars.
How Much Does a Cheap Barbell Weigh?
A cheap barbell weighs 20 pounds. The cheapest barbell is the Ez bar, used to perform exercises targeting the biceps.
What Is the Best Barbell for a Home Gym?
The best barbell for a home gym is a standard barbell.
The standard barbell is the best option for those experienced in strength training and those at the beginning of the movement with bars and weights.
They are adaptable to the performance of all exercises, their weight is standard for training, and they are not excessively long either.
If you don’t have enough space for a barbell, a short barbell can be an excellent option for you, which is shorter and smaller and is suitable for small spaces.
Depending on your experience, final goal, and what you want from exercise, you should also choose barbells. You can always select the Olympic and standard barbell because you will meet them often, but you can always choose a specific group.
In the comments below, you can tell us which barbell you chose.
