A standard Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg, which is 44.1 lb, and most gyms call it a 45 lb bar. A women’s bar is 15 kg (33 lb). After that it depends on the bar: short and budget bars run 21 to 35 lb, EZ curl bars 20 to 30 lb, trap bars 44 to 92 lb, and safety squat bars 58 to 70 lb. The tables below give the official rule weights and the stated weights of 26 bars from the makers’ own pages, checked November 3, 2026.
Barbell weight by type
| Bar type | Typical weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard men’s Olympic bar (7 ft) | 20 kg (44.1 lb), sold as “45 lb” | The IWF rule bar is 20 kg, 220 cm long, 28 mm shaft. Many US bars are labeled 45 lb; a few are built to a true 45 lb. |
| Women’s Olympic bar | 15 kg (33 lb) | IWF rule bar: 15 kg, 201 cm, 25 mm shaft. |
| Powerlifting bar | 20 kg (44.1 lb) or 45 lb | IPF rules fix bar plus collars at 25 kg with 2.5 kg collars, so the bar is 20 kg. 28 to 29 mm shaft, up to 2.2 m. |
| Technique / training bar | 10 kg (22 lb), or 15 lb aluminum | For learning the lifts. Low load limits. |
| Budget or short Olympic bars (5, 6, 7 ft) | 21 to 35 lb | CAP’s ECO bars: 5 ft at 21 to 25 lb, 6 ft at 27 to 28 lb, 7 ft at 35 lb. A cheap 7 ft bar can be 10 lb lighter than you expect. |
| 1-inch “standard” bar (non-Olympic) | 18 to 20 lb | Body-Solid’s 6 ft bar is 18 lb, its 7 ft bar 20 lb. Fixed sleeves, 1 in diameter. |
| EZ curl bar | 20 to 30 lb | Titan’s Olympic EZ bar is 20 lb; Rogue’s is 30 lb. |
| Trap / hex bar | 44 to 92 lb | Titan’s closed hex is 44 lb; Rogue’s TB-1 and TB-2 are 60 lb; Bells of Steel’s open trap is 47 lb; REP’s open trap is 58 lb for the frame, 71 to 92 lb with handles. |
| Safety squat bar | 58 to 70 lb | Titan 58 lb, REP 68 lb, Rogue SB-1 70 lb. |
| Swiss / football / multi-grip bar | About 43 lb | Rogue’s MG-3 is 43 lb unloaded. |
| Smith machine bar | 15 to 45 lb | Depends on the machine. See our Smith machine bar weight list. |
Is a barbell 44 or 45 pounds?
Both answers are in use. The international rules are written in kilograms: the IWF men’s competition bar is 20 kg, 220 cm long, with a 2.8 cm grip section, and the women’s bar is 15 kg, 201 cm long, with a 2.5 cm grip. (IWF Technical and Competition Rules 2026) The IPF powerlifting rules fix the bar and collars together at 25 kg, with a 28 to 29 mm shaft and a length of up to 2.2 m; with the usual 2.5 kg collars, that leaves a 20 kg bar. (IPF Technical Rulebook 2026) 20 kg is 44.09 lb, and “45 lb” is the rounded American label. Some bars are built to a true 45 lb: Rogue sells a 45 lb version of its Ohio Power Bar to pair with pound plates, next to the 20 kg version. Titan labels its 20 kg bar “45 lb,” while REP and Eleiko say 44.1 and 44.09 lb. For a log book, the one-pound difference doesn’t matter; for a meet, the bar is weighed.
Stated weights for 26 bars
| Brand | Model | Stated weight | Length | Shaft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rogue | Ohio Bar | 20 kg / 44 lb | 86.75 in | 28.5 mm |
| Rogue | Ohio Power Bar (45LB version) | 45 lb | 86.52 in | 29 mm |
| Rogue | Bella Bar 2.0 | 15 kg / 33 lb | 79.13 in | 25 mm |
| Rogue | 10KG Training Bar | 10 kg (22 lb) | 66.8 in | 25 mm |
| Rogue | T-15LB Technique Bar | 15 lb | Not stated | 28 mm |
| Rogue | Curl Bar | 30 lb | Not stated | 28.5 mm |
| Rogue | TB-1 Trap Bar 2.0 | 60 lb (plus or minus 2 lb) | 89 in | 1.34 in handles |
| Rogue | TB-2 Trap Bar | 60 lb | 88.5 in | 1.34 in handles |
| Rogue | SB-1 Safety Squat Bar | 70 lb | 93 in | 1.5 in |
| Rogue | MG-3 Multi Grip Bar | 43 lb | 82 in | 1.25 in handles |
| REP Fitness | Colorado Bar 20 kg | 20 kg / 44.1 lb | 86.6 in | 28.5 mm |
| REP Fitness | Open Trap Bar | 58.4 lb frame; 71.2 to 92.4 lb with handles | 84.3 in | Not stated |
| REP Fitness | Safety Squat Bar | 68 lb | 92.5 in | Not stated |
| Eleiko | IWF Weightlifting Training Bar | 20 kg / 44.09 lb | 2200 mm (86.61 in) | 28 mm |
| Titan Fitness | Performance Series Olympic Barbell | 20 kg (Titan labels it 45 lb) | 86.6 in | 28 mm |
| Titan Fitness | Olympic EZ Curl Bar | 20 lb | 47.125 in | 28 mm |
| Titan Fitness | Olympic Hex Weight Bar | 44 lb | 56 in | 25 mm handles |
| Titan Fitness | Safety Squat Olympic Bar | 58 lb | 90.5 in | 38 mm |
| Bells of Steel | Powerlifting Bar (Barenaked finish) | 20 kg / 44.09 lb | 86.6 in | 29 mm |
| Bells of Steel | Open Trap / Hex Bar | 47 lb | 1500 mm (59 in) | 25 mm handles |
| CAP Barbell | Olympic ECO Bar, 5 ft | 21 or 25 lb | 60 in | Not stated |
| CAP Barbell | Olympic ECO Bar, 6 ft | 27 or 28 lb | 72 in | Not stated |
| CAP Barbell | Olympic ECO Bar, 7 ft | 35 lb | 84 in | Not stated |
| Body-Solid | RB84 standard 7 ft bar (1 in) | 20 lb | 84 in | 1 in |
| Body-Solid | RB72 standard 6 ft bar (1 in) | 18 lb | 72 in | 1 in |
| Hammer Strength | Olympic Weightlifting Bars (gym bars) | Men’s 20 kg, women’s 15 kg | Not stated | 28 mm / 25 mm |
Each model links to the page the figure came from. “Not stated” means the page didn’t give that spec. CAP’s popular 7 ft “The Beast” bar is left out because CAP’s own page doesn’t list a weight; retailers list it at 20 kg / 44 lb.
Why barbells weigh different amounts
- Straight bars are standardized; specialty bars aren’t. Garage Gym Reviews puts it plainly: the weight of a specialty bar is up to the maker, so trap bars range from about 45 to 65 lb and more, and safety squat bars can run past 70 lb. (Garage Gym Reviews)
- Shaft diameter and steel grade change feel, not weight. Rogue’s guide notes that power bars usually run 29 mm with higher tensile strength to cut whip, while Olympic bars run 28 mm with bearings. Rogue’s 28.5 mm Ohio Bar and 29 mm Ohio Power Bar both land in the 20 kg / 45 lb class. (Rogue: Choosing the Right Barbell)
- Length and extra frame add weight. A 96.5 in deadlift bar with a thinner 27 mm shaft and longer sleeves can still come in at 25 kg, and the yokes on trap and safety squat bars are where most of their extra pounds come from. (Texas Power Bars)
- Short and budget bars are lighter than they look. CAP’s ECO line goes from 21 lb at 5 ft to 35 lb at 7 ft. If you lift at home with an inexpensive bar, check the listing before you assume 45.
How to weigh a bar at home
- Bathroom scale: weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the bar, and subtract. Repeat twice and average; cheap scales round.
- Luggage scale: hook it to the center of the bar and lift. Most handle up to about 75 lb, which covers every straight bar and most trap bars.
- Look for a stamp or label. Many bars have the weight stamped on the end cap or sleeve.
Does the bar count?
Yes. Your working weight is the plates plus the bar, so a bar with a 45 lb plate on each side is 135 lb, not 90. The exception is machines and fixed bars that are already marked with their total. Keep the same rule in your log every session so your progress tracks a real number.
Planet Fitness and some other chains rely mainly on Smith machines and fixed-weight bars rather than free Olympic bars; if that’s your gym, our Smith machine bar weight list is the one to check.
Sources checked November 3, 2026: IWF Technical and Competition Rules 2026; IWF equipment page; IPF Technical Rulebook 2026; manufacturer pages linked in the table (Rogue, REP Fitness, Eleiko, Titan Fitness, Bells of Steel, CAP Barbell, Body-Solid, Hammer Strength); Garage Gym Reviews; Rogue; Texas Power Bars.