How Much Does a Barbell Weigh?
Standard Olympic bar weighs 45 lbs (20kg). Learn about men
Top Pick: CAP 20kg Olympic Bar
The cheapest decent Olympic bar. Good for beginners and home gyms on a tight budget.
Shop CAP 20kg Olympic Bar - $129Quick Answer
Standard Olympic bar weighs 45 lbs (20kg). Learn about men Choosing the right barbell depends on your training style, budget, and goals. Below we break down the key factors and recommend the best options for each category.
The most important factors are tensile strength (190K+ PSI for serious lifting), shaft diameter (28-29mm for men, 25mm for women), knurl pattern, and finish. For most lifters, a versatile bar like the Rogue Echo Bar 2.0 ($195) is the best all-around choice.
Top Picks Compared
| Barbell | Price | Shaft | Knurl | Tensile | Best For | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAP 20kg Olympic Bar | $129 | 28mm | Light | 150K PSI | Budget | 8.2/10 |
| Rogue Echo Bar 2.0 | $195 | 28.5mm | Medium | 190K PSI | Value | 9.5/10 |
| REP Sabre Bar | $269 | 28.5mm | Medium | 190K PSI | Olympic | 9.0/10 |
| Rogue Ohio Power Bar | $345 | 29mm | Aggressive | 205K PSI | Powerlifting | 9.7/10 |
#1: CAP 20kg Olympic Bar - Budget
The cheapest decent Olympic bar. Good for beginners and home gyms on a tight budget.
- Price: $129
- Shaft: 28mm
- Knurl: Light
- Tensile: 150K PSI
- Score: 8.2/10
#2: Rogue Echo Bar 2.0 - Best Value
The best value barbell on the market. 190K PSI, cerakote, lifetime warranty.
- Price: $195
- Shaft: 28.5mm
- Knurl: Medium
- Tensile: 190K PSI
- Score: 9.5/10
#3: REP Sabre Bar - Premium Value
Needle bearings at a great price. Excellent for Olympic lifting and CrossFit.
- Price: $269
- Shaft: 28.5mm
- Knurl: Medium
- Tensile: 190K PSI
- Score: 9.0/10
#4: Rogue Ohio Power Bar - Premium
The gold standard for powerlifting. 205K PSI, IPF approved, lifetime warranty.
- Price: $345
- Shaft: 29mm
- Knurl: Aggressive
- Tensile: 205K PSI
- Score: 9.7/10
FAQ
How much does a standard Olympic barbell weigh?
A standard Olympic barbell weighs 20kg (44 lbs) for men's bars and 15kg (33 lbs) for women's bars. Standard (non-Olympic) bars typically weigh 15-25 lbs and are shorter.
What is the difference between Olympic and standard barbell weight?
Olympic barbells weigh 20kg (44 lbs) and are 2.2m long. Standard barbells weigh 15-25 lbs and are 1.5-1.8m long. Olympic bars have 50mm sleeves; standard bars have 25mm sleeves.
Do all 20kg barbells weigh exactly 20kg?
Competition barbells (Eleiko, Rogue) are precise to within 50g. Budget barbells (CAP) may vary by 100-200g. For training purposes, this variation is negligible.
Ready to Train?
Our top pick: CAP 20kg Olympic Bar at $129. The cheapest decent Olympic bar. Good for beginners and home gyms on a tight budget.
Shop Now - $129