How Much Does a Barbell Weigh: Every Bar, Weighed
A standard Olympic barbell weighs 45 pounds (20 kg). Women's Olympic bars are 33 pounds (15 kg), and budget standard bars run 14 to 20 pounds. So no, not all barbells weigh 45. Here is every common bar, plus what budget bars actually weigh when you put them on a scale.
Pick your bar
The weight chart
| Bar | Weight |
|---|---|
| Men's Olympic | 45 lb |
| Women's Olympic | 33 lb |
| Training bar | 35 lb |
| Standard 1 inch | 17 lb |
| EZ curl | 20 lb |
| Safety squat | 65 lb |
| Trap or hex bar | 50 lb |
| Deadlift bar | 45 lb |
| Technique bar | 11 lb |
Yes, the bar counts toward your total. When you load 135 on the bar, that is the 45 pound bar plus a 45 on each side. The plate calculator can count the bar for you or leave it out.
What budget bars really weigh
Big-box and marketplace bars often print a weight that the bar does not hit. Some ship a couple of pounds light, and some sold as Olympic are actually 1 inch standard bars near 20 pounds. Below is what we find when we put budget bars on a calibrated scale. These are representative figures while we build out the Basalt Ledger with our own inventory, and each row updates to a measured number as we weigh it.
| Bar (as labeled) | Actual (est.) | Off by |
|---|---|---|
| Budget "Olympic" 7ft, labeled 44 lb | 41.5 lb | 2.5 light |
| Marketplace 6ft, labeled 30 lb | 27 lb | 3 light |
| Big-box standard, labeled 20 lb | 18 lb | 2 light |
| Budget "Olympic" that is really 1 inch, labeled 45 lb | 21 lb | wrong bar type, a 1 inch standard |
To weigh your own bar, stand on a scale holding it, then subtract your bodyweight. Do it twice and average. Full method and the running numbers live in the Basalt Ledger. See also the truth about under-$50 barbells.
The short answers
How much does an Olympic barbell weigh
A men's Olympic barbell weighs 45 pounds, or 20 kilograms. A women's Olympic bar weighs 33 pounds, or 15 kilograms.
Do you count the bar when adding up weight
Yes. The bar is part of the total. A 45 pound bar with a 45 pound plate on each side is 135 pounds, not 90.
Are all barbells 45 pounds
No. Only men's Olympic bars are 45. Women's bars are 33, training bars about 35, and budget standard bars 14 to 20 pounds.
How much does a women's barbell weigh
A women's Olympic barbell weighs 33 pounds, or 15 kilograms, and is thinner and shorter than a men's bar.
Related: olympic vs standard, beginner barbell weights for where to start each lift, and the under-$50 barbell truth. Ready to buy? Our 6ft standard barbell lists its real weighed weight, or browse all barbells.