How Much Does a Weight Bench Bar Weigh?

How much does a weight bench bar weigh? If it is a full-length Olympic barbell, usually 20 kg (about 44 lb) or 45 lb, but not always. Makers also sell 7 ft bars at 30 lb and 35 lb, women’s and mixed-use bars at 15 kg (about 33 lb), 5 ft Olympic bars from 21 to 25 lb, and technique bars as light as 15 lb. The thin 1 in “standard” bars that come with many home bench sets often have no published weight at all, so the only sure answer is to read the bar’s label or weigh it yourself.

Below, we list the bar weights we found on maker product pages, explain why two bars of the same length can differ by 15 lb, and show how to weigh a bar at home with a bathroom scale. Every figure links to the maker page we opened.

This guide is general product information, not medical or fitness advice. If you have pain, an injury, or a health condition, talk to a qualified healthcare professional before starting a new exercise routine.

How Much Does a Weight Bench Bar Weigh? Listed Weights by Bar Type

All weights below are as listed by each maker on its own product page. Lengths are given where the maker lists them. On a phone, swipe sideways to see every column.

Sources: REP Colorado Bar 20 kg, REP Colorado Bar 15 kg, REP Mesa Technique Bar, REP Curl Bar, Titan Performance Series Olympic Barbell, Titan 60 in Olympic Barbell, Titan Aluminum Olympic Technique Bar, Marcy TRB-OB1000, Marcy TRB-84, CAP Olympic Power Bar, CAP Olympic ECO Bar, CAP 47 in Olympic Solid Curl Bar, CAP Olympic Tricep Bar, CAP Weighted Workout Bar, CAP Standard Threaded Bar.

Olympic Bars: Why “45 lb” Is a Habit, Not a Rule

An Olympic bar is any bar with 2 in (50 mm) sleeves that take plates with a 2 in center hole. Weight is a separate question. REP gives its full-length 20 kg Colorado Bar as 20 kg (44.1 lb) and 86.6 in long. Marcy sells a 7 ft Olympic bar at 45 lb and another 7 ft Olympic bar at 30 lb. CAP sells one chrome Olympic power bar in 35 lb, 44 lb, and 45 lb versions. So a long bar with Olympic sleeves can weigh anywhere from 30 to 45 lb depending on the model, even though most people round every Olympic bar up to 45.

Labels can round, too. CAP’s 40 lb Elite Power Bar page lists the weight in its specs as 18 kg, which works out to about 39.7 lb. REP lists a tolerance of 1% in the specs for its 20 kg Colorado Bar. Neither difference matters much for training, but they show why “20 kg” and “45 lb” are not the same number: 20 kg is about 44.1 lb.

15 kg bars

Bars sold as 15 kg are shorter and thinner than 20 kg bars. REP’s 15 kg Colorado Bar is 79.1 in long with a 25 mm shaft, against 86.6 in and 28.5 mm for the 20 kg version. A smaller hand may find the 25 mm shaft easier to grip on a bench press. The plates still fit the same 50 mm sleeves.

Short Olympic bars

Five and six foot Olympic bars save room in a spare bedroom or a one-car garage. CAP’s ECO bar comes in 5 ft versions at 21 lb or 25 lb and 6 ft versions at 27 lb or 28 lb. Titan’s 60 in Olympic barbell weighs 25 lb, and Titan notes its 36.5 in sleeve-to-sleeve length may not fit standard power racks, so measure the distance between your bench’s uprights or your rack’s J-hooks before ordering a short bar.

Standard 1 in Bars From Home Bench Sets

Many home weight benches are sold with, or used with, a “standard” bar: a thinner bar with 1 in ends that takes plates with a 1 in hole. These bars are often the hardest to pin down. CAP’s 5 ft standard threaded bar page lists solid steel, star collars, and 1 in plate compatibility but no bar weight. Marcy’s page for its Pro standard weight bench with a 100 lb weight set says its weight set includes “a standard size weight bar” along with plates, without giving the bar’s weight. If your bar came in a bench set, check the manual, the box, or a stamp on the bar, and if none of those gives a number, weigh it (steps below).

Collars count too. Star collars on a threaded standard bar and spring clips on an Olympic bar add a little weight. If you track your lifts, weigh the bar with the collars you actually use.

Specialty Bars You Might Use on a Bench

EZ curl bars have bends in the grip for curls and lying triceps extensions. Weights vary widely: CAP’s 47 in Olympic solid curl bar comes in 15 lb and 17 lb versions, and its spec line lists 7 kg; REP’s 55 in curl bar is 30 lb. Standard 1 in EZ bars can be harder to pin down: CAP’s 47 in threaded standard EZ curl bar lists a 200 lb capacity but not its own weight.

Triceps bars are short with parallel handles. CAP’s 34 in Olympic triceps bar comes in 20 lb and 22 lb versions.

Technique bars are light bars for learning a movement before moving to a full bar. REP’s aluminum Mesa bar is 15 lb (6.8 kg) and 72 in long, and Titan’s aluminum technique bar is 8 kg (18 lb) and supports up to 65 lb, per Titan. Check that limit before you load one for a bench press.

Foam-covered workout bars are fixed-weight bars used in group classes and at home. CAP’s Weighted Workout Bar is 50 in long, 2 in thick, and sold at 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20 lb. You cannot add plates.

How to Weigh a Bar at Home

1. Strip every plate and collar from the bar (or leave on the collars you always use).
2. Step on a bathroom scale on a hard, level floor and note your weight.
3. Step off, pick up the bar holding it level across your body near the middle, and step back on. Ask a second person to hand it to you if the bar is long.
4. Subtract the first reading from the second. Repeat once or twice and use the average, since most bathroom scales are not precise to the pound.

Write the result on a piece of tape on the bar or on the wall by your bench so everyone in the house uses the same number.

Why the Bar Weight Matters for Your Bench

Bench and rack limits count the bar. Marcy’s MD-857 Olympic bench, for example, lists a 300 lb maximum on its bar catches and is sold without a weight set. If you plan to load that bench close to its limit with a 45 lb bar, the plates can total only 255 lb; with a 30 lb bar, 270 lb. The same arithmetic applies to the bench’s overall capacity, which may also include your body weight, so check the wording in your manual.

Bar length matters as much as weight. A 7 ft bar needs space on both sides of a bench, while a 5 ft bar may be too short to reach both uprights. Check the width between your bench’s uprights against the bar’s listed length before buying. Choosing the best weight bench for your room comes down to capacity, footprint, and whether it has uprights for a bar at all; current options are in the weight benches category.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

If you train in a commercial gym, the facility’s bars are what count: look for a weight stamped on the bar or sleeve, and ask the staff if there is none. If you are choosing a bar for a home bench and want one number to plan around, pick a model whose maker states the weight on its product page, and skip unlabeled bars from bundles if accurate tracking matters to you.

FAQ

How much does a standard weight bench bar weigh?

There is no single figure. Standard 1 in bars are often sold without a published weight: CAP’s 5 ft standard threaded bar page and Marcy’s Pro standard bench and weight set page do not list one. Look for a stamp on the bar or a figure in the manual, or weigh it with a bathroom scale.

Is every Olympic bar 45 lb?

No. Among the maker pages we opened, full-length Olympic bars are listed at 20 kg (about 44 lb), 45 lb, 35 lb, and 30 lb, and 15 kg bars at about 33 lb. Shorter Olympic bars run from 21 to 28 lb.

Do you count the bar when you add up the weight on a bench press?

Yes, the usual way to state a bench press load is bar plus plates plus collars. A 45 lb bar with a 25 lb plate on each side is 95 lb. Using the real weight of your bar keeps your log accurate, especially if you switch between bars.

How much does a Smith machine bar weigh?

It depends on the machine. A Smith bar rides on guide rails and is built into the frame, so its weight is set by the maker of that machine. Check the owner’s manual or a label on the machine; if neither gives a figure, ask the maker.

Do Olympic plates fit a standard bar?

No. Olympic plates have a 2 in center hole and slide loosely on a 1 in standard bar, and 1 in standard plates will not fit over Olympic sleeves. Match the plates to the bar you own.

Final Thoughts

The bar on your bench probably weighs 20 kg or 45 lb if it is a full-length Olympic bar, but makers sell long bars from 30 lb up, 15 kg bars, short bars in the 20s, and standard bars that may carry no published number. Read the label or the maker page, weigh the bar once if you are unsure, and count that weight against your bench’s limits. More bench guides are in the weight benches section, and our research method is on the How We Review page.

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