Bar Weights
How Much Does a Barbell Weigh?
A standard men's Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg, which is 44 lb and is counted as 45 lb in American gyms. A women's Olympic bar weighs 15 kg, counted as 35 lb. Training, curl, trap and machine bars all differ, so this guide lists the common bar weights by type and shows how to count the bar in your total.
The Short Answer
The bar on the bench press in almost every gym.
The bar you bench press, squat and deadlift with in most gyms is a men's Olympic barbell: 45 lb (20 kg), about 7 feet (2.2 m) long, with 2 inch sleeves for Olympic plates. Load one 45 lb plate on each side and the bar weighs 135 lb; with a 20 kg bar and one 20 kg plate a side it is 60 kg. Every calculator on this site counts the bar in the total.
Barbell Weights by Type
Olympic bars are made to a set weight. Everything else varies by maker.
The first three bars below are built to a fixed weight. The rest are typical ranges, because every manufacturer makes them a little differently. The weight is usually stamped on the end cap or printed on the shaft, and if it is not, a bathroom scale gets you close enough.
| Bar | Pounds | Kilograms | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Olympic bar | 45 | 20 | The standard gym bar: 2.2 m long with a 28 mm grip. Bars made in pounds are 45 exactly, bars made in kilos 20 (44.1 in pounds). |
| Women's Olympic bar | 35 | 15 | Shorter, at about 2 m, with a thinner 25 mm grip that suits smaller hands. |
| Powerlifting bar | 45 | 20 | Same weight as the men's bar, but stiffer, with a 29 mm grip and sharper knurling. |
| Technique or training bar | 15 or less | 7 or less | Light aluminium bars for learning the lifts, often with full-size sleeves. |
| EZ curl bar | 15 to 25 | 7 to 11 | The zigzag bar for curls and triceps work. Check the label: weights vary. |
| Trap or hex bar | 45 to 60 | 20 to 27 | You stand inside it for deadlifts and carries. Some heavy-duty models weigh more. |
| Safety squat bar | 60 to 70 | 27 to 32 | Padded yoke with handles in front. Heavier than a straight bar. |
| Standard 1 inch bar | 15 to 25 | 7 to 11 | Thin home-gym bars for plates with a 1 inch hole. Length decides the weight. |
| Smith machine bar | Varies | Varies | Many are counterweighted so the bar feels lighter than it is. Look for the starting weight on the machine. |
How Much Does the Bench Press Bar Weigh?
Usually 45 lb, unless the bench is a machine.
On a normal flat, incline or decline bench with a rack, the bench press bar is the same men's Olympic barbell as everywhere else in the gym: 45 lb, or 20 kg. Some gyms keep fixed, pre-loaded bars or a lighter bar on the incline station, and a Smith machine bench uses the machine's own guided bar, which is often counterweighted. If the bar looks thinner or shorter than the main bars, ask or weigh it before you count it as 45 lb.
Whichever bar you use, count its real weight in your total, and use the same bar each time you test so your numbers stay comparable. Our bench press standards assume a 45 lb Olympic bar.
How Much Does a Loaded Barbell Weigh?
The plate milestones, bar included.
Add up both sides and then add the bar. With a 45 lb bar and 45 lb plates, every plate a side adds 90 lb; with a 20 kg bar and 20 kg plates, every plate a side adds 40 kg. That is where the gym milestones of 135, 225, 315 and 405 come from.
| Plates on each side | Pounds | Kilograms |
|---|---|---|
| None (empty bar) | 45 | 20 |
| One plate | 135 | 60 |
| Two plates | 225 | 100 |
| Three plates | 315 | 140 |
| Four plates | 405 | 180 |
For any other total, the barbell plate calculator works out which plates go on each side for your bar weight, in lb or kg. Collars weigh up to a few pounds a pair; most lifters leave them out of the total, but competition collars weigh 2.5 kg each and do count.
Do You Count the Bar?
Yes. The bar is part of the weight you lift.
When someone says they bench 225, they mean the bar plus plates, so the 45 lb bar is included. Every calculator and standards table on this site works the same way. Lifting on a lighter bar and counting it as 45 lb makes your numbers look better than they are, and using a heavier specialty bar makes them look worse, so note which bar you used next to any number you plan to compare later.
Bars outside the Olympic standard vary from maker to maker, so the ranges above are typical figures, not specifications. The label on the bar, the manufacturer's listing or a quick weigh on a scale always beats a table.
More Tools
Load the bar, then estimate your max.
Barbell and Plate Gear
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Barbell Collars
Lock-Jaw OLY 2 Barbell Collars
Quick-release collars that hold the plates tight on any Olympic bar.
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Weight Plates
CAP Olympic Cast Iron Plate Set
A cast iron Olympic plate set for a home gym, with 2 inch holes for a standard bar.
See it on AmazonBudget pick: Amazon Basics Olympic Weight Plates
Olympic Barbell
CAP Olympic Barbell, 7 ft
A standard 7 foot Olympic bar with 2 inch sleeves. Check the weight and length option you pick.
See it on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about bar weights.
How much does a barbell weigh?
A standard men's Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg, counted as 45 lb in American gyms. A women's Olympic bar weighs 15 kg, or 35 lb. Other bars vary: technique bars are 15 lb or less and trap bars usually 45 to 60 lb.
How much does the bench press bar weigh?
In most gyms the bench press bar is a men's Olympic barbell, 45 lb or 20 kg. A Smith machine bar is different and often counterweighted, so check the machine.
How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?
A men's Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (45 lb in a pound gym) and a women's Olympic barbell weighs 15 kg (35 lb).
Is the bar 45 lb or 44 lb?
Both are right. A 20 kg bar is 44.1 lb, while bars made in pounds are 45 lb exactly. The difference is under a pound, and gyms count both as 45 lb.
Do you count the bar when you bench press?
Yes. Your bench press is the bar plus the plates, so a 45 lb bar with one 45 lb plate on each side is a 135 lb bench.
How much does an EZ curl bar weigh?
Usually about 15 to 25 lb (7 to 11 kg), depending on the maker and whether it takes Olympic or standard plates. The weight is normally printed on the bar.
How much does a trap bar weigh?
Usually about 45 to 60 lb (20 to 27 kg), with some heavy-duty models weighing more. Check the label before you count it in your total.
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